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Man of the Woods,
You are huge! Last year we bought you a bike for your birthday. You could barely touch your toes to the ground. We told you we would buy it a bit big so it would last you a few years. You loved it. This year the seat is adjust in the highest position, your feet are solidly on the ground, when I watch you peddle I wonder if we might have to yard sale for a bike this summer. That's not the only signs at how you've grown. Our clothes are constantly getting mixed together, we share shirts, and you commandeered my spare pair of sneakers a few weeks ago, because your old ones no longer fit.
But it's not just physical growth I've watched happen over this last year. You've started thinking more like a man and less like a child. A while back, the day started off great, you not only wanted to make muffins for breakfast, but you invited our Happy one to help you. You have no idea what that means to a little brother. As the day continued it got busy and just as I was getting ready to make dinner he had a major poop explosion, as in the kind where he needed a bath. You saw my frustration and asked how you could help. You made dinner, all by your self. You made BBQ chicken, rice, and broccoli, a meal that is not your favorite, but was on the menu that night. I couldn't leave the Babe in the tub alone, so I didn't once step into the kitchen, you did it entirely on your own.
The other day you stubbed your toe on the baby gate. You yelled. You do not often yell, but even with your pain filled yelling you said, "I'm not frustrated with you or anybody, it's just been a bad day." I was sorry to see you in pain, but to hear your words, to know that even in pain you were protecting the rest of us by making sure we all knew your outburst wasn't at us, this pleased me. You are an amazing guy. I am proud to be your Ma.
Eleven. Wow!
You and I have been learning life together for 11 years. Seems like it just began and like we've been doing it forever. You teach me every day with each new phase how to be a Momma. You are my first born. Daily you change my world, opening places in my heart that I didn't even know existed. I love you man. You ask great questions, you are never satisfied with easy answers, you constantly are digging deeper. This is good. You love people well, searching there hearts to find connections. You lead well, people they naturally follow you. I have watched you over the years take a bunch of chaotic kids and organize them. I think that's the coolest thing. My prayer for you this year is that you would look for ways to love God and people. I hope that we can teach you that Love Does, as Bob Goff always says. I hope that you continue to learn that love is more then a feeling, but it's an action. Actually the root of the Hebrew word to love is "to give", love is an action word. Practice doing love. (Some of my favorite verses on doing love Deut. 10:12, Isa. 58:6-7, Rom. 12) I also hope that as you look more man-ish, probably growing eye to eye with me over this year, that you begin to find what you're good at and make it yours. I hope that as you lead as a brother, and in Boy Scouts that you do it in a way that builds others up, encouraging them to grow, and that you own your mistakes when you make them. I think you already have begun walking this path here's an essay you wrote answering why you thought you would make a good patrol leader: I think a patrol leader needs to be able to work well with others, to be organized, to make sure everyone is having fun, and trained correctly. I think I would make a good patrol leader because I work well with others. On recruitment night my friend and I took care of one of the biggest and youngest Cub Scout groups. I think they had the most fun and I had time to help out some of the other groups. I think I've had experience organizing because when we were selling meat sticks at a craft fair I helped set up our table and I made sure we always had meat sticks on the table. I helped take care of the younger scouts by helping them make sales, and I also helped them with a wood project. At the end of the day I went around to other booths selling meat sticks. I helped clean up at the end of the day. If I become a patrol leader I'm looking forward to helping other kids do different things and learning how to be a better leader.
You got the job, the other's thought you would be a good leader because you wanted to be helpful. I am proud of you for taking the time to and effort to think about it, to write it, and to put others first. I think over the next few months you will lead well.
An interview with your 11 year old self:
What is your favorite color? Blue
What is something very special to you? My Family
What is favorite word or saying? Seriously?
Who is your favorite super hero? Captain Marvel
Where is your favorite place to eat? Longhorns, fried chicken
What is your favorite memory from this past year? Christmas morning, to see how excited Isaac was. It made me happy because I knew I was going to give him a really big gift.
What is your favorite book? Origami Yoda series
What do you want to be when you grow up? I... don't know.
