Thursday, April 17, 2008

From the Mouths of Babes

I don't even know what the rest of that quote is supposed to say. Maybe that is the whole thing, "From the mouths of babes...," and we're just all supposed to assume that that means that some really amazing things come out of their mouths. I don't feel like googling it, but if anybody knows the rest, then let me know. Mary Aplin had something new come out of her mouth this weekend...She said MAMA!!! Of course, she had no idea what she was saying, but it was amazingly sweet to hear it anyway. She usually chants it while she's crying. I get so tickled and excited, that she stops crying, looks at my funny, smiles back, and then starts wailing again. Anyway, I was reading one of your blogs, and you talked about your little girl saying sweet things about Jesus coming to live in her heart. It was precious and reminded me that I keep meaning to blog about the things Pace has been saying about her Bebe (that's Mom).


Jeremiah and I have both talked about how when kids say something, it suddenly seems prophetic. Just last weekend Pace told me she was going to meet her new best friend Georgia tomorrow (that is what my friend Lauren is planning to name her little girl), and I called Lauren (who is due any second) all excited--like that really meant something. Pace has said three different things, so far, about Mom that seem eerily true. They just came completely out of nowhere.


1) I asked her what she thought Bebe was doing in heaven, and she looked at me and said very matter-of-factly, "She's dancing in the grass."


2) She asked me if Bebe was wearing pajamas in heaven, and I told her I wasn't sure. Then she said, "No, she's wearing a party dress."


3) Another day, I was asking her if Bebe was still wearing her party dress, and she said, "She's wearing a CROWN Mommy!"


There are also little things she says that help me know that she really remembers Mom, and not just what we say about Mom. That's one of my biggest fears, that she'll just forget.


1) One day, I was trying to make her wear her pink tennis shoes and she wanted to wear her Crocs. In the middle of our little debate she yelled, "But Bebe didn't wear tennis shoes, she wore flip-flops!" That was so true. Mom almost always had on flip-flops.


2) Every time she gets out of the bath tub at my parents house in Dothan, she runs into my parents room to get her lotion and pajama's on while screaming, "Bebe's Room!" Then she walks over to Mom's side of the bed, peers over the top (like she's just checking to make sure she's not there), and then she looks at the night stand and asks, "Where's Bebe's medicine?"


3) Almost every time I tell her we're going to Dothan she says, "Is Bebe going to be there or is she still in heaven with Jesus." I tell her she's still in heaven and then she says, "But she's going to come see me soon, OK? I miss her."


4) Tonight, I was tucking her in and I told her we were going to Dothan tomorrow. After the conversation above she said, "Last time Bebe was here at my house she came and woke me up. She had a necklace on with her dress, and she let me play with it!" I just started balling. She's so right! I didn't even remember that until she said it.


I am very grateful that God seems to be etching Mom's memory on her little heart, and I hope she is a prophetess....It seems very likely to me that Bebe is up there, wearing a party dress and a crown, dancing in the grass.

13 comments:

Abby Euten said...

Abby, that is so precious! You know, kids are so much more intuitive and intelligent than anybody really gives them credit for. It amazes me the things that come out of Ella's mouth even at 18 mos. We should probably all assume that almost everything that comes out of their mouths is prophetic, maybe that should be the end of the quote.

JJ said...

I love this post! Especially the last number 3. If God is speaking through Pace I think it is because of her innocence and simple faith. Thanks for sharing!

Lindsey said...

