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

Letter to My Birthday Baby Boy: 9 Years Old

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Rushton Jeb, 

    NINE years old! And the sweetest, kindest, most precious boy! I'm several months late writing this year's letter, so this one will be short and sweet. You are adventurous, athletic, intelligent, and you have a heart of gold! To know Rush is to love Rush! You are your daddy's mini me...kind-hearted, cautious, an over-thinker, and you make friends wherever you go.

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You have the most magnetic personality, and you are our JOY! You weren't sure what you wanted to do for your birthday this year...it took you so long to decide...but we finally settled on taking a few friends to the arcade to do bowling and laser tag. All you wanted for your birthday was a pack of basketball cards...and Christmas was about the same. You are so easy...you asked for basketball cards, a new basketball, and a pair of Ugg Tasman slip-ons. When we were talking about your birthday week you said, "It's really not a big deal." Oh Rushy...we love you so much and celebrating you is definitely a BIG DEAL!

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You asked Jesus into your heart this year when you were 9. You came home from church one Wednesday evening and told me you were ready to become a Christian and ask Jesus to come into your heart. We prayed together on my bed that evening and read a few Bible verses. I love watching your faith grow, as you learn to depend on Jesus.

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This is my verse I've chosen for you in your 9th year of life.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

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Rush loves:

-basketball cards

-football

-basketball

-wrestling

-XBOX

-Chick-Fil-A

-eating chips

-root beer

-wrestling

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I love you so much, Rushton Jeb, and you will always be my baby boy.

-Mom

Letter to My Birthday Baby Girl: 4 Years Old

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Darling Liv, 

    You came to us after a rough storm. Our rainbow baby...8 pounds 2 ounces of God's faithfulness and evidence that He keeps his promises swaddled in a pink blanket. You were the newborn baby that should have been crying, but I was the one with the tears streaming down my face while singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in that lonely NICU. I fought so hard for you...before your were even conceived, in the OR during your birth, and in the hospital bed pumping and desperately trying to get those first few drops of breast milk through your NG tube.

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Your name means "life." And interestingly, it also means peace. You have given me both. And so has the Lord. I feel like our family has been in a constant season of "hard" since your birth, and you have been the joy, the laughter, and the delight that we all needed in order to push on...me, your dad, your sister, your brothers, Nana & Papa...we all needed you the past four years. 

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Liv loves:

-make-up

-nail polish

-arts & crafts

-baby dolls

-making messes

-mermaids

-unicorns ("loonicorns")

-swimming

-all things pink

-anything sparkly

-doing hair

-face and beauty products

-her "ba ba"

-going to the park

-grilled cheese sandwiches

-strawberries

-whipped cream

-dessert or anything sweet

-dancing

-Taylor Swift

-talking to "Alexa" in the kitchen

-sprinkles

-riding her scooter ("cooter")

-Barbies

-earrings

-watching "Di Di" or Adley on YouTube

-playing with her friend Lucy

-going to tumbling

-writing her name

-coloring

-playing Donkey Kong with mommy

-taking baths

-the beach

-playing with Cece

-snuggling with Russell

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I can't stop crying because of how grateful I am, my precious baby girl. Happy 4th Birthday, my darling. I will savor every single moment of your life.

I will always love you, Mommy

Letter to My Birthday Baby Girl: 3 Years Old

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Livi Mae! You are THREE! Where in the world did the time go?! This has been one of my very favorite years with you! It's been a tough year for our family with mommy finishing up cancer treatment, but we have still had so much fun and made so many memories. The Lord has been so good to us and we have gotten closer as a family, and to the Lord. You had a "Princess Pamper Party" this year at Shawnee Beauty College and loved getting your hair done, make-up on, and nails done with all of your sweet friends. You're obsessed with make-up and painting your nails, so this was the absolutely PERFECT party for you!

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You're going to Under the Son Mother's Day Out two days a week and you are doing so well there! You love school and are getting really good at coloring! You're our little dancing girl, posing girl...our lipstick lover, mess maker, pink princess, snuggle bunny, life of the party...you are our precious JOY! You still sleep in the middle of mommy and daddy, and we haven't even put a bed in your room yet. You love spending the night with Nana and Papa, and hanging out down at the office doing "work" with Aunt Johnna.

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The Lord knew I needed you for this journey the past year, and when he gave us you He completed our precious family at the perfect time. 

I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 34: 4-5

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Sweet Liv, I love you so much...but please don't grow up yet!

Always and forever, Mommy