Happy Birthday Allison

(pictures to be added later. . . .I can't wait to get my computer set-up back to normal).

Allison,

Today, you turned 9. You asked me "exactly when do I turn 9?" Such a 9 year old question, huh? A world full of exactness and right answers. The answer -- at 4:23 pm. You were my middle of the afternoon baby -- my one that didn't make me wait all day or stay up all night. The easiest baby we had in many respects. You were always our sleeper (well, except for about 10 months after we took you out of the crib) -- you came home sleeping 6 hours straight at night. You are unconcerned with schedules, details, and stress. You just are. . . and are so happy to be.

This past year, you matured a lot -- you grew in so many ways. Most importantly, you grew leaps and bounds in your relationship with God. For several months, you asked and asked about being baptized. Coming from a church of Christ background, I felt you were so, so young. But you were persistant, and thought provoking, and determined. How could I possibly tell you that you weren't ready because of your age? After many talks with you, your dad and I gave you our blessing and arranged your baptism. I pray for you that throughout the continuing years, you continue to grow in your relationship with God and you remember those feelings you had so strongly as a child.

Already, I can tell that you are going to be one of God's prayer warriors. You are relentless in your praying -- and you definitely believe that it's okay to pray any where and at any time. I've watched you pray in the middle of getting dressed, while reading, while brushing your teeth, while walking down the hall at school. If a thought is in your head and it needs praying about, you obviously don't hesitate to do so. Your mom would do well to learn from your "drop it all and pray" spirit. Sometimes we laugh -- it's not many kids who'll continue to pray for 3+ years for their dead hamsters, but your prayers are so pure and trusting, it's obvious to see how much you put your trust in God.

I worry often about you being in the middle of Ian and Alaina -- the other 2 are so much more vocal in their own self-confidence. I worry about how to help you develop that confidence in yourself. I need not have worried -- you've grown in so many ways and are proving yourself to be confident as well. You took the TAKS test for the first time this year -- and aced both of them (not missing a question AT ALL!). You've shown strides in staying caught up in your school work (thank goodness the 3rd grade is over! That always seems to be the hardest year around here), and gaining confidence in skills you expressed doubt about. You've made great strides in your dancing -- and was so thrilled to get your 5 year trophy at the recitals this spring. You are controlling your behavior so much better (rarely do we see the long, long tantrums that I used to wonder if you'd ever outgrow).

You are a goal oriented child. If you get something set in your mind, you'll do whatever it takes to get it done. This year, that manifested itself in your desire for trophies. Not sure why you have that desire so badly, but they're definitely important to you. This year, that meant reading 14 books off the Bluebonnet Awards list to earn a trophy -- one of only 8 or so kids in the 3rd grade who did. You've already decided you want to earn a large trophy (reading 20 books) next year. I have no doubt you'll do it. You've even started yourself a notebook to take notes so you'll be prepared to take the book tests you have to take to get credit for reading the books.

Tonight, we went, once again, to On The Border to celebrate your birthday. I think we've gone there since your 2nd birthday (I'll have to look that up and see if I can figure that out). Each year we let you guys choose where dinner will be on your birthday night, and for you it's always the same. This year, we got video of you twirling that cloth napkin over your head, huge smile, with the waitstaff singing to you. If I could ever figure out youtube . . .

I hope for you another year of happiness. Another year of growing and maturing and loving what you do. A year of even more confidence in yourself and the abilities you have.

I hope that you always know how much I love you and how much you were longed for. You were an answer to many prayers and months of waiting. You were the child that taught me that things are done in God's time and in His way, not in my time or on my demands. Allison, I love you -- just because you're you. I love the baby you were, the girl you are, and the young woman you are yet to be. Thank you for teaching me all that you do.

Love, Mom

Birthday Letter to Ian

Ian,

Today, you turned twelve. It's so amazing to me that we're entering your last year of non-teenagehood. Wow. You've grown so much this past year -- emotionally, educationally, physically. It won't be long now before you're taller than I am. EEK! I think there will always be a part of me that longs for just a few more moments with the Ian I used to know . . . the first days with newborn Ian, toddler Ian, pre-K Ian. Oh the list goes on. I can honestly say there hasn't been an age you've been that I haven't enjoyed. I know that you'll be starting in on those teenage attitudes soon -- we see glimpses of them occasionally already. You promise me you're going to try and not be a "typical teenager", but I know it's coming! I just hope and pray for you that you make it through the next 6 years safely and growing into the man God wants so completely for you to be.

Last year on this date, I expressed concern over the beginning of your middle school years (see this post). Those people who've gone before you have often said that they'd love to go back to just about any age other than those 3 middle school years! You seemed to handle this new adventure so well. I heard stories from other moms about how their sons cried daily for the first couple weeks at school. None of that from you -- you seemed to have no problem with the lockers, finding classes, the daily homework. The biggest concern you expressed was the fear of not getting to PE on time because you had 4 minutes to cross the school twice (once to take books to your locker, and then back across the school to get to the dressing room -- apparently middle school PE lockers are no longer like they used to be when I was in school -- no room for books in the locker!). This year's been a learning experience for the both of us -- I'm having to learn to scale back on the "being in your business" educationally and you're learning all that new stuff! You were NOT happy with me when I suggested studying -- for tests, exams, etc. We came to the agreement that as long as you came out of the test with an A, I wouldn't question how much you studied. Seemed to work for you -- one of only about 18 kids in the whole 6th grade class to make all A's in every class for the entire year! However, we did earn the right to have some say over projects when you made less than an A on one of those (and had refused our suggestions). We are definitely SO PROUD of your academic accomplishments this year. You were recently invited to be part of Junior National Young Leaders Conference by one of your teachers. Quite the honor! We're still trying to figure out how we can financially make that happen for you. You've expressed the interest in visiting DC for several years now. This isn't the way we planned for it to happen, but you'd certainly have opportunities to do things, meet people, and go places that we would not be able to do on a family vacation there.

I was worried about you making new friends. Once again -- shouldn't have been. You came home talking about kids we've never heard of before. You won tickets to the Texas Tornado game and took 2 boys with you we'd never met. You're definitely doing better on the making new friends thing than I thought you would.

You took up 2 new hobbies -- the baritone in the band and golf. You've enjoyed learning both these things and are doing well. We found out in the last couple of weeks that you will be playing in the symphonic band next year -- quite the feat for a kid with 1 year's experience. And the golf is coming right along. . . it is interesting to watch you analyze where you should hit the ball, etc.

You made the decision to be baptized back in February. We are so proud of your decision and how much you yearn to know God better. We feel so blessed to have a son who cares so much about learning more and cultivating his relationship with Jesus.

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. For you to suddenly turn all teenagerish on us. I hope that we're doing enough in these last few months to once again reinforce how much we love you and that we'll be here for you no matter what. I pray for you to find your way through these next few years with dignity and feeling proud of yourself. . . knowing that the mistakes you've made were just that -- mistakes. Not something that you need to beat yourself up about or continue to dwell on, but something that because it's happened, you've learned something. Something about life, about yourself, about respecting others, about depending on God. That's my desire, my wish for you. . . to be good to yourself in these next few years, and to learn to live life.

Ian, daily you give me reasons that remind me why I'm so proud of you. You show a tenderness for your sisters that is so special to me, you enjoy being around little kids and entertaining them, you are becoming so responsible, and well . . . you're just you. Which will always make me proud of you. I love you. And while I so miss the Ian you once were, I'm enjoying the Ian you now are, and I can't wait to meet the Ian you will one day become. Know that I wish for you so many wonderful things in life. And that I love you. Forever.

Love, Mom