A Note from Mom: RUBY IS FIVE!!!

As I think back over your first five years of life, I can't believe what you have already walked through. You've felt the bittersweet heartache of death... several times already. A lot of adults don't have the experience with death that you've already had as a very little girl. You've added such sweet perspective to each situation, and the genuine empathy you feel for others through it is remarkable.

You have ideas. YOU HAVE SO MANY IDEAS. They wear me out, and leave me in awe of you. You know who you are and what you want. I pray God continues to grab at you and will capture your heart completely. I know that you were created with incredible purpose and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

You bring such incredible joy to our family. You're our baby and we all just love you so deeply. You make us laugh so much. You are so funny and just so out there sometimes, we wonder where you came from.

You have your own style. You change outfits about 4-5 times a day and drive me insane, but I love seeing what you put together and how happy it makes you. I pray God gives you eyes to see yourself and others the way that He sees you and that He will be glorified and honored through all your words and actions. You are a beautiful soul.

You are my little baby angel. You remind me who I am, and what I love. You are a reflection of grace, and truly a gift from God. I love you, Babe! Happy 5th Birthday!!

A Note From Mom: Elly is NINE!!!

My little Sweetness. You are filled with so much beauty and grace, and you see it in everything around you. I hope your eyes always see the beauty in all things. You bring such joy to our family, such incredible joy to me. You are an absolutely incredible gift to me. You remind me to fight and you remind me to be still and hold on. I pray that you always know Who you're fighting for and that you'll be armed with the discernment to know when to be still and hold on. 

This last year brought with it some great joy and some deep pain. Holding Tig as she took her last breath brought such deep sorrow to my heart, but watching your heart cry out and grieve, was almost too much and too beautiful for me. You love deeply and I pray that God will use it in grand ways. The love you have for your family and your friends is so beautiful to see in action. I pray you always stand firm in the truth that you are so deeply loved.

 

 

I want you to stay my little Elly forever, but I'm also so excited to see you grow and learn and love in every new stage of life. I pray that you continue seeking out your Maker, the One who knit you together with great purpose. I pray that you will continue growing in wisdom, that your mind will be a treasure chest of truth, and that you will continue hiding God's word in your heart. You're such a beautiful soul. Happy Birthday, Babe! You are so deeply loved.

 

A Note From Mom: Seven Years of Judah!

Oh, my sweet Judah. You are growing up and becoming more and more incredible as you do! You continue to have such a tender heart, especially towards babies and younger kids. This last year, you have taken more of a role as one of the older kids, but you still linger and I love that. You could play up in your room by yourself all afternoon, or have a Judah/Elly day or Judah/Ruby day and be happy either way. You know when you need rest, and I really love that about you and hope you continue to foster boundaries for yourself as you grow. I pray you always find freedom in them. I pray you live a life of freedom, and that it would allow you to see people and love them the way that God does. I hope you always seek to see people the way God sees them.

We don't get too much one on one time together, which is probably why you always want me to come "check on you" once you've gone to bed. Once I'm up there, you snuggle up close and try to keep me there as long as possible coming up with jokes or stories to keep me just a bit longer. I love it. I don't ever want to take that for granted, or let those moments pass. I know that I only have you for a short time, and I want to take advantage of it. I hope you're always okay with me checking on you. As we grow older, I know that our relationship will change over and over again, but you're my only son and that's very special to me. You will always be very special to me.

You are so kind to me and thoughtful of my needs and God continues to use you to soften my heart and open my eyes to the deepness of His love for me. I'm so proud of you and I'm SO THANKFUL for you!!! I love you, Buddy! Happy 7th Birthday!!!!

A Note From Mom: ONE DECADE of Lucy Jo

That first time I heard your heart beating, my heart grew 10,000 times larger. When I saw Dad holding you for the first time, I was so tired and worn out and still had so much medicine in me and I couldn't hold you myself. So, I just laid there watching him talk to you and hold you close and had so many thoughts of how much I loved him and how I loved you so so SO much. Then I was finally able to hold you and I was in love. And I'm still just so in love with you.

You were, and you still are, an indescribable gift.

Your life is a gift, Babe. I pray everyday that you wake up with the readiness to bring glory and honor to your Maker. He has already gifted you with the knowledge of the deepness of His love for you. Cling to that love, and never let it go. There will waves of joy and sorrow throughout your life, let that love be your anchor. There will be roads that you do not want to walk, cling even more tightly to that love and trust that His ways are so very different than ours, and they are perfect... always.

You are a light and I know that you will be used to continually radiate the darkness.

I pray that you always stand firmly in truth, that you will be filled with discernment and integrity, and that you will clothe yourself in compassion and kindness. May humility and gratitude be your constant companions. Whether you are speaking words of truth or out of integrity, or you are humbling yourself in incredible acts of kindness, do it all in love. Words are powerful, kindness is powerful, and bound in love they can be transforming.

I'm so proud of you, Lucy. I'm constantly amazed and fascinated by the way your mind works. I'm just so excited to see what this next decade holds in store for you. Happy 10th Birthday, Babe!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!