Letter to My Birthday Baby Boy: 7 Years Old

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My sweet Rush,

    I'm behind on my birthday letters, so I'm writing this a little late. Seven has been the most precious age for you. You have the sweetest and most pleasant personality, and everyone just adores you. You love being outdoors, and on most of our hikes or adventures you'll have your shirt and shoes off...enjoying nature and soaking up your surroundings. You remind me of Mowgli in the jungle book...fun and free spirited. You're not afraid of anything, and you love adventures and to try new things. 

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You love basketball and you couldn't wait to have a Michael Jordan birthday party. You're at the age where you are wanting to start hanging out with friends, and we invited several boys to go to Urban Air and then come back to our house to hang out and play. You get along so well with others, and everyone loves to be around you. You started doing some private basketball lessons with Reid, and your ball handling skills are excellent for your age! You love dunking on your little basketball goal, and trying lots of trick dunks. 

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You played soccer this year, and you have the fastest feet! You were extremely good at it, but your favorite sports are still wrestling and basketball. You love your Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wilder, and you say she's "the best teacher ever!" You taught her what being "the goat" means, and she calls you "The Goat!" She loves your heart for the Lord, and introduced you to your new favorite book called "The Three Trees." You love learning about Jesus, and you love being the one to lead us in prayer during our family Bible studies. You are a little sponge and you soak up every little bit of information that you hear!

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This is my verse for you for the year...

"...and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”.....

Acts 6:4

My prayer is that you always love to pray and talk to the Lord. I pray that you will always hunger for the Word and enjoy learning about Jesus. I know God has big plans for you in helping to further his Kingdom!

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You will always be my baby boy. I love you so very much!

-Mommy

Letter to My Birthday Baby Boy: 8 Years Old

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My Rushton Jeb,

    I can't believe you are EIGHT! It has been so much fun watching you grow this year. You've fallen in love with the sport of wresting and we love watching you do your thing! You got second at state, and got first place at every novice meet. You have the most kind-hearted, tender personality, but when you are on that mat you are a beast! You show amazing strength that's under control (like the work "meek" in the verse in Matthew), and you are so calm and collected. You are determined, and disciplined, and so responsible. You never complain about going to wrestling practice, and you give it all you've got at every practice and during every conditioning session. You weigh yourself and keep track of your weight, and you never have to be reminded to get your homework done. You're the first one dressed in the morning, and you rarely gripe or complain. You're such a joy, and your daddy and I love that we get to be your parents. 

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You're super smart, and you finished your "Math Masters" within the very first week. Your 1st grade teacher says you are reading on almost a 4th grade level and you're doing 3rd grade math. You are the fastest kid in your grade, and you were chosen to represent Grove in the Shawnee Little Olympics to run the 50 yard dash as the Grove mascot. You have lots of friends from many different circles...school, wrestling, baseball team, church...and everyone loves to hang out with you! You have a magnetic personality, with a quiet and sweet spirit, but you're also athletic, tough, and all-boy! 

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I'm starting to really notice this year just how much your personality is like your daddy's. You're cautious and hesitant until you figure something out completely, and then you are more confident and begin to thrive in a situation....whether it be sports, a new experience or skill, or a social situation. You love being outside and hanging out with Reid and the older boys, and they're good to let you tag along and join in on their shenanigans around the neighborhood. You love all sports and sports trivia, and we've nicknamed you "Sports Center" because you seriously know every sports fact - especially when it comes to basketball and basketball players! You love talking about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaq, and you even got to go to a Thunder vs Bucks game for your birthday and watch Giannis play in floor seats!

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You like singing Kanye West songs with Reid, and playing 2K and hunting games on the XBOX. You love to collect basketball and football cards with Reid, and then organize them all and see how much they're worth. You also love watching YouTube videos and eating Chick-Fil-A and junk food! You hate dressing up and most of the time can be caught wearing sweat pants and a Champion shirt. One of my favorite things about you is your long, textured, wavy blonde hair and your big brown eyes. 

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This is my verse I've chosen for you for this year...

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Meekness... not weakness, but "strength under control"...like a well trained war horse or a wise warrior knowing when to draw his sword and when to keep it in his sheath.

One article explains that to be meek is to be gentle, humble, lowly. “The meek are the ‘gentle’… those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events.” (ESV Study Bible notes). And one commentary states – meek people don’t envy, don’t retaliate, and exercise patience in the face of adversity. 

My prayer for you is that you'll always possess Biblical meekness. That you will be strong and courageous, but also cautious, calm, and humble. 

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I love you so much and you will always be my baby boy - 

Mama

Letter to My Birthday Baby Girl: 1 Year Old

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Darling Liv,

The moment I knew I was pregnant with you, I fell to my knees in the hallway outside of my bedroom and praised Jesus. I had been praying fervently for you, and those two pink lines meant that God was saying, "yes." The year before had been a tough one...a year of waiting, and praying, and wondering, after a traumatic miscarriage that shook me to my core. My mind told me that one more was too many and that I could't go through it again if I were to lose another baby, but my heart was telling me that God had other plans...you...our rainbow baby...God's promise fulfilled...the cherry on top...new life in our family...our Liv. 

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Livi Mae McKenzie, you are the best communicator. I've known from the moment you were placed in my arms what you wanted and didn't want. You are a mama's girl through and through, and are attached to me at the hip. You love to nurse, you love to spend time with me, and you sleep on my chest or across my neck like a scarf...and I've loved every minute! I tell people that God made you extra clingy and not a good sleeper, so I would know that you for sure were the last one! You are high maintenance and a spit fire, and daddy says you're going to be just like your mama...a girl who knows what she wants and gets it! You are super social and love being around people. You wave and blow kisses to everyone in the grocery store, and you melt hearts with those baby blues and that blonde hair. Everyone says you need to be a model because you are such a beautiful baby!

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I've enjoyed every single moment of your first year. I can hardly write this without crying because I don't want you to grow up. You are my last baby, and I wish I could keep you a baby forever. As the saying goes, it truly goes go by so fast. You love your brothers and sister so much, and we've all enjoyed watching your milestones and seeing you grow! 

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My verse for you for your first year of life is your life verse: 

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Psalm 52:8 

My biggest prayer is that you love Jesus with all of your heart, soul, and mind, and that he will be your Lord and Savior. 

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Livi loves:

-Russell (our white lab)

-mam's milk

-baths

-tomatoes

-being outside

-swinging

-singing and dancing, especially singing "Happy Birthday" and "Puppy Dog Pals"

-climbing or being on top of the counter or kitchen island

-reading books, especially the musical Christmas book "Up on the Housetop"

-scribbling on paper

-playing with mommy's boobies, lol!

-playing in LaLa's room

-going to dance class

-riding the golf cart

-opening and closing doors

-watching Barney

-farm animals, really any animal! 

-jumping on the trampoline

-Dr. Pepper

-brushing her teeth

-riding in her stroller for walks

-birds

-night time snacking with mommy

-Bibs pacifiers

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Somewhere over the rainbow, 
skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream 
Really do come true. 

The last night you were in the NICU, I got to spend the night with you and it was just the two of us. I held you all night and sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to you, and cried as I prayed and thanked Jesus for your precious life.

Happy 1st Birthday, Livi Mae!

Always and forever my baby and my dream come true...I love you.

Mama

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