Hannah has been sick the past several days. Friday night Hannah and Andrew were both sick. Andrew seems to have bounced back quickly, but Hannah has taken a little longer.
Just a few minutes ago I tucked her into bed and sang to her a few stanzas that I commonly use at bedtime. I remember learning these two stanzas in 1st grade. I remember Mrs. Kraus putting the words on the overhead projector. I remember trying to find this hymn in the hymnal at home. It was difficult because we didn’t learn the first stanza.
Here are stanzas we sing at bedtime. Notice that the first stanza appeals to Jesus’ love as the reason he should watch over us. Jesus’ love is an objective truth that we already know. It gives us confidence to ask for his care and protection. The last stanza seems to be directed to those loves ones who are about to go to sleep. We pray that Jesus’ love, protection, and care rest on them as they "rest beneath night’s shadow" (st. 1).
Lord Jesus, since you love me,
Oh, spread your wings above me
And shield me from alarm.
Though Satan would assail me,
Your mercy will not fail me;
I rest in your protecting arm.My loved ones, rest securely,
For God this night will surely
From peril guard your heads.
Sweet slumbers may he send you
And bid his hosts attend you
And through the night watch o’er your beds.
The picture here is Hannah when she was a baby.
A Shepherd's Story 
Ah, Gerhardt! His hymns are the best. Have you seen Rev. Rick Stuckwisch’s blog, http://sword-in-hat.blogspot.com/? He’s a big Gerhardt fan.
I was happy to discover your site. We need more WELS bloggers!
I’ve been reading “thinking-out-loud” ever since I heard an interview he did on the “Issues, etc.” radio program. It was actually his hymn lists that inspired my top 52 hymns that I’m slowly working on.
Pastor Caauwe, your blog came to my attention through the LCMS, specifically Pastor McCain who found your recording of the Sem’s Agnus Dei. Your blog is now in my RSS reader. I agree with Cindy, we need more WELS people with Blogs. Do you know of others?
I only know of a handful of WELS blogs. Here’s a few—mostly pastors.
http://shepherdstudy.wordpress.com/
http://revguy.wordpress.com/
http://preachteachconfess.blogspot.com/