cheersyallimport: Nancy Hope's Dedication

This past weekend, we dedicated Nancy's life to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This day was such a joyful celebration of our commitment to raise up our Nancy in His ways. I have to admit...I am a praying mama who is already so looking forward to the day Nancy fully understands the Gospel and decides to follow Jesus for the rest of her life. I am patiently yearning for the day she wants a new life in Christ for herself and decides to be baptized. That, my friends, will perhaps be an even more joyous celebration. And heck, I'll tell y'all this too: I'm already praying the same for her future husband! There is power in a praying mama. There is. :)

Before the ceremony

Oh, my heart. Each marble in this jar represents 1 month of Nancy's life until she is 18. I am to take 1 marble out of the jar on the 24th (her birth date) of each month. It's a visual reminder of the time we, as a family, have her under our roof under our love and care. Cue the tears? What great visual motivation to pour ourselves into Christ as we pour into her.

All of the mamas and daddies renewed our vows at the start. Since marriage is a reflection of Christ and His church, what a hefty charge it is to mimic that sort of love in our home through our marriage. (Thank you, Lord, for grace!) Our pastor always says that the Gospel is better caught than taught. I pray that Nancy catches the Spirit through the ways we operate as a family unit.

Marky praying this prayer over Nancy. It's a prayer our Life Group prayed over her several months ago, and now it's our hope to pray this same prayer over all of our future babies. | Nancy being prayed over. We were told she will have a burden for injustice! The judge!! ;) Also, I love how she caught the paparazzi in this shot. :)

Nancy's American great-grandparents, Grandmimi and Chief.

Y'all, Hope, Mom, and I got ready at our 3 separate houses and all showed up wearing nearly the same thing. LAWDY.

4 generations -- so blessed by my family!

This. Wow. The reason we are HOME in Charlotte. Family is everything.

My people.

We brunched at Upstream. Locals. This is the Sunday brunch of all brunches. From a buffet with everything from salad to filet mignon to brunch to sushi (!) to these tapas towers (also included in the brunch price), Upstream is where it is AT for a Sunday splurge. Sheesh!!!