To My Almost 12 Year Old

Owen! I can't believe you will be twelve years old tomorrow! This has been such a big year for you - moving into the middle school years, finding a new passion on the golf course, and threatening to leave me behind as the shortest person in the family. As always, I am sincerely enjoying watch you become who you are.

This year you enjoyed playing winter basketball, spring baseball, fall flag football, with random tennis tournaments scattered throughout. You also picked up golf, which you have really enjoyed. The crazy thing is, you are really good at all the above, but I think what you really love is moving from one sport to another throughout the year.

You can be as goofy as anyone, and sometimes your energy builds up and explodes (especially when you are around your buddies or Lucy). But at the core you have a quiet spirit. I loved watching you in Portugal this summer. You would have stayed there forever if you could have. In fact, you teared up that last night as we walked on the pier and along the shoreline in Porto, because you so deeply loved being there - wandering the streets in the fisherman's village, looking for seaglass on the beach, hanging off the pier and causing me to have a heart attack, weighing our daily produce at Pingo Doce, getting pummeled by the waves...I think the pace of life there made you feel at home.

You continue to excel in piano - I love hearing you play and never have to remind you to practice. You have enjoyed moving up to youth group this fall, and I love hearing you talk about what you are learning there (and also watching you play knockout in the gym after youth every Wednesday). You always do what you think is right, even when it's not easy. You lift weights multiple days per week and you basically have abs of steel. You are quietly hilarious, easy-going, super forgetful (like when we pulled up at pitching lessons today and you realized you left your baseball glove at home), and just generally a joy to be around.

Bo, you're growing up fast. You are already wise; keep growing in wisdom. Keep seeking the Lord first. "Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith; be a man of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

I can't tell you how proud I am of you, how much I like you, how thankful I am that God placed you in our family. Here's to the best year ever!

Happy birthday, my almost 12 year old!

To My Almost 17 Year Old

 

Sweet Claire, I've been writing these birthday letters for most of your life, but this one hits differently...not just because of the year you've had, or because I remember loving being 17 years old, but because of the season we are in right now.

What a year you've had. You lived your 16 year old life to the fullest. You grew so much in your confidence as an independent driver. You took your first college class through dual enrollment. You made the decision to play basketball for a new team, then led your team to win region and head to state. This was the year you decided to go all in on tennis, laboring over the decision to quit basketball this fall and devote your time and energy to your dreams of taking tennis as far as you can. You spent nearly a month in Portugal this summer, training both physically and mentally on and off the court. Your accomplishments this year are just the visible fruit of a life of discipline and endurance.

Then, nearly seven weeks ago, it all came to a grinding halt. When you woke up with near complete monoplegia in your right leg, and then spent the next weeks in hospitals and doctor's offices and MRI machines, and when your ability to do the things you love was taken and when the answers did not come, what would you do? How would you respond?

You would respond with the same grace you have always carried. You would respond by "rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances." You would respond with hope and tenacity and determination. You would, by the testing of your faith, prove that your foundation is firm.

Claire-bear, your accomplishments are impressive, but your character is worth more than gold. I may not know how this chapter will end, but I do know how the story ends.

So keep fighting. Keep running your race with endurance. Keep lifting your eyes to the mountains. Keep growing in wisdom. Keep rejoicing in hope. 

May this year be filled with laughter and miracles. May you continue to grow in grace and knowledge. 

I love who you are, Claire, and I'm so proud to be your mom.

Happy birthday, my sweet almost 17 year old!

To My Almost 14 Year Old

 Sweet Averi Kate, are you ready for fourteen????

I can't get over what a wonderful almost fourteen year old you are. I have been looking back in our family blog books lately and reading all the funny stories and descriptions of you guys when you were little, and I've been amazed at how the funniest, most free-spirited toddler has grown up to be one of my favorite people in the world.

Tonight when I picked you up from soccer practice, I saw most of your teammates make their way to their cars and ride off, and still I was sitting in the dark parking lot waiting for you. But I had no doubt why I was waiting, and as soon as you ran over a few minutes later and climbed in, you confirmed it - "I was just helping put away all the agility equipment." If there is one thing I know about you, it is that if there is a need you can meet, that's where you'll be. This weekend at Nan and Popple's, Aunt Gigi said to me, "I always know I can count on AK to help me get the pack and play put together, get the sheets on the beds, or anything else, before I even ask. She just shows up and starts working!" That's one thing that has never changed about you. You've always been the best helper I know. What a beautiful servant's heart you have.

Your greatest joy is spending time with your friends. You love going to youth group each week, and this is the only motivation I can use to get you out of bed in the mornings. You are in your season of wanting to sleep as late as possible, and the only thing you will respond to is the threat that if you stay in bed any longer, I will force you to be late to youth group this week. You can argue with a brick wall. If you don't think something is important, it's next to impossible to get you to do it. (Hello, math and Latin.) You are independent and strong-willed and I am so glad. 

This has been a big year for you in soccer. You joined a pretty competitive travel team for the first time last fall, and I have been so proud of your courage in walking on to a team that has been together for years and giving your all. You've come so far as you have listened to the coach and put in the work. Now you are playing on two teams at the same time and enjoying every minute of it. You have a tiny frame but you're surprisingly strong. You deadlifted 190 lbs not too long ago, which is more than I can say for myself in...ever. 

You continue to amaze me with your ear for music. You love listening to music and then trying to replicate those songs on the piano. You regularly play percussion in the youth band and next week you'll play the keyboard with them for the first time. 

You're still hilarious and unpredictable as you were when you were little, but you also have a serious side. You came back from youth camp last summer with a passion I have not seen before, and my most exciting moments come when I see glimpses of your faith growing. My biggest prayer for you is that you will grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, and walk in grace and truth.

Aves, you are a priceless gift to our family and to the world. I am beyond amazed that I get the privilege of being your mom, of cheering you on, of walking with you through this season, and of watching the Lord's plan unfold in your life. I think you are absolutely great.

Happy birthday, my sweet almost fourteen year old!!!

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!