A Note From Mom: Little Buddy turns FOUR!

I'm not sure exactly how this happened so quickly. I can remember just him and I hanging out together in our comfy hospital bed and it seems as though that was last week. And now he's four. And four sounds so old to me. Four is the age that I've always thought I would want to remain, if I was ever given the opportunity. It's such a magical age; you can talk and interact with people, but still not much is required of you, and you get to play basically all day. And you're still pretty cute, so people are still charmed by you.

 And Judah is so charming. He has a tender heart and such a sensitive soul and those dimples...
He's so incredibly ornery, but so insanely sweet. Sometimes I just watch him and listen to him play and create fascinating little worlds where his monster trucks interact and converse with his construction trucks or he turns himself into an eagle, or a chameleon, or a jaguar. He has an incredible imagination.

Judah means to "thank" or "praise" and he consistently exercises this in his day to day interactions, a lot of times without any nudging or reminding. He's so gentle and tender with babies, and those younger than him {usually!} and I can't wait to see that play out in his life as he ages. I hope his tenderness remains untouched by this world and develops into a courageous strength. I hope that the empathy he already exercises is only strengthened with time, and that a deep love for people will dwell in him and through him.

Buddy, you are such a gift to me! I'm so very thankful and humbled by your love for me. Happy Birthday, little man; I love you!!

A Note From Mom: You're Seven

My little Lucy babe... you're seven years old today.
As you told your brother and sister the other day, you're "almost a lady."

You have been a light in my life since before you were even born, and now you radiate my days with your contagious smile and your unending energy.

You take my heart and mind to places that no one else does. You push my boundaries consistently, but in that, you break down walls that were created long before you ever were.

I needed you so much.

I'm so thankful that The Writer of our days had our stories intertwined with one another. And I keep excitedly awaiting for each new chapter that unfolds.

The creativity that stirs in you is magical and I look forward to seeing more of it unravel through your drawings and writings. Your drawings are masterpieces. Your writings are incredible. They are my most favorite stories that I've read ever. Getting lost in your head is such a lovely experience.

You pretend to be a princess almost every day, but the fact is, you are already a Lady. You were born for the King, and I believe that your heart is becoming very aware of the presence that plays in your life. And it is exciting to see glimpses of the refinement taking place in you.

Lucy Jo, I adore you. I love you in a way that I love no other... my first little one I held in my arms.
Happy Birthday, Babe!

A Note From Mom: Baby Ruby Is One

Today, another piece of my heart grew. 

Little Ruby has been the personification of joy in my life. When she smiles, her whole body smiles. She's our little baby doll. And most of the time she loves that. 

Though in this last couple of weeks, she has grown and begun doing things that 'kids' do... not toddler kids, but kid kids. As number four, she will always be racing after the others to be doing whatever they are doing, laughing at whatever they are laughing at, just doing her best to keep up with them. And I think she will. She's a light that began shining brightly the moment she arrived.

She has been my calm. She now keeps me on my toes. When I hold her close, there is a connection that I really can't put into words. She was knit together in me at a time when my life was all over the place. We sold a house, we bought a house, the house fell through, we lived with Duane, we looked and looked for other houses, we found OUR house, we moved in, Ruby arrived three weeks later. I could always connect with her though, because she was a part of me. 

Rubes McGubes, I love you so. I love your squishy baby body, I love your laugh. I love the way you point at things and then talk as if we all understand you. Little Love, you are something else!

A Note From Mom: Sweet Little Elly, You're FIVE!!!!

Oh, my little Sweetness! It's unbelievable to me that you are five. You are such an amazing soul. Your kindness slays me and the genuine generosity that pours from your heart sometimes makes me catch my breath. You are being molded for greatness. 

I pray that you will always exercise the bravery that stirs within you (though it TERRIFIES me!) and always act upon the goodness and love that you have for others. I pray that you always cling tightly to the courage to do the right thing, and that you never stop reminding me how big God is. 

You are my little Snugglebear and I love you deeply.

A Note From Mom: Judah Is A Three Year Old

That face... that smile gets this little boy out of a lot! Judah continues to amaze me with his tenderness and consideration. He offered to give me a massage the other day and then proceeded to roll his cars and trucks across my back. I now get one every time I go into his room because I told him how awesome it was. Every so often he tells us things that he thinks are awesome. "Mom, that car is awesome." "That airplane is awesome, Mom." He loves to be read to. He's just beginning to engage in drawing and will now draw things specifically for me, and I love it so much.

He'll regularly go up to his room and play with his trucks or trains or tools for quite sometime and he's fascinating to watch and listen to. One day I heard him talking and had apologized for not hearing exactly what he said and he replied, "No, Mom... I just talkin' to myself." I love watching him interact with his sisters. He loves on Ruby so much, singing to her ("You Are So Beautiful To Me" is his go-to and it is amazing) and holding her hand in the car when she's upset. Him and Elly can play for hours together or just sit doing their own thing, but together... super sweet moments that I want to have in my memory forever. Lucy and him are SO much alike. Both are high energy and LOVE to have as much fun as you can possibly have together, and they do.

Judah, you are incredible. I hope that your tender heart is always able to empathize and engage with others the way it does now. I hope that you always choose to do the right thing... even if it takes you a minute to decide. I hope your love for tools and fixing things lends you great opportunities to serve others. I love you so incredibly much and feel so humbled at the thought of getting to be your mom. Happy Birthday, little Buddy!!