J.C.J.

Dear Jackson,
Here's a look at your life at four-and-a-half years old.

You love:
-Your daddy. (Big time!)
-Your grandparents. (You say you can't wait to be really old like Steve-Pappaw.)
-Snacking on crunchy things likes apples and carrots (with ranch)
-Bananas, blueberries, and raspberries
-Chinese food
-Chewing gum
-When I come home from the grocery store with all kinds of new things to eat. This is your love language.
-Your "soft blanket," which now has two large holes in it. I fear it is not long for this world.
-Sleeping on the floor
-Anything to do with astronauts and space ships
-Spinning around in your new egg chair from Ikea
-Watching a movie on the couch during rest time
-Being able to do more things for yourself
-Working on puzzles or playing Memory with mom and dad
-Being a big brother
-Listening to Psalty (score!)
-Asking questions
-Drawing pictures on the Magnadoodle and then playing word games to go along with them
-Any kind of social activity like going to church, school, or day camp
-Knock-knock jokes

You like:
-A little girl named Mary in your summer day camp. I think this is your first crush. You mentioned her several times and you always smiled shyly when you did. (Let the record show that I neither encouraged nor discouraged this. I just listened.)

You do not love:
-Pickles on your sandwich
-Being cooped up in the house too long
-Going to bed at night. You often come out and say "Mommy, I need to tell you something." Then you have to think about what it is you need to tell me.
-Being called a "turkey" or a "little boy"
-Saying goodbye to last year's teachers. You have talked about them all summer and you don't understand why you won't be in their class next year.
-Being still

Jackson, words I use to describe you include:
Joyful, happy, sunshiny, busy, curious, funny, handsome, enthusiastic, eager, imaginative, fun, protective of your sister, loving, growing in faith and knowledge of God, smart, strong, and fast.

Some words that describe how I feel about you are:
-So very proud
-So thankful you are mine
-Amazed and amused by your little mind
-If I could have picked any little boy in the whole world to be my son, I would have picked you
-I love you so much, buddy

Jackson, this summer has been really important for the two of us. Mommy had been in a season of feeling stressed out and frustrated. I was not giving you my best and it made my heart so sad. God saw what I needed - and what our family needed - and moved a mountain so that I could be the kind of mommy you need me to be. And the kind of mommy God made me to be. When I look at how much closer you and I have become this summer, it makes me want to cry. I wish I could go back in time and make this happen sooner, but I can't. Instead, I am turning those feelings into thankfulness for the present and into joyfulness for our future.

My son, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God handcrafted every little piece of you to His glory and good pleasure. You are like a young plant thriving in the sunlight of your God. I pray you keep growing toward Him wherever He moves.


The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26


Love,
Mommy