Nancy Caroline Chaffin Thomas was delivered from her heavenly Father into the hands of her earthly father on July 9, 2006. She was a beautiful baby, with darker hair than her brother and dark, dark eyes. I can still see her newborn face as she was placed on my chest for the first time…her eyes squinted shut, her mouth wide, but no sound, and I began to beg, “Cry, baby, cry”. After what seemed like an eternity, that sweet baby girl began to wale, and my world has never been the same.
Nancy Caroline is named for my grandmother’s great grandmother…my great, great, great grandmother. She, of course, is a woman that I have never met. As a young girl, she witnessed the horrific days of the American Civil War. As a young woman she raised a family on a peaceful and beautiful farm in Jackson County, Tennessee. In her last years, she shared a bed with my then, very young granny, sending her off to sleep with stories that she would one day share with her grandchildren. Nancy Caroline White Chaffin spent many days rocking on a front porch of a farm house out on a ridge. At less than six months old, my Nancy Caroline was rocked by “Granny Ila” on the same peaceful front porch.
Our middle child is very independent. She has a happy spirit, sometimes has a strong will, and is high energy. She is loud with life, and squeals with delight at the drop of a hat. She is outrageously funny. Nancy Caroline is a big daddy’s girl, and that is one of the few things I see of myself in her. She takes after her father in so many ways…they think alike, laugh alike, and they never slow down, and if they do they fall asleep. She is very thoughtful and attentive, a bit mothering, which I suppose would be the other glimpse of me. Even though younger, she is constantly taking care of her big brother, making sure to include him and share everything she is given with him. Her favorite things include playing dress up, bubble gum, holding her baby sister’s hand in the car, baby dolls, four wheeler rides with her daddy, Bible stories at night time, her new bike, chocolate, painting her toe nails with me, and going on vacation.
I learn a lot from my little “Fancy Nancy”. She teaches me to stop and enjoy the small things in our days. She teaches me patience. She teaches me that no matter how many children I have or take care of or how old I get, I still have a lot to learn as a mother. She teaches me to have no fear. She teaches me to be joyful and have a happy heart. She teaches me to pray for even the smallest of things.
Sugar and spice…everything nice…yes, that is about right.
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