Letter to My Birthday Boy: 16 Years Old

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SIXTEEN! I cannot believe we're here! You have grown and matured, and have really become such a wonderful young man! You're a great conversation starter, respectful of others, mannerly, and helpful. You're also still stubborn, headstrong, decisive, and a little impatient...however, you're more in control of your emotions and you're really starting to become confident in who God made you to be!

This has been your freshman year at North Rock Creek, and although it started off a little rocky with football, honors classes, and adjusting to a new school, you are thriving this semester and have really found your place! 

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Your favorite things are fishing, football, and music. You love being outdoors in nature, and you love all genres of music, especially if the lyrics are good! You seem to really connect to the words of songs, and I've noticed that music is a way that you express yourself. You had a great season on the JV football team, and you've joined the very first NRC fishing team! And even placed 3rd out of almost 100 boats in your first tournament at Grand Lake! 

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Basketball went well and you're still great at shooting those 3's! Your grade has an extremely talented basketball team, and I think if you'd stick with it, you'd be on a state championship team one day! 

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Reid, you're turning into such an incredible young man, and I'm so thankful I get to be your mom. All of the things that used to be a challenge for me to parent - your competitiveness, stubbornness, intensity, independence, not being easily persuaded - have indeed proved to serve you well. With the Lord's guidance, you've learned how to channel these traits in a positive direction, and it's been so amazing to watch you grow and mature. 

You're well-mannered, empathetic, intelligent, and loyal. You love nature, being outdoors, and beautiful scenery, which makes my mama heart so happy. 

I adore the way you study music and think hard about the lyrics...you've got some killer playlists and you always find the best songs (you get that from your dad). 

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I see the Lord in the way you love and protect others, and how intentional you are about your relationships. My prayer for you this year is that your relationship with the Lord will grow and flourish...that you'll look to Him for strength and live a life completely for His glory...that you'll not only be a fisherman, but a fisher of men. 

Happy 16th Birthday! You'll always be my greatest catch 🎣 💙

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Verse that I've chosen for your 16th birthday...

"And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people". 

Samuel 2:26

My prayer for you is that you'll continue to grow in stature... and in discord with the Lord and with people. 

I love you so much! 

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Letter to My Birthday Baby Boy: 10 Years Old

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My precious Rush, 

You are such a dream. You are kind, cautious, quiet, and you just go with the flow. You never ask for anything, you are always content, and you never want to be a bother. 

You're athletic and love all sports, and when it comes to anything competitive...football, basketball, wrestling, or boxing, you're super tough, aggressive, and intense. You have the cutest little grin and you are definitely your daddy's mini me...not only in how you look, but also in how you act and think! I used to love when you were a baby and before you started school, because I said I felt like I had a little clone of Jeb riding around with me all day! 

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You are also super intelligent. You're in third grade and reading on a 7.5 grade level, and you're doing 6th grade math. You're so responsible, and I've never had to tell you to do your homework. In the evenings, you get out your work, you sit down at our island, and you meticulously do your assignments all on your own. You always takes care of business and I love that about you! 

Reid is our music lover, but you are our movie buff! You love watching the classics or any iconic, memorable movie that we mention. 

Your all time favorite is The Lion King. 🦁 

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We all think it's funny that you sleep in a different room every night. We say that Rush plays "musical beds." We never know where you're going to wake up in the morning because you sleep somewhere different every night, lol! 

We call you "sportscenter" because you know a crazy amount of NBA stats, even about players way before your time. 

If you're not outside playing football or basketball, we'll catch you playing XBOX or collecting basketball cards. You love Jesus, and have always been our kid who asks a lot of theological questions and has shown a lot of curiosity in learning about the Bible. 

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Rush loves:

•watching movies 

•XBOX

•football, basketball, and wrestling

•whistling 

•crêpes 

•Chick-Fil-A

•root beer

•Titan, Fisher, and Tate

•taking baths 

•anything about the NBA; especially the Thunder

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Rushton Jeb, I dreamed about you and knew exactly what you were going to look like before you were even born. You've been ours for a decade, but I feel like I've known you forever. 

Bible verse I've chosen for you this year...

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence. 

Proverbs 14:26

I pray that you will be confident in yourself because of who the Lord is in you. Your identity is found in Him, and he gives you confidence and strength. 

Trust the Lord and His guidance, and have confidence in yourself...

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. 

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Happy 10th Birthday to Rush! 💙🧡

I adore you and thank the Lord for you single day. 

Always and forever, 

Mom

Letter to My Birthday Boy: 15 Years Old

Reid Jackson, 

    

    What a great year this has been, watching you grow into such a handsome, respectful, and brave young man. You are really starting to come into your own identity and figure out who you are, and it's so wonderful to watch you flourish. You finished up your 8th grade year at Grove and you thrived, despite my breast cancer diagnosis, lots of hardships within our family, and most of your friends being at a different school in high school. You persevered, matured, and endured when it wasn't easy. You made good grades, excelled in sports, and learned more about who God is and how He can be trusted in all circumstances. 

