Jocelyn is nearly 7month old already!
My little mover and shaker is such a happy, joyful girl. Eagerly playing with her toys and her siblings and learning how to get up on her hands and knees and scoot where she needs to go. She recently figured out how to push herself up into a semi sitting position and chill there for awhile.
Here are some shots of her with her Uncles.
Last week Jocelyn and I were able to go to Naples, FL to celebrate my brother Tony's wedding.
here she is with seven of her Uncles, Grandpa and cousin CJ.
When we got back from our trip we found an envelop from Grandpa Bechtle. Enclosed a letter to Jocelyn about the meaning of her name(s).
Grandpa Bechtle has written to each of his grandbabies about the meaning of their names and I've saved those precious letters in their baby books for them to keep with them always. You can re-read about the meaning of Jade and Cutter's name(s) here.
Some of what Grandpa sent to Jocelyn:
Jocelyn Paige
Joyful helper
Jocelyn, one of your facebook pictures was captioned "Joyful Jocelyn". What a wonderful way to describe you! You see, the name Jocelyn means "joyful, happy and playful." It's plain to see that joy seems to happen when you're around! You are a happy girl, full of fun. And you will find a lot of delight in making other people happy.
But that's not all that is special about you!
Your middle name, Paige, reminds us that you are more then just a funny girl. You're a girl who knows how to help other people do great things. Many years ago, a "page" was the name for a young person who served as a helper for a knight or a great lord. Knights were warriors who wore shining armor and rode into battle to defend people from evil enemies. They were pledged to the service of their lord, and every page wanted to be like them.
A boy could become a page when he was about seven years old. Pages lived in a castle, helping with all kinds of chores: setting the tables, bringing the food for meals, clearing the table after everyone was finished eating. When they were old enough, they might light the candles or even chop wood for the fireplace. A page might go out to the garden to pull weeds or gather vegetables for dinner.
The page would spend lots of time around the lords and ladies of the castle, learning how to behave with courtesy and character. They would learn to obey God's word and how to be honest and brave.
When a page turned 14, he could become a squire. A squire would travel with the knight whenever there was a tournament for a battle, carrying his spears and caring for his horse. He would spend time with his knight so that he could learn how to fight against enemies. And eventually he too would become a knight.
We don't have knights any more, but we do have a Lord who is far more important than any of the lords who lived long ago in castles. God Himself is our Lord, and we have the exciting privilege of serving Him. Even when you are very young, you can be a helper in your home. You may not have to chop wood, but there will be all kinds of ways that you can help your Mommy and Daddy.
When you grow up, who knows what you might be able to do?
Like a page, you can spend time in the presence of the Lord, learning how to please Him and how to be like Him. And He will show you the ways in which you can serve Him. He is such a wonderful Master that you will find your greatest joy in pleasing Him.
And who knows? You might even become a hero, just like a knight. You might not slay a dragon or rescue someone from a dungeon. But there are many enemies in this world, many people (and even angels) who appose God. There are people who have been defeated by sin and pain and discouragement, and God wants to use men and women like you to set these people free from everything that binds them.
God has made you to become a joyful servant, a happy warrior for Him!
Jocelyn Paige, you are wonderful, unique combination of personality traits: the joy that brings light and happiness to every room you enter; the diligence that is willing to work hard to help other people succeed; and the tenacity that is willing to joyfully fight the battle for righteousness. We are grateful that God has sent you into our lives!
Serve the Lord with gladness! ~Psalm 100:2
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