Let me say again that even though I don't know you and haven't been formally introduced to your family, I still feel like I know you all so well. Your family (and you too) are such an encouragement and inspiration to others. I am amazed at the faith you all have. The night your sisters sang at church and your dad gave his testimony is not something I will soon forget.
Back in the fall, your mom was in the Beth Moore Bible study I did led by Allyson Johnson (my husband's cousin btw). She wasn't able to come every Sunday, but when she could she was there. One Sunday she brought in a huge bowl of Halloween candy for everybody. Another time she had to stand up during the lesson b/c it hurt to sit down. That is something else I will probably never forget; the image of her standing in the back so as not to distract anybody else, but standing nonetheless to learn more about her Lord. That is such a testament to her faith and character that in the midst of her pain and what she was going through that she still came to Bible study. That she desired to learn how to "live beyond herself" and to have continued fellowship with others.
And I think that the Lord is speaking through your daughter. I believe He is using her to comfort you and your family and hopefully to make you smile and laugh a little too! :)

Anonymous said...

Just precious, I remember when my kids said mama for the first time. I thought it was the sweetest sound I had ever heard. Thanks for your blogs. They inspire me to be a better person and I always look forward to reading them. You certainly have a gift. Keep them coming.

Anonymous said...

Listening to the things that children say makes the little things in life so much more special to me! They are so smart and really listen and take everything around them in, and Pace is no exception! Its amazing to me how God works each and every day, and he proves it to us time and time again. I love the blogs where you talk about what Pace says, because it just really shows you how big of an impact Bebe had on Pace for just that short two years of her life. Pace is truly an angel sent from God to make things easier on you and your family, and just a bundle of God's pure LOve! The picture of her and M'Apples was PRICELESS :) Much LOve!

Robin said...

I bet she is doing all of those things. She is doing some "fine dining" also. Love hearing about Pace, but the flip flop thing is the gospel truth,sister..I got to see your grandmothers and Alice at Kendals party last night. We had a good time.Love you..Mrs. Robin

Anonymous said...

"Out of the Mouths of Babes"...

Psalm 8:1-2

For the director of music. According to gittith.

A psalm of David

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

Matthew 21:16

16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Love you,
AMH

Taylor said...

hey abby.
this blog was awesome. always fun to hear what is happening in the girls lives and you too!
love you and still miss everyone alot!
oh i sent you an email but disregard it...things have been figured out!
much love.
tayc

Kelley Brown said...

Hi Abby,

Well, it's about time for me to fess up about being one of your blog stalkers. :) I kept seeing your name on many of my friends' blogs and realized that you were just a few years behind me at Auburn. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading your stories and thoughts. You have a gift for writing and story-telling. Keep working on that book! Even the best authors have to write...and then rewrite and rewrite and rewrite again. Just get your raw thoughts on paper and then you can refine it. I can't wait to read it! ;)

My favorite comment from Pace is about your mom wearing a crown. That is so biblical, and what a beautiful image.

Blessings to you!
Kelley (Brown) Brown
(Inevitably, I have to explain that I was a Brown and then married a Brown, proving to me that God has a sense of humor.) :)

Jason and Laura Brantley said...

Abby, hey its Laura Whitlark. This was such a sweet post. How sweet for God to use your little girl to recall memories of your mom.

We should get together. I would love to see your two little girls.

Anonymous said...

Abby,
What a beautiful blog!
We have finally moved into our lake home and I wanted to share something that I found. While unpacking 100 years of stuff that I have saved I came across a book of Jordan's that she had at age 10. It was one of those fill in the blank "all about me" books. Anyway, you were listed as her VERY best friend! In the book also she said that she wanted to trade mom's with you! :) (she also wanted your hair! After admittingly feeling a little jealous, I just kept thinking about your mom and what an impact she made on everyone - including Jordan at age 10. It's been a rather stressful move and I have found myself just talking and talking to your mom. I miss her terribly but everytime I talk to her such a peace comes over me. I know she's looking down at me and going Kendall, just relax! So, just wanted to let you know that. By the way, I think it sealed the deal [with Jordan] with your mom being "a cool mom" with that outfit she wore to the New Kids on the Block concert! I still remember it...it was such a fashion DO!
Love you sweetie!
Kendall

Natalie said...

so beautiful abby!

Courtney said...

Hey Abby, I was just catching up on your blog and this post definitely made me cry this morning. Thank you for sharing...