A Note From Mom: RUBY IS EIGHT!

 

My little baby is eight. I don't know what I'd do without you, Babe. You bring joy and life and a mess wherever you go, and I'm so grateful to get to be there for it. I thank God every day that He allowed me to walk alongside you as your mom. You are so precious to me.

I love you, little Red Panda! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

A Note From Mom: ELLY is TWELVE!

 

My little Sweetness. You are still just as sweet as the day I first referred to you as this, and you are becoming just as mischievous as that little Round Baby was! When those eyes start to twinkle and those dimples pop up, I know you're up to something good. I hope your eyes always twinkle and those dimples always show up when you're up to something good... and I hope you're always up to something good.

I find these beautiful pics on my phone all the time. I hope you always smile when you see yourself, and I hope you always see and feel the reflection of your heavenly Father. You are created in His image and called good. I pray that as our enemy seeks to twist and distort what God has called good, you will partner with God in every opportunity to reclaim that goodness! 

You equally love babies and adventure... a girl after my own heart for sure! Though your spirit is much more adventurous than mine and I'm sure will lead you to all kinds of thrills in life! I pray that your love for the smallest and most vulnerable and the adventures that you seek will deepen and widen your heart in ways that you can't even fathom right now.

Another way that we're alike is that if there's a way to get hurt, we'll find it. I pray that the hurts that come along the way will never sow seeds of fear in your heart, but that you will allow wisdom and discernment to lead you and guide you, and that you will rest and even bask in God's sovereignty over your life.

My beautiful girl... this is your last year of childhood, and I pray that God uses this next year to draw you closer and closer to Him. You daily pray to be wrapped in the armor of God, cloaked in humility, and to be given the power to exercise the fruits of the Spirit - I pray that with you. May you always feel the protection of His salvation and righteousness guarding your mind and heart; may you feel His faithfulness surrounding you; may you be held together firmly in His truth; and may your feet have the readiness to walk anywhere knowing you walk in God's peace. May you daily be clothed in humility and compassion for yourself and for others, and may the fruits that nourish you be poured out in nourishment for others. I love you, Babe. HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY!

A Note From Mom: Judah is ONE DECADE!

You came into our lives and completely changed us all. We were all in love with you instantly.

You were pretty serious from the beginning. 

And pretty laid back. 10 years later, you still are.

My favorite little boy. You always will be. You're such a gift to me, and I'm just so thankful for you. You love me so well, and have been a healing presence in my life from the moment I knew of you.

You've always loved to build, construct, take things apart and put them back together. I pray God uses these skills that have been with you since you were very young to bring glory and honor to Him in so many, many ways. I pray that you continue building, taking things apart and putting them back together better than you found them... including people. You've never shied away from talking to people... unless you just didn't want to (which we're working on right now. HAHA!), and I hope that God uses that courage and boldness to speak into the lives of many.

I'm so proud of you, Judah. I'm intrigued by the way your mind works. You think of amazing things, and I look forward to the way God is going to use your crazy imagination. You are bold and courageous and will stand up and fight for what you think is right. I pray the Lord always guides you as you fight, and you will always have the ears to hear His gentle voice calling out to you. I pray that you see others the way He sees them, and love them the way He loves them. You are such a special person and I'm so thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to be your mom. 

I love you so much, Buddy! Happy ONE DECADE!!!

 

A Note From Mom: THIRTEEN YEARS of Little Lucy!

 

Thirteen years ago, I was 41 weeks pregnant and you weren't showing any signs of coming out. The doctor decided to induce me and I was there all day working on getting you out, and by the end of the day, I was exhausted. They gave me an epidural; your heart rate was in question, so they rushed me to the OR and did an emergency c-section. I was so medicated I couldn't even hold you, but they laid you on me and I remember being so, so happy. You were perfect in every way... and you still are.

You take great selfies when you're actually supposed to be taking pictures of me. HAHA!

You are adventurous in every way, and I thank God for that quality in you. I hope you never lose it and I hope God uses it to bless you over and over again.

You are so incredibly smart, and your heart already has so much wisdom. I'm amazed by you. I'm so amazed at what God has created in you and I love seeing you mature and become the sophisticated little lady that you think you ought to be. I'm so proud of the standards you have set for yourself, and I pray God uses that wisdom to protect you as you grow.

You are so beautiful. Your smile is contagious and your little laugh is perfection. I used to just stare at your cute little face because I just couldn't believe that you were mine, and I still can't believe that God gifted me with such an incredible daughter.

I deeply love you. I'm so thankful that God brought you into my life and that we get to walk through life together. You will always be one of my best friends.

You are truly an incredible person, Babe. I'm just so proud of you... I can't say it enough.

Happy THIRTEENTH Birthday, little girl!

You are so deeply loved.