merry christmas

can someone please explain to me how it's already the week of christmas?  how my 3 1/2 year old is already telling me letter sounds and feeding her sister her food?  how my 8 month old is EIGHT MONTHS OLD?  please.  someone tell me how to slow it down.  half of me is leaning forward, eager to see what's coming next. while the other half of me is weeping at the thought of leaving this time behind.  at leaving behind the smell of abigail's baby skin.  the feel of june's tiny kisses.  the sound of their sparkly little laughs.  the look of love they give their mom and dad, and each other.  and those tiny hands.  oh gosh, that gets me the most.  those tiny little fingers wrapped around mine so tightly.  i don't ever want to forget the feel of their tiny, fragile hands in mine.  they'll never be this small again.  if it's moving this quickly already, june will be in college by next year.  abigail will be driving.  oh these moments.  they are so fleeting. 

sometimes when i have a little time just to sit with them and think of how far they've already come, i start to wonder about them.  i imagine what my daughters will be like when they're grown.  what kind of hearts they'll have.  what kind of things they'll love.  and then i think about the things that i hope for them.  and pray for them.  my love just goes on and on for them.  i hope hope HOPE they love God more than anything in this world.  i hope they feel that kind of love in return, tenfold.  i hope they believe in the absolute truth of Him.  i hope they take every word in that bible and hold onto it, and live it.  i hope they don't pick and choose what they believe to justify how they live, but that they let God choose how they live.  i hope those two little girls stay close their whole lives.  i hope they love others.  no matter what.  i hope they don't judge.  i hope they have a yearning to help others.  i hope for everything for them.  dear sweet little ones, merry christmas.  it's going to be a good one.