One = Eleven

Right as this post goes up, at 11:11pm tonight, One will officially be ELEVEN YEARS OLD. For once I'm not surprised or shocked, or really thinking about "where has all the time gone?" He's just so, eleven already, that it doesn't surprise me that I'm the mother of a boy who in four short months will shake the elementary school dust off his feet and take on the title "middle schooler", who needs braces, who has the glimmerings of a mustache, and who tells me things like "when I even think about talking to a girl I start blushing, even before I open my mouth."

He's growing up.

He's growing up, and it's so much fun to watch sometimes I can't believe it's real. As I was falling asleep the other night I had a picture in my head of One and his brother, and all I could think of was that it was as if two stars had fallen to earth and been placed in our care. They shine so bright, they work so hard, they dream so big. Right now One is at a place in his life where everything is possible; what he sees off in the distance - glimmering ahead in the future - is whatever he wants it to be. He knows he has challenges, but he doesn't see them as limitations. He know he has hard work ahead, but he's done hard work before, and he's ready to put everything he has into what's coming. In some ways he's at this perfect time in life, where he sees nothing ahead but dreams of how he wants things to be. He hasn't been knocked around by life, hasn't been stepped on, kicked aside, left behind by it yet. He's still so innocent: a treasure in someone his age, even in the over-protective modern coccoon in which we live.

Instead of terrifying me, his bright dreams of the future, his innocence, somehow convince me that he is right. That the dreams are there, shining out in the future just beyond where we can see. When I look ahead through his eyes, I believe it too.

Dear child who made me a mother on this day eleven years ago: Work hard, dream big and never quit. I know you can do it - whatever "it" is that life is leading us to. How do I know? I'm your mom, silly One, and I know you almost as well as you know yourself.

Happy Birthday, my sweet child.

Happy Birthday To Two

Six years ago at 6:46pm, Two made his entrance into the world. He was greeted by three "wows" - each directed at his prodigious weight. Since then he has developed the physique of a triathlete, but he's still making all of us say "wow".

One of Husband's and my favorite habits with Two has been trying to see who he "takes after". Just the other day he jutted his chin out in a particularly stubborn fashion, and Husband swore he saw his maternal grandmother lurking in there. He doesn't physically resemble Husband's father, but many times we've noticed a certain "engineering" quality about his actions to wonder if he is indeed the reincarnation of his Grandpa Tom. An example: when he was 18 months old, he and One were running merrily under the sprinkler. Two kept eyeing the thing, and finally dropped to his tummy, combat-crawled under the spray, and found the button that makes the water stop. He gleefully stopped and started the water over and over - a soaking wet, grinning baby in a droopy diaper, acting for all the world like a mostly naked, happy engineer.

Not-so-little Two, you are my dear sweet baby boy. Your cherubic good looks mask an inquisitive and insightful mind. You are constantly sizing up the world around you and discovering new ways of making things work. You have a heart for everyone; you are a loving friend, brother and son and have a real love for everyone you meet. You make friends so easily, and others follow your lead because they can sense that you really do care about them. You have a mischievous sense of fun, and you can make everyone laugh with a wink or a smile. Your determination is legendary: sometimes you are known to "fight the world" but your ability to stick to your guns can serve you well if you remember what is worth fighting for.

My dear blond boy, my prayer for you is that you will use your determination, leadership talents, and insightful mind to help make this world a better place. You tell me constantly that we need to work "until everyone in the world has clean water, everywhere", and I pray that your gifts will someday help make this happen.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” - Numbers 6:24-26

Happy Birthday, angel.

Numbah One Son*

Today, at 11:11pm, One is officially NINE YEARS OLD. Yes, the last single digit year is upon him. I can't even begin to describe how old that makes me feel, and how often I am starting to point out that I was TWENTY NINE when he was born, even though I turned 30 the same year.

Well, my dear, sweet, larger-by-the-second son:

Happy Birthday! You are a joy to be with. Your conversation is better than most adults I know. Your love of knowledge and learning is something to behold - you inspire me to learn more about the world, if only to avoid being caught out by your increasingly superior knowledge. At the same time, you are still a sweet little boy, and I count every kiss you give me and keep them close to my heart. I love that you are still young enough for me to take care of - to tuck into bed, cuddle after a nightmare, and kiss before you leave for school. I am so proud of your determination and hard work. You are so like your dad in this respect! If you tell someone you'll do it - it gets done (and done well). You can always be trusted to keep your word.

If there is one thing I could tell you - one thing I pray that you will have more of as each year passes by - it is that your love for Christ would grow and grow. All the things I listed above are the great and wonderful gifts He has given you, and your work for Him will be a gift to us all if you let Him guide you where He wants you to go. Keep reading the Bible, keep listening when He speaks to you, and all your knowledge and love and determination will come together into a life of service for our Liberating King. I pray this for you now and every day, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Happy Birthday, most wonderful child. I love you all the way to the moon, and back.

*Our friends Mitzi and Jerry have christened One this - it's what they think of whenever they read about him here, and I love it.