…♥…
Dear Jonah Paul,
You little lover boy are my soft spot. The sight of you, the smell of you, makes my heart a puddle at my feet. Your smile is beyond contagious and you are so quick to share it with everyone. From your first “ma-ma” in the morning to your last “nigh-nigh” at bedtime you are our joy boy. I think you get kissed and hugged more than any other baby ever has. Every member of our family smoothers you in love and you adore it all. You, Jonah-pie, are the best hugger I’ve ever known. You squeeze your little body up tight to mine, wrap your arms around my neck, and softly lay your cheek on my shoulder. The best part of your hugs is you’re never the first one to let go, you just keep on hanging on. Your bye-bye’s are never just a wave. You always follow up by blowing kisses. You remind all of us how great it is to love and be loved. You soften us and keep us tender. I always tell Daddy how lucky your wife is going to be some day because loving others comes so naturally to you.
What a gift you are little one,
I am so in love with you!
…♥…
My sweet Savannah,
Just now I kissed your cheek and left you at school excited to celebrate your “Jesus Loves Me” party. You looked so sweet dressed up in pink and red and I truly miss you every time I drop you off and get in the car.
This morning you checked your mailbox to discover the Cinderella chocolate tin from your Daddy and clues to find a hidden Valentine’s gift from me. You were smiling and the joy that radiated from your blue eyes nearly brought tears to mine. But you know all about my happy tears. You tell me all the time, “Mom, I know why you’re crying, you just love us so much it makes you too happy.”
Oh Savannah, You have no idea.
♥
We recently sat down with your teacher at conferences and she told us in general you are shy and reserved, never raising your hand to answer questions. Except, she said, when it’s something about God or the Bible. Then you can’t help yourself, you just blurt out the answer. She said of all her students, you have the deepest knowledge and understanding of God and the Bible. That you just love Jesus.”
You love Jesus.
When I heard these words I cried. Partly because I knew how true they were and how touched I was that someone else had seen it in you. I cried partly because I knew I could do everything in my power to pass on a love for Jesus in your heart but that ultimately you were the only one who could choose to love him. And you have.
You love Jesus.
Your childlike faith is inspiring to all who know you. The way you converse with Jesus like he is your physically present best friend leaves me wondering sometimes if he really is sitting on the bed speaking with you. When I asked you the other day what your favorite song was you answered, “My best friend is Jesus.”
My hope for you is that Valentines Day is always a day you remember just how deeply loved you are. That no amount of romance will take the place of Jesus in your heart. May he always be your first love little girl.
As much as my heart bursts with love for you it spills over into happy tears, how much more so God cries happy tears over you.
You are loved beyond all imagine my sweet, sweet Savannah.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
…♥…
Dear Jayden,
When you climbed into our bed at 5:30 this morning and whispered “Happy Valentines Day” I couldn’t believe how big you felt snuggled up next to me. Seven years ago today I felt you move for the first time. We were sitting in church and you did a little flip and my eyes got big and my smile bigger. It was the first time I had felt life move inside me and oh how precious it was! You were my first baby love.
Yesterday when I read your teacher’s email aloud so you could hear all the positive things she has to say about you, I started crying. I’m so proud of you Jayden. You are everything I am not. Fearless, a natural leader, confident, funny, thick-skinned, and a hard worker. The way your peers swarm to you and follow you, leaves me anxious to know how God is going to use you in the world some day.
The way you handle hard and difficult things with such strength and resilient confidence is amazing to me.
Recently you had Dad and I laughing when you came up with a rewards system for us when we practice great parenting. You started giving us prizes when we did or handled things well. Only you Jayden would come up with a way to use our parenting tactics on us. You keep us humble and on our toes and in prayer more than anyone else ever could.
What great things God has in store for you strong boy!
I’m so proud to know you and love you.
…♥…
Dear Jesse,
Writing a love note to you is a little overwhelming. That’s why, when I read this post by Ann Voskamp this morning I thought it such a true way to sum up the realities of love and marriage.
Real, raw, and sacrificial.
(take a moment to read it later…)
Over the past week and a half our family was wrecked with two rounds of the stomach flu, RSV, strep throat, and ear infections leaving everyone clingy, fussy, and extra needy. And yet as I watched you pull a reeking, vomit dripping car seat from the van I smiled with thankfulness that it was you cleaning up that mess and not me. You sacrificed and I love you for it.
Because in a world where sexiness and comfort sells, you are teaching our kids real love is sacrifice and hard work.
So much of what you do at home or at your job goes unrewarded and unnoticed. You quietly serve never seeking acknowledgments and accolades. Your humbleness is the most attractive thing about you. You are teaching me so much.
To steal the words of Ann, thank you for being,
“The kind of man whose romance isn’t flashy – because love is gritty.
The kind of man whose romance isn’t about cameras — because it’s about Christ.
The kind of man whose romance doesn’t have to go viral — because it’s going eternal.”
Counting down the minutes til you get home….