Five.

Today, my boy is five.

I get melty at the thought of it.
I have murmured around the house this week, wondering how all his baby-days could fly away and be gone forever so quickly.  Dave tells me he's taking Levi from me:)….and all of the sudden it feels like a rite of passage to 'become dad's son' more than 'mama's baby'.



When Levi was born, I was as weak as I've ever been physically for about a month.  In so many ways, my weaknesses as a mother linger on, well-sustained, and I get proud and wonder Why can't I just be better at this, Lord?
But, oh how faithful God has been to us. Wide faithfulness spanning five little years.

Levi, I would be different person without you in my life.  You are surely a gift.  
I'm so privileged to be your mom.
But I know you will keep having birthdays (as often as I jest that you can't)…
And I know you really are not mine.

I want you to be one of the best men that ever lived—to see God and to reveal Him to men. This is the burden of my prayers. My whole being goes out in passionate entreaty to God that He will give me what I ask. I am sure He will, for the request is after His own heart. I do not pray that you may 'succeed in life' or 'get on' in the world. I seldom even pray that you may love me better, or that I may see you oftener in this or any other world—much as I crave for this. But I ask, I implore, that Christ may be formed in you, that you may be made not in a likeness suggested by my imagination, but in the image of God—that you may realise, not mine, but His ideal, however much that ideal may bewilder me, however little I may fail to recognise it when it is created. I hate the thought that out of love for me you should accept my presentation—my feeble idea—of the Christ. I want God to reveal His Son in you independently of me—to give you a first-hand knowledge of Him whom I am only beginning to see. Sometimes more selfish thoughts will intrude, but this represents the main current of my prayers; and if the ideal is to be won from heaven by importunity, by ceaseless begging, I think I shall get it for you."  
-Forbes Robinson

May it be so, buddy.
Happy Birthday!

Three.

This weekend marked three whole years with you, little June-June.  My, how you have changed in one year. You speak in full sentences, one after another….chattering, dancing, singing (er, shouting:) around the house daily.  You are full to the brim of life, curiosity.  I love to watch you….making your brother laugh hysterically, braving new feats, figuring out the order of our days together.  

You are fearfully.

wonderfully.

made.

You are a delight to me, to your dad.

Oh, how we love you. Happy Birthday.

Four + Thirty-Three + Six

Hello, and welcome to this catch-up-i've-been-elsewhere post.

In the last few weeks, we've celebrated three of my favorite people!
Fiiiiiirst up was Levi.  Mr. Four. We had a little 'camping' party for him.  I think the longest stretch my kids go playing on their own is setting up elaborate 'campouts' upstairs.  I think he had a good time being celebrated and having some friends over.  We love this little guy!

           

Next up, this fine, wonderful, I-can't-believe-he-married-me man turned 33.  We went for a rare brunch date on a beautiful day.....

....and had dinner outside with friends.....

....and Dave had two friends.....Dave and Dave.....fly in all the way from TN to go to the Vols game together:).  

Then, on Sunday, Eadie Cate made it to 6.  Year five has been so awesome.  The sweetness, the cuddles, the maturing.  I so enjoyed celebrating this little lady.

                

So thankful these three. So undeserving of their presence in my life.  

So many times I fail to love them well; so often I am blessed by them in spite of myself.

Four.

Levi James Everett, today you are four.

These pictures capture you so well, buddy.
....an almost-constant state of motion.  Somehow, the past couple of months have ushered out my ever-cautious boy and replaced him with something all-together-different. I'm loving it.
Kisses have become 'gross.' (though I find my way around that one).
All sticks are weapons.
Beds and tables are for jumping off.
Pirates, and treasures, and Legos abound.

Somehow, though, while you become more daring....you are also becoming more compliant, more self-controlled.  It is a beautiful thing. 

And I'm so thankful, to spend my days with you, watching you navigate these early years and navigating them, in my own way, with you.

We all love you millions.
(Really. I do speak for all of us.  Because I hear your daddy talk about you; and I know how Eadie Cate feels so strange when you're not around; and I see how June lights up around you.)
Happy fourth, big man.

Two.

Two years ago, one stormy night in Tennessee, precious 'lil June peacefully entered our family....

Being her mom is one of my greatest joys, and watching her grow this year has been so amazing.  

June-June, you are spunky, fearless, cuddly, sweet....you love to sing & wrestle & leap & laugh.

Lately, you are trying to learn a million words and are saying 'Hi' to everyone. Your blue eyes & curly hair & left-handed-ness still surprise me daily. You are starting to really want to be with Eadie Cate and Levi more than with just your mom.  (But you still let out a big holler if anyone else tries to cuddle with me:). 

You are a blessing to our family, & we LOVE LOVE LOVE you.

A few pics from our family schindig....

Thirty.

I feel so blessed for each of these years thus far....that I've never missed a meal, that I've always had my family, for the experience of rich and lasting friendship, for a grace-giving + thoughtful + assumes-the-best + generous husband, for my three precious kids I have the privilege of spending my days with, for a salvation that reaches 'far as the curse is found.'  My sin is large and all of this undeserved. Grace abounds.

 (Seattle celebration with my favorite man on the planet last weekend).

...and despite what my husband keeps reminding me of over and over (i.e. impending 'last days', gray hair, & the end of youth), I've got a gut feeling the best is yet to come.

Five.

   

 

 

five of the sweetest years yet.

i'm so glad i get to be your mama.

happy birthday, eadie cate-cate.