cookies and laughter

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon making cookies with my family. It started out very frustratingly, because the dough wasn't working out right. Along comes Hannah, so very eager to help, and she just kinda took the dough from me, started working a little and got it to work out. Hannah and Timmy helped for a little bit, and Kenan made a couple cookies too. Jeff popped in to help too, but mostly it was Hannah and I in the kitchen laughing, talking, smiling and spending a happy afternoon together. It was wonderful to see her smiling and laughing with me. Since she's 11, she's starting to get all hormonal and moody, and I think she just feels lost. I think she is trying so hard to be a little kid, yet at the same time, she wants so badly to be more grown up. When I saw her taking cookies out of the oven and putting more in, taking them off the pan and putting them on the cooling racks, I was amazed at how big she is getting. My baby beginning to get all growed up! I was reminded again, that even in the busyness of life and kids that Hannah needs that time spent together, to give her those opportunities to spread her wings, to laugh and chat with her, and as I give her what she needs, I can give her heart to God. God will take her heart and touch it in the special ways that only he can. He will transform her, I can't. It was a good day!