To My Almost 8 Year Old

Owen, you are almost eight years old, and that seems too big and just right at the same time.

You are hilarious. Your quick wit reminds me of your Uncle Bo, and you constantly have us in stitches. You have an appropriate level of sarcasm, and you do outlandish things that make me laugh and shake my head at the same time. You recently stopped calling our dog “Lucy” – instead, I hear you shouting things like “Jennifer!” or “Susan!”, or saying “Oh, hey Avocado! That’s a good girl, Beanie.”

You are such a thinker. Your head is full of questions and ponderings, to the point where you can seem really absentminded. I can't count the times that you come up to me and completely forget what you were going to say, or you leave the room to complete a task and I find you wandering around the hallway looking a little lost. But I can always count on you to quietly process big thoughts or circumstances, and I love the challenge of pulling those thoughts out in conversation.

You love to play whatever sport is in season. All you’ve wanted to do for weeks is have the whole family in the front yard playing flag football, and just over the past week you’ve begun to shift toward basketball drills in the driveway. You played baseball in the spring and your all star team made it to the Junior League World Series again! You played in your first USTA tennis tournament this fall and can’t wait to try another one.

You have a thirst for the Word of God. You love reading Scripture and making connections. You have a thoughtful and deep spirit. I had a miscarriage this summer, and you have dealt with it the longest and hardest. I treasure the times that you and I have talked through the value of life and the goodness and wisdom of God and how to grieve well and rejoice even in suffering.

Buddy, I love you so much. I love watching you grow and I really do believe the best things are yet to come. You are a gift.

Happy birthday, my almost 8 year old!

To My Almost 13 Year Old

13.

Claire-bear, this seems like a big one.

On this birthday eve, “13” seems so much less scary than it did when you were so little. Now you are literally taller than me – like, as of last month – a fact that you will not let me forget. You borrow my shoes and we are often mistaken for each other from a distance…and it’s all so much sweeter than I could have imagined.

You are strong. I’m so very grateful that the toddler who fought me for 2 hours over putting your shoes up has grown in wisdom without losing a bit of your strong will. When you know something is right, you can’t be swayed. You are 100% committed to whatever you have set your mind to do – whether it’s competing in your sports, cleaning the house, completing your schoolwork, planning an event, or preparing for a babysitting job. You have the self-discipline and strength of character to succeed in whatever the Lord calls you to.

You are responsible. We got a puppy this year – Lucy. Dad made it clear that you kids are in charge of Lucy, and from the very first night you slept on the couch so that Lucy wouldn’t wake me up in the middle of the night. You took her out multiple times a night for weeks and never complained, even when your eyelids were drooping.

You are kind. You make an effort to include those who might be feeling left out. You seek to be a peacemaker whenever possible. You’re a quiet leader, and it’s beautiful to see. I love to watch you interact with competitors on the tennis court – you play to win, but when all is said and done you never leave the court without smiling and saying something kind.

Claire, I could talk about all the things you do – all the skills and talents and accomplishments – but what leaves me breathless, more than those things, is simply who you are. Your Creator began a good work in you, and I am so very humbled and privileged to be on the sidelines and cheer you on as He is faithfully perfecting that good work. You’re my favorite almost-teenager ever.

Whatever rumors I heard about entering into the teen years with a daughter, I laugh in the face of them. At almost 13 years old, you are gold to me.

Happy birthday, my sweet almost-thirteen-year-old.

To My Almost 10 Year Old

AK, it's so hard to believe it's been a decade now with one of the sweetest, most fun kids I know.  I love who you are at almost 10 years old.

Your creativity astounds me. For some reason around 9:00 PM you come fully awake and start coming up with all sorts of craft ideas. You love working with all things fabric, paper, and cardboard. You have taken over my hot glue gun. Last week you took a shoebox back to your room and emerged with a homemade backpack an hour later. You love making potholders and headbands and jump ropes out of weaving loops. You made headbands to sell at our school bake sale and every week now I see different students wearing them to school.

You are growing in every way. This fall you had a leading part in the play "Wonka." You had so many lines to memorize and pull off in front of a packed house...and you did it! And with a British accent the whole time!!! You have learned so much in school this year - 4th grade is an important one, and you have tackled it with a great attitude. 

You have such a nurturing heart. This morning we were running late to get out the door for CC (shocking, I know) and you were right there, gently pushing Owen (not a morning person) out the door, having made sure he had his lunch and presentation in his backpack. I can always count on you to help pack up snacks or lunches when we are out. You are so caring toward the younger kids in our community. 

You continue to love gymnastics. Even though you broke your arm in December in a weird turn of events involving a horse, a water trough, and a chicken, you were eager to return to gymnastics after you healed. You've worked hard to regain your strength. This year you also played soccer and basketball. You were tenacious in both sports and played with all your heart in the games.

You feel things so deeply. That makes it hard sometimes because your feelings are so big and the world is so broken. But I can see so much growth in you as you struggle to be temperate in stressful situations. I'm so proud of you. I hope you always run to the Lord and pour out all your big feelings to Him because He created you to be exactly who you are. He will use those deep waters to make a difference in this world.

You have a servant's heart and feel most alive, I think, when you are being helpful. You still have the most contagious laugh and sweet dance moves. You love music, especially from movies like Encanto or The Greatest Show. You never go to bed without a really good hug.  You asked for homemade croutons for your birthday breakfast. 

Even though you can spend hours by yourself building with Legos, you are happiest when you are with your friends.

Aves, I've always said you were part fairy, and I was so curious to see what happens when a fairy grows up. I'm grateful to have a first row view of the sweet, beautiful young lady you are becoming. Keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Happy birthday, my sweet almost-10-year-old!

 

The Summer of a Lifetime Part 4: Amelia Island

To wrap up an unforgettable summer, we landed in one of our favorite spots - Amelia Island.

And for our annual beach pictures, Owen was not thrilled but he eventually came around. 

I feel like this picture is very accurate.

Thanks for humoring me on the pictures, guys. And that is a wrap!!!