After I had my first child, Arden, my little seven-year-old niece, Gabrielle, would come over to see me and bring her little “Annabelle”, her dolly.  As we mothered our babies together, I noticed how thoroughly she mothered her doll and how energetically she went about her chores of changing diapers and burping her baby. There was a sparkle in her eyes and you could tell that she was dreaming of the day when she would really be a mother.

It tugged my heart with remembrance of my own childhood days and doll playing.  I remembered being lost in play, mothering my dollies like they were real, and loving every moment.

Even though I so enjoy being a mother and I love, love, love my children, this song was written as a prayer unto God to keep within me the childhood delight of mothering. I pray that God will keep me from being a jaded adult, losing sight of the joy and fun in even the simplest tasks.

 SERENE ALLISON

ANNABELLE | Listen to Sample  | Purchase

Dedicated to our niece, Gabrielle Campbell

I cuddled my baby and whispered a sweet lullaby,

I swaddled her in a blanket I’d made by hand,

I kissed little Annabelle’s cheek as I held her tight,

She was the prettiest little baby doll in all the land.

For a girl of seven wanted nothing more,

It was more than just pretend, it was what I was made for.

CHORUS:

Only a childhood dream

But make it real, let me be

Like the mother in my childhood dream.

All the dolls and the teddies I lined in a row,

The more I could gather the more fun it was to play,

I read them a story and told how I loved them so,

I was happy and wistfully dreaming of the day.

For a girl of seven wanted nothing more,

It was more than just pretend, it was what I was made for.

CHORUS:

Only a childhood dream

But make it real and let me be

Like the mother in my childhood dream.

BRIDGE:

Grant me this little girl’s wish,

With arms full of heavenly treasures,

May I be as contented and joyful

And give me the sparkle of childlike pleasure.

CHORUS AGAIN.