A Note From Mom: Judah is EIGHT!!

Aw, Buddy... you're EIGHT!!! You've grown so much this year in all ways. You're taller. You're such a gifted artist... please don't ever stop drawing. And building. Your mind astounds me with the creations it comes up with and the way your hands are able to then make it. I pray that you daily ask God to give you imagination, and that you would allow Him to use your hands to create echoes of the perfection that He created.

Your courage continues to grow. You're very brave and you're very tender. You exercise gratitude and thankfulness. I love it so much. May God continue to fill you with gratitude and that you'll always find ways to exercise it and feel Him use it to strengthen you.

You are a very wild little boy, curious and inquisitive. I love watching you interact with your sister, with babies, with everyone. You're very charming, have very cute dimples, and such a handsome smile. You make me laugh and laugh and laugh. And nobody makes Ruby laugh the way that you do. You are my most favorite little boy in all the universe. 

I'm so thankful that we have these years together. I know we'll change and grow together. I know new seasons are coming, so I'm soaking this one in for however long it lasts. I love that you act like you hate kisses but then get that little mischievous smile on your face and let me catch you. You once told me that if I can't recognize you when you're a grown up, you're the one with the three freckles on your cheek. I daily catch glances of those freckles and thank God I still know you so well and that we get to be a part of each other's day and that He gave us to each other.

You are so deeply loved, Buddy! Happy 8th Birthday!!

A Note From Mom: Little Lucy is ELEVEN!

Made your first dress, sewn by hand

My diamond in the sky, my girl with kaleidoscope eyes. You shine so brightly, and you always have. You've always had that mischievous twinkle in your eye, and I hope you always do. 

Babe, I'm just so proud of you. Thinking back on this last year of your life... I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! I know it's hard being the oldest kid in the family. Believe me, your dad and I KNOW, but you were purposed to be just that. You have been gifted with incredible strengths that are being refined and sculpted, and just as you can start to see how a sculpture is taking shape, I see that in you often. Your sisters and your brother are watching closely and cheering you on. It doesn't always feel like that, but you're their big sister... the one who makes up incredible games, the one who's already read that book, the one who will always sing along and dance to every song... you have an incredible influence. I pray that as that influence grows and blooms beyond your siblings, it will be rooted deeply in humility. You are His, and He will use you in grand ways.

Sometimes it's hard for me to see you as the person that you truly are or are growing into. It's hard for me to look at you and not see my little roly-poly baby, but then I overhear a conversation between you and your friends or a family member, and I wonder who this grown up is talking. You have never been one who wanted to grow up too quickly, and I love and appreciate that so much about you. You teeter well between childhood and adolescence. I know you feel the changes coming; I feel them, too. I'm so excited to see this amazing piece of art being created right before my eyes. You are beautiful!!

You are so aware of who God is and what His word says, and I pray that you cling to that. He is so good, He is so powerful, He is so faithful and true. I pray that you always stand firmly on a foundation of truth. I pray that Truth would wrap around you like a fortress, that Integrity would lead you to always do the right thing, even when it's hard or you're the only one doing it. His ways are not our ways... cling to that truth.

I love you, Lucy. I love you and I like you and you're my favorite little Lucy!!! I love walking alongside you through life. You refine me and help me and point me to our Maker everyday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABE!!!

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!!!!