Off for a holiday and a birthday!

The kids and I are off to Christchurch, on the south island, for a week tomorrow. Some good friends who we knew in Levin now live down there and we are going to visit them and give ourselves a bit of a break. Probably not such a break for them, unfortunately. Hopefully, they'll put up with us. ;)

While we're there, my "big" boy turns 7. On Tuesday. Seven! Sounds a LOT more mature than six. This sweet baby boy (I think he's almost 2 in this picture),
is now my big, smart, sensitive, 7-year-old.

Ethan, you made me a mama. You made me feel and know emotions I didn't know existed before I held you in my arms. You, my guinea pig in parenting, have taught me how to love deeper than I've ever loved, you've taught me to be an advocate, you've taught me to trust my instincts.

And you continue to teach me. You teach me that your sensitive spirit is something to be cherished. I know God has given it to you for a reason. Your spirit is so soft to God, so soft to his love. You take everything to heart. This has been a rough year for you, my sweet boy. You have watched your dad leave our family. You've been confused, you've missed him desperately, you've longed for him, and you've prayed for him to "come home".

You've become a big brother, yet again. And you're such a good one. You are so gentle and kind, and make your sister (and your brother!) laugh and want to be like you. Oh, how they both love you! Yet, the transition to being a big brother of two wasn't easy. Along with your dad not being around, a new baby caused some big feelings of anger in you. Aggressiveness, even. I haven't seen much of that in you over the years. And I have prayed. I have prayed that you will feel that anger and then take it to Jesus. Let him have it, and keep your heart soft. We call God our "Abba". Daddy. He is the Daddy who will never leave us, nor forsake us. And I've seen you cling to that promise.

I learn so much about faith from you. You believe fully and without question that Jesus can do anything (and he can!). It's completely matter-of-fact for you. I teach you things about God, and then, when I'm having a hard moment or day, YOU repeat my own words back to me. God uses you to speak to me SO often, you have no idea.

This is the verse my friend found in her baby name book for Ethan:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Happy Birthday, my sweet, sweet boy. My Ethan. I love you more than you'll ever imagine.