Precious Marta, today you are 4 weeks old

You have greatly blessed our lives. We cannot imagine our family without you. Every word of what Maddy told you is so true. Remember how she whispered in your ear, just moments after your birth those sweet words, just what God tells each one of us? She said in her 7-year old whispering voice, "I have always wanted you." Indeed, she has, we have, God always has. You are wonderfully made, knitted through the work of His plans and He has great plans for you. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life. Every. single. moment. we are grateful for, because you have allowed it all for your Glory!

You are SO loved by so many people. 

And today... you slept. We are blessed by you, your presence, your precious love. You, little you, with one dear soul, at 4 weeks:

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Thank you from your Treasures, Muito obrigado dos seus Tesouros

Dear Dad,
I love you. Thanks for the week you stayed off from work and played with us. I loved it! Have a great work week. I miss you. I would like to see you after naps. It was a great time with you when you stayed off of work. I liked when you swam with us. I'm sorry for the day when you were staying home and you broke your foot. We liked it when you stayed home.

Love, Pita

Dear Dad,
Thank you for doing Ferdinand and thank you for going swimming, and thank you that we're going somewhere on a trip. Thank you for staying home. I would like to go watch the planes take off with you.

Love,
Caleb

Dear Dad,
Thank you for spending three weeks with us. It was such fun having Easter with you and the Easter hunt at our house and searching for the Easter Bunny's note. I really had a fun time playing Ferdinand with us. playing chase, and having a great time of having picnics in the backyard. I had fun going swimming with you a lot and having a grill. And I really wanted to thank you on Easter that you bought us Chinese food. I also wanted to thank you for driving us all around when Marta was born and also to Parque da Cidade; I had a great time there with you! I hope we can go to Parque da Cidade with you before we leave. I had a fun time picking out Marta's tree. I bet you had a great time too. Thank you for everything you did.
"
Thanks, little brother", said the Dump to Blue, you helped me and I helped you. Now I see that a lot depends on a helping hand from a few good friends."

Love,
Madeleine

Dear Dada,
I love you, Dad. Yes, Dad! Thank you for our special moments together and for all of your holds, loves, putting me to sleep, helping me wave and say "Tchau!" when I had to go to bed at night. Do you know how much fun I had with you, Dada? I didn't even like when you walked out the door, because I was already missing you! You are such a good Dad, and I just know how much I'm loved. Thank you for being such a caring Dada, and  so much fun. So MUCH fun that you hurt your foot running to care for me! You watch me, love me, care for me so well, and even know my likes and preferences: I love salad, but you know sometimes it's tricky for me to get the lettuce leaves with my fork, or those cucumber slices-- yummy! You know me, Dada. And I am so happy I have you as my Dad.

I love you,
Nellie

Hi, Daddy!
Thank you for your love in these early stages of my life. You were our comfort as Mom and I worked together in labor. You stood and held Mom and me as I prepared to enter the big world You gazed into my eyes just minutes after birth, and just like always, you were selfless: you were the last one who got to hold me for the first time as you took care of getting all my siblings together for their first look at me, just three short weeks ago that Wednesday night after 10:04pm, when I entered the world! Thank you for being our security. You are our protector, you are our dear daddy, and we love you. I enjoy so much the comfort of your arms, your sweet kisses to me, the soft snuggles. Thank you for being my Dad and for welcoming my life into yours and Mom's, together.

With love from my little heart,
Marta