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You spent a lot of time fishing over the spring and summer, and even got your very own bass boat! I've never seen anyone love fishing as much as you, and it seems as though the water is your happy place. You are most content, most relaxed, most satisfied, and closest to God when you have that rod and reel in your hand. We went to the Keys this summer and you almost hooked a tarpon and caught your first shark. Another highlight was catching your unicorn fish in Miami near the hotel we were staying at...a peacock bass! Rivers, lakes, or oceans...you'll try to catch anything in any water!

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Next to fishing, you've also developed a deep love for music this year. Your first concert was Zach Bryan, and your second concert was...Zach Bryan! I took you, Lil, and CJ to the BOK Center in Tulsa and we had such a great time. I sat in the nosebleeds in our regular seats, while you all snuck down into the pit. It was definitely a night to remember!

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I can't believe it will be just one more year until you start driving. You took driver's ed over the summer and got your permit. I feel like these past few years have flown by and I'm not ready for it!

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I'm behind on writing this letter, so I included some pictures from your first couple of months of high school. You started high school at North Rock Creek this year, and it's been a really great place and community for you. It started off a little rocky, however. You were thrown into a new high school with new friends, new teachers, a new football team, new procedures...coming from a familiar K-8 community you had been at since you were 5...and right off the tail end of your mother being in breast cancer treatment, receiving chemo and radiation, as well as your grandfather being diagnosed with breast cancer just a couple of years after his spinal cord injury. It's been one challenge after another for our family the past couple of years, so it's understandable why high school was a little rocky at first. Integrating into your place on the new football team was tough, being a freshman was tough, and having new teachers who didn't know your personality yet or anything about our family was tough. But like you always do...you adjusted, you figured it out...and you started thriving! You enjoyed your freshman football season, you made all As and Bs, and you find your place in with several good friends.

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Bible verse for year 15:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

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Reid loves:

-music

-fishing

-lasagna

-Chick-Fil-A

-new shoes

-hoodies

-Bass Pro

-being outside

-basketball

-football

-hunting

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Reid, my prayer for you in your 15th year is that you continue to grow and flourish into who God made you to be. I pray you lean into the Lord, and always seek His guidance. I pray you make a couple of really good, life-long friends who love Jesus and always point you to Him. I pray you will always know that your dad and I are proud of you and love you unconditionally - not because of anything you've accomplished or will accomplish - but simply because you're our son. I pray you know that home is always your safe space and you will never do anything bad enough where you can't come home. You are so strong, brave, and kind. And I love you so very much.

-Mom

Letter to My Birthday Girl: 13 Years Old

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My sweet Lil,

    THIRTEEN! How can it be?! How can you already be a teenager? I feel like I was in denial about your becoming a teenager for so long. You have always been my baby girl and I don't want you to grow up! I vividly remember the first time I held you. It took a while for them to stitch me up after the c-section, and I remember having the most overwhelming feeling of joy...the most peaceful, satisfying feeling, when they placed you into the crook of my arms. You were like the missing puzzle piece of my heart. The first time I held you, in that moment, all was right in the world. And I still feel that way when you're with me...like all is right in the world...because you make everything better. You make me better.

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We did a flamingo-themed, pink, pool party for your 13th birthday and it was beyond adorable! There were so many girls...and music...and the cutest cake...and flamingo macarons...and pink sparkly beach balls in the pool...it was just perfect!

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Then Nana took you on a girls' trip to Dallas with Bella and her grandmother, Malinda. You all had the best time and took the cutest "Instagram pics."

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You got social media this year...SnapChat and Insta...which I love and I hate. I love that you can see what I post...my opinions about things, heath info I post, and other things, however, I hate that you're in the social media world now and have to see everyone's "highlight reels." You're wise beyond your years and mature for your age, and I honestly think you handle it well. You are not obsessed with it. You see it for what it is. And you don't compare yourself to others. I love how you are so confident in your own skin and you love what you love, no matter what anyone else thinks. 

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You have a heart of gold and you're kind to others. You are extremely capable and responsible. You seek out the lost and the lonely, and you show compassion. You're sweet and sassy...reserve, but fierce. 

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I took you, Reid, and CJ to the BOK Center in Tulsa to see Zach Bryan. You all snuck down into the pit, and you hung out with Sophia all night and said it was the best night of your life! 

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LILLIANN LOVES:

-fancy food

-anything themed

-pink

-Lululemon

-buying gifts

-shopping

-Target

-Starbucks

-hosting parties

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Bible verse for your 13th year:

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

My prayer for you is that you never dim your light for others. You shine BRIGHT because you are reflecting His light...the light of the Lord. Don't be afraid to show your true light, because that is how Jesus gets out into the world. 

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LilliAnn, you're easy to love and the sweetest daughter. You're my dream girl and I don't deserve you. The light of the Lord shines big through you and I pray he uses you for great things for you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are God's masterpiece. You are beloved. You are the daughter of the King. And you are my darling. Happy 13th Birthday!

-Mom