You, my son, are loved always,
~Ma
You are huge! Last year we bought you a bike for your birthday. You could barely touch your toes to the ground. We told you we would buy it a bit big so it would last you a few years. You loved it. This year the seat is adjust in the highest position, your feet are solidly on the ground, when I watch you peddle I wonder if we might have to yard sale for a bike this summer. That's not the only signs at how you've grown. Our clothes are constantly getting mixed together, we share shirts, and you commandeered my spare pair of sneakers a few weeks ago, because your old ones no longer fit.
But it's not just physical growth I've watched happen over this last year. You've started thinking more like a man and less like a child. A while back, the day started off great, you not only wanted to make muffins for breakfast, but you invited our Happy one to help you. You have no idea what that means to a little brother. As the day continued it got busy and just as I was getting ready to make dinner he had a major poop explosion, as in the kind where he needed a bath. You saw my frustration and asked how you could help. You made dinner, all by your self. You made BBQ chicken, rice, and broccoli, a meal that is not your favorite, but was on the menu that night. I couldn't leave the Babe in the tub alone, so I didn't once step into the kitchen, you did it entirely on your own.
The other day you stubbed your toe on the baby gate. You yelled. You do not often yell, but even with your pain filled yelling you said, "I'm not frustrated with you or anybody, it's just been a bad day." I was sorry to see you in pain, but to hear your words, to know that even in pain you were protecting the rest of us by making sure we all knew your outburst wasn't at us, this pleased me. You are an amazing guy. I am proud to be your Ma.
Eleven. Wow!
 |
| Playing in a puddle on your first birthday. We celebrated by going on a fun little hike. Always, a Man of the Woods. |
You and I have been learning life together for 11 years. Seems like it just began and like we've been doing it forever. You teach me every day with each new phase how to be a Momma. You are my first born. Daily you change my world, opening places in my heart that I didn't even know existed. I love you man. You ask great questions, you are never satisfied with easy answers, you constantly are digging deeper. This is good. You love people well, searching there hearts to find connections. You lead well, people they naturally follow you. I have watched you over the years take a bunch of chaotic kids and organize them. I think that's the coolest thing. My prayer for you this year is that you would look for ways to love God and people. I hope that we can teach you that Love Does, as Bob Goff always says. I hope that you continue to learn that love is more then a feeling, but it's an action. Actually the root of the Hebrew word to love is "to give", love is an action word. Practice doing love. (Some of my favorite verses on doing love Deut. 10:12, Isa. 58:6-7, Rom. 12) I also hope that as you look more man-ish, probably growing eye to eye with me over this year, that you begin to find what you're good at and make it yours. I hope that as you lead as a brother, and in Boy Scouts that you do it in a way that builds others up, encouraging them to grow, and that you own your mistakes when you make them. I think you already have begun walking this path here's an essay you wrote answering why you thought you would make a good patrol leader: I think a patrol leader needs to be able to work well with others, to be organized, to make sure everyone is having fun, and trained correctly. I think I would make a good patrol leader because I work well with others. On recruitment night my friend and I took care of one of the biggest and youngest Cub Scout groups. I think they had the most fun and I had time to help out some of the other groups. I think I've had experience organizing because when we were selling meat sticks at a craft fair I helped set up our table and I made sure we always had meat sticks on the table. I helped take care of the younger scouts by helping them make sales, and I also helped them with a wood project. At the end of the day I went around to other booths selling meat sticks. I helped clean up at the end of the day. If I become a patrol leader I'm looking forward to helping other kids do different things and learning how to be a better leader.
You got the job, the other's thought you would be a good leader because you wanted to be helpful. I am proud of you for taking the time to and effort to think about it, to write it, and to put others first. I think over the next few months you will lead well.
 |
| First concert. Casting Crowns. |
An interview with your 11 year old self:
What is your favorite color? Blue
What is something very special to you? My Family
What is favorite word or saying? Seriously?
Who is your favorite super hero? Captain Marvel
 |
| While I loaded the car with groceries, you offered to feed two babies. |
Where is your favorite place to eat? Longhorns, fried chicken
What is your favorite memory from this past year? Christmas morning, to see how excited Isaac was. It made me happy because I knew I was going to give him a really big gift.
What is your favorite book? Origami Yoda series
What do you want to be when you grow up? I... don't know.
You, my son, are loved always,
~Ma
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