I am constantly finding myself just staring at both of my children (when I’m not chasing them) in awe of how remarkable I think they are.  I seriously believe them to be stunning, beautiful, and so very adorable.  Then I look at my wife and it all makes sense.

My little girl is absolutely precious.  Calla is really coming into her personality and is talking so much…and either my deciphering skills are improving or she is actually speaking more coherently.  Probably both.

Most every night Ezra chooses Mommy to sing to him at bedtime and Calla chooses Daddy.  We usually read some books together and then always pray together as a family before we divide and conquer.

Ezra knows he always gets 5 songs…but Calla in her infinite diva-ness comes prepared with requests, and she rotates music expectations every night as if Daddy is a playlist (she has no idea what a jukebox is).

Some nights it will be “Daddy songs” so only Slingshot57 songs are accepted…and more precisely Slingshot57 songs that she knows.  If I try sneaking in a song by another artist or even an older song of mine that I never recorded with the band, she calls me out…”No Daddy, I want Daddy songs!”

Some nights she wants “Chuck E songs” as in Chuck E Cheese.  These songs have to be songs that I write there on the spot and they have to include tons of other characters from all her favorite shows from Dora to Barney, The Backyardigans, Tinker Bell…and of course Princess Belle.  I swear I have enough to make a record…a record that I will never release.  But what makes it so tough is that she rarely lets me recycle any of my “Chuck E” songs…so I just have to keep finding creative ways to lyrically communicate how horrible Chuck E Cheese pizza is and wrap it in a catchy melody.  (The hook still matters.)

But here lately, as I’ve been leading worship more at church…Calla asks for “Jesus songs.”  She will say things like, “Daddy, sing Jesus songs like you do at church.”  The kids see me when I lead worship, they see me when I preach…when I do most anything because I want them to see their Daddy serving…but I love it when she asks for Jesus songs.   She is very concerned about “baby Jesus,” so some nights it’s all Christmas songs.

Either way, almost every night I get to sing prayers over my baby girl.

“I will live to love You.  I will live to bring You praise.  I will live a child in awe of You.”

“My heart will sing no other name: Jesus, Jesus.”

“Be near me Lord Jesus I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me I pray.”

“My whole life is yours, I give it all, surrendered to your Name and forever I will pray, have Your way, have Your way!”

My prayer is that my precious girl will fall in love with Jesus, walk with Him her whole life, and trust him deeply….there is absolutely nothing I want more for her.

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