Dear Kiddos,
I thought I’d begin my letters to you by capturing a little snapshot of each of you in this time and season. Hopefully, this will help you look back and remember what you were experiencing and doing during the writing of these first letters. I’ll keep up-to-date as circumstances change and your life looks different over time.
Caleb, you are 18 years old and graduating high school this summer of 2019. You are an intern at our home church as well as with a local mentoring ministry. You have fun with those around you, whether they are your mentors, peers, or the ones you are mentoring directly. Relationships are so valuable to you and you find community anywhere you land. I love how easy-going you are as you adapt to the people around you. You have an innate way of making others feel welcomed and loved which is such an amazing and life-giving gift. I imagine you will use that gift to impact peoples and nations throughout the world. That said, you aren’t fully sure what you will do or where you will go after graduation, but that’s OK. We trust you will continue to pursue the Lord and seek Him with each step. He is faithful. It is likely you’ll get a job soon, which will be good as you wait for clarity and direction for the future. Earning money while you wait is a wise decision. Oh, and you have a girlfriend now, as well. Your first. EEK!
Miriam, you are currently 16 years old and entering your junior hear of high school. You are learning to drive, but don’t particularly enjoy it. You recently told me your husband (in the future, of course) will always drive. You adore music and sing along with songs on Spotify each and every day. Aladdin, Newsies, Shrek the Musical, Greatest Showman, Hamilton (the clean versions, of course) or any musical within earshot will get you singing and dancing. You love to help lead worship at youth group through your wonderful singing and piano playing skills. You are delighted to continue learning to play the piano (you are in your 3rd year of lessons). Outside of the musical realm, you do amazingly with the various kiddos you babysit. You engage well with all ages while maintaining a level of safety and fun! If I ever need help with anything in the house or one of your younger siblings, you are quick to respond. In fact, you often help me make my bed just because “it’s fun and satisfying!” Speaking of beds, if I can’t find you on any given afternoon, I can almost always count on finding you on your bed, reading a book or taking a nap. Sleeping is one of your absolute favorite afternoon activities. You recoup from your peopling by being alone or sleeping. I love how simply you live life.
Anna, you are currently 15 years old and entering your sophomore year of high school. You have a zeal for life and are excited to see and talk with your friends at any time of day. “Google Hangouts” is one of your favorite places to be as you chat up a storm and connect with others. You use many exclamation points and emojis as you emphasize all that you wish to communicate through text. One of your preferred daily activities is creating and baking yummy treats for everyone, especially yourself, to enjoy! Sugar just might be your very favorite “food” of all time. Contrary to one of your Halloween costumes that said, “I like to think inside the box,” you are someone who thinks far outside of the box. In fact, if you come up against any box-like thinking, you blast right through it and come up with your own unique and creative way to think, say, or do whatever is before you. You are rapidly improving your guitar playing skills through daily jam sessions on “Harold” (your beloved guitar) and also through helping lead worship at youth group on Wednesday nights. I am eager to see you grow in confidence as your singing is just as beautiful as your musical playing.
Micah, you are 14 years old and about to enter your first year of high school. You’re in the big leagues now, son! You are a pro at jumping on the trampoline and often go for records with the most flips (forward or backward) in-a-row without falling. You are quickly approaching 6′ in height, but are a gentle giant with one of the biggest hearts I ever known. This past year you have pursued learning the cajon (any drumming, really) and helping lead worship at youth group with your friends and sisters. You are at the very beginnings of wanting to start your own small yardwork business. You enjoy manual labor more than I could express and are eager to get hired by just about anyone! You get excited and yell for me to slow down any time we drive by a tractor, riding lawn mower, or yard landscaping business. You love getting your hands dirty and working up a sweat. You are currently trying to gather testimonials from those you have helped over the past 6 months, so your flyer is more effective. I expect rave reviews will start to surface. When not looking for ways to serve others, you spend your daily screen time minutes playing “HyPixel” or chatting with friends online through “Google Hangouts.” You enjoy connecting with others and laughing the entire time. Your cackling laugh brings joy to my heart.
Nainoa, you are 10 years old and stepping into your final year of grade school. Fifth grade, the big man on campus … although you’re the only fifth grader here at our home school. haha! You are learning the value of good hard work in order to earn various privileges. You are a gatherer of kiddos from the neighborhood as you make friends with just about anyone you meet! You don’t care if that person is a boy or a girl, young or old, you just love being with friends and/or making new friends. You are always coming up with ways to have fun; whether it’s in doing creative projects, selling things/food around the neighborhood, collecting bugs/snakes/snails, building forts indoors or out in the forest behind the house, or making weapons/tools/armor out of cardboard. I may sometimes refer to the creating process as a “mess” or “junkie” (as you struggle with cleaning up after yourself), but I am always, always so impressed with the amazing things you create!! Your favorite materials to use in your masterpieces are sticks, cardboard and duct tape. You even invested your own money into a roll of duct tape (which you quickly realized how expensive it is and why we don’t just let you use however much you want whenever you want it). I love that your mind is always thinking, always planning, and always creating.
Isabella, you are 6 years old and just about to enter into 1st grade! Such a big girl. This first six months of 2019 were a bit out of the ordinary as schooling took a backseat. Most of our energy went to helping you physically in the challenges that come with having Spina Bifida. We spent many of our days at the local Children’s Hospital with various appointments and tests. Among other medical adjustments, you had detethering surgery, shunt revision surgery, and a casting series on your right ankle. You are still working on your reading, which I anticipate will pick up rather quickly as our weekly doctor appointments are starting to dwindle a bit. Through all of the challenges, you have exuded joy, true to your very nature. Every doctor and nurse you come in contact with comments on how you are so sweet, joyful and brave. You impact others’ lives by simply being yourself. What a gift. You love to learn new skills (academic or simple life skills), enjoy singing along with the music blasting in the house, and are always up for a good snuggle on any of our laps. You are growing up so fast!
Kiddos, it is pure joy to see each of you growing up, learning, and enjoying every day to the fullest. You all bring so much LIFE to our family and home. Others see the love and light of Jesus in you, in each of you. I get so many compliments from others about how hard you work, how well you serve, how much joy you bring, how great your love is for Jesus, and how much they just enjoy being around you. I hear on a regular basis, “You have such great kids!” I am so proud of you, each and every one of you. You are so very different and unique, beautiful and kind, compassionate and helpful, and most definitely created in the image of our amazing Creator. I am eager to share my heart and life, with and for you, through these simple little letters. My dear kiddos, I love you more than I could ever express. I hope and pray you know the depth of my love for you Caleb, Miriam, Anna, Micah, Nainoa and Isabella.
To God be all of the Glory, forever and ever, Amen.
Love,
Mom
