Learning

I write so that you will know how much we love you, how fun you are, the funny things you do, the joy you bring, and the activities we did as a family. I also write to tell you the Truth, so that if we are not around or there comes a time when we as parents and child cannot seem to communicate with each other, this blog may touch you in ways that we can not and you will know the Truth! You have always been loved by us and by your Heavenly Father.

You have been blessed, no matter what you feel you don't have or has been taken from you or that is unfair. You are loved by a God who continues to love you, bless you, and pursue a relationship with you!

Life is hard because this life is not all about you or me or even our family. It is about God and lives that bring Him glory. Here are things that I will be teaching you as you grow. Some of these are hard for me to teach because they do not come easily with our human nature, many of them were hard lessons for me to learn. It would be easier to spoil you and keep you protected and do whatever you want to keep you happy, but that is not loving you fully.

Taking steps to be safe is important (always wear your helmet or seat belt. I don't care what your Papa says!) But living in fear of risk is not living fully. It is not trusting in a God with unlimited power and resources and unconditional love for you. God calls us to risk, at times our own possessions, dreams or personal safety to follow Him for His glory. (I know there will be times when you will not believe it, but His way is always better for you than leaving His way to follow your own way. Your way is for the moment, God's way is glorifying to him which is eternal. No matter what you must go through to follow what he has called you to, knowing and trusting and believing in Him more, is worth it!).

Going without money can feel like punishment or it can be seen as the "right" way to live. Neither is always the case. Be smart with your money. Be joyfully generous to those whom God calls and lays on your heart to be generous with. All money, resources, material things, health, and even cultural luxuries (clean running water) are owned and controlled by our God. Hold these things with open hands. Enjoy and be smart with that you have, when you have it. When you don't have as much do not fear or regret. God still controls all the money, resources of this world and he can provide for you even when you do not see a way!

In all things give thanks to God and seek to glorify Him where he has you with what he has given you! Be a testimony to the love and faithfulness of God no matter what your circumstances, rich, poor, working to get out of debt(hopefully we will teach you to avoid debt!), or anywhere in between.

There is so much to teach you from tying your shoes to loving your wife to being surrendered to Jesus Christ, this really can't be taught by us, it is a gift from the Holy Spirit, but it can be lived out before you as an example. This will be my job for the rest of my life!! This both petrifies me and fills me with so much purpose!

I love you, my son.

I still have much to learn so I will live transparent and at times we will learn together!
You are covered in prayer everyday and your Heavenly Father knows you, he made you for His purpose and loves you even more than I can!

Love,
Mama

24mths

Well its official, you are two.

You are getting so big and talking a lot! I say it once and you repeat. You have just started forming sentences. You still want me to be with you all the time and I have trouble getting anything done. You are very huggie and will randomly say "hug" and throw yourself at someone.

Lately everything "hurts" you say it all the time for any reason. "Chandler put your shirt on" "hurts". "Chandler, its time to put your socks and shoes on" "hurts". Usually a kiss will make it better, but I couldn't get you to wear shoes for two weeks straight. You have started kissing your own boo boos and say "butter" which is how it sounds when you say better.

The sweetest thing you do these days is stroking my face and saying "nice".

You are not getting in trouble as much at daycare and have stopped hitting and pushing your friends there. But when you do take a toy that is not yours or make another kid cry you immediately go up to them and say "sorry", it is very cute.

In the morning when you get up you whine and kick in your crib. When I come in to pick you up you gather Duke, Tigger, blue blanket, and brown blanket!!! Then I carry you and all your things to the couch to watch "Shaun the Sheep" and eat breakfast on the couch.

You are like your Papa in that texture matters so much to you. You only like the softest blankets. You scream every time I put jeans or corduroy pants on you. You will only wear stretchy PJ material. The other night you found a sateen pillow case and all evening you rubbed it on your belly and ended up sleeping in it like a sleeping bag (silky side inside of course).

I hope you know how loved you are and that your Papa and I have so much fun with you in our lives.