To My Almost 11 Year Old

 Owen, tomorrow you will be eleven years old and I just can't get over how glad I am that you were born. It is such a fun ride, watching you grow and change and become who you are.

You bring so much laughter into our house. You have a quiet and quick wit that only those who know you best are aware of. You come up with the weirdest names for Lucy. You still check stats and recaps of the biggest games in sports every morning. You love Dude Perfect, fishing, and playing football with your friends.

You are crazy talented but so chill about it. During the All Star season this summer, you were clutch at the plate, even batting ten for ten in one of the tournaments. Then after your team fought through district, region, and state, finally winning the entire Braves Country 10u League Championship, you walked off the field and promptly lost your championship ring. (Don't worry, I found it.) In fact, you are famous for losing your rings and trophies, and it's one of the things I love about you. You just don't care that much about the awards; you live for the game itself.

You are not just an amazing athlete and at times a crazy and energetic kid, but you are also a deep thinker and ask big questions. (Don't be afraid of those questions, Bud. Seek truth and you will find it.) You have a strong conscience and I never have to wonder if you are telling the truth. I'm so grateful for that. You've started piano lessons this year and have already begun composing melodies and lyrics of your own.

O, every morning I breathe a prayer that you will grow to be a man who fears the Lord, a man of courage and wisdom and humble confidence. At almost eleven years old, you are already growing into that man. I love life with you, Bud, and can't wait to see what the Lord does in your life this year.

Happy birthday, my almost eleven year old!

To My Almost 16 Year Old

 Claire-bear, you cannot imagine how surreal it felt for me to type out that title, because one day you were 7.0 lbs and taking in the world with what seemed like an impossible sense of understanding for a newborn...

And today you are the tallest person in our house, full of grace and beauty and still viewing the world with wisdom beyond your years.

When you were little, I prayed this verse over you - "He has told you, o man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?" And by the grace of God, that is, through the years, what has been planted and has grown and is unfolding before my eyes.

Do justice.

It has been amazing to watch your strong convictions, your sense of right and wrong, guide your decisions as a teenager. You have always been a black and white thinker, and when you see injustice you react so strongly against it. You're willing to fight for what is right, both for yourself and for others. You were such a strong-willed child, and though it made me tired at the time now I am so grateful for that.

Love mercy.

A few weeks ago you won an award from the Macon Area Tennis Association for Junior Player of the Year. After listing some of your recent accomplishments, your coach added these words as you received the award..."She is the hardest working player I have ever seen...but her most redeeming quality is her kindness towards other juniors who are not as talented as she is...and of course her exemplary sportsmanship."

Claire, I am so proud of your hard work and dedication in tennis. You have set major goals for yourself and have not taken any shortcuts. You have put your head down and done the work that it takes to be the best. But the thing I am most proud of is not your accomplishments on the court, but who you are both on and off the court. You are the one who sees an insecure kid at tennis drills and invites them to come hit with you, who sees a teammate struggling at basketball practice and runs extra laps with them so they don't have to finish alone. "A gracious woman attains honor," and that is what you are.

Walk humbly with your God.

I have spent the majority of the past few years (with increasing intensity) as an unpaid taxi driver, and I wouldn't trade it for the world because car conversations with you are often my favorite part of the day. It's one of my greatest joys to hear the maturity of faith coming out of your mouth as we process life together. I genuinely value your perspective; you are thoughtful and wise. Your walk with the Lord is not flashy but it is genuine. I have walked into your room more than once to see you asleep with your Bible laid out beside you. You hear the Word and you do it, and that is worth more than gold. 

When I wake up tomorrow, I will have a 16 year old for the first time in my life. What did I think that would be like, when I was young and you were in my arms and I was singing over you? I couldn't have known. I couldn't have guessed the humbling process of watching you grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men. I couldn't have predicted the deep joy of my daughter becoming my friend. 

I love you, am so very proud of who you are and who you are becoming, and am so very grateful to be along for the ride.

Happy birthday, my sweet almost 16 year old!