9 Years with My Brown-Eyed Boy

Another kid is another year older. They have got to stop this mess. 

Over the weekend, we celebrated 9 years of this crazy, fun, energetic, never stops, wild, sweet, big-hearted boy. 

We kicked the celebration off Friday morning with a pancake breakfast at 6:30...in the morning... before we sent him off to school. 

This is his last year with one pancake because this is his last year in the single digits. How did this happen?! Seriously, where did the actual time go?

He wanted a bike for his birthday, and while Brian and I were determined that the kids weren't getting "junior/adult" bikes until they were 10, we had to give in to this request since his knees are coming up well above his handle bars of his old bike. This one should last him a few years... hopefully. 

And what else would a 9 year old boy growing up in the Balkans want for his birthday. A man-purse, a man bag, a murse, whatever you want to call it was high on his list this year. 9 years ago, you could have never told me I would have read this on his wish list or that I would have bought it or wrapped it up or watched him open it with joy. This kid's Balkan roots are shining through. All of his friends have one, and he wanted one too. So, we got our Balkan boy a man bag, and he was thrilled. If he asks for a fanny pack next year, No! I don't care how many people are doing it, the answer is NO! 

We had his party with a few friends at a ropes course in one of our favorite parks. We're so thankful to have this place so close to home. 

My little monkey and his big sister right behind him cheering him on.

The kids had a blast at the course despite the rain that came in for the last half of his party. We were all soaking wet and cold, but everyone still seemed to be up for cupcakes.

Lightsabers again this year. 

Look at that cutie!

We love him so beyond his capability to understand. We regularly say that he is just a giant heart. He is compassionate and tender, and while a lot of people don't get to see that side of him, we see it almost every day and especially every night when we tuck him into bed and he shares a little bit of his heart with us. He's an act first think later kind of kid who is full-on energy all the live-long day! We say he has the energy and drive of his daddy with the tender heart of his momma. This year, he was named king of the dance floor, he started basketball, and he still loves golf. He loves all things Star Wars and nerf guns and Dude Perfect and funniest videos on youtube. He loves to laugh, and he loves to make others laugh. 

I'm so wild about him!

We pray that he will continue to grow in His love for and knowledge of his Savior. We pray that he will grow into a humble leader and a man of integrity. As we continue to sharpen and shape and train and point him to Christ, we pray that one day he will launch with a passionate, holy, Godly ambition to love God with his whole heart and life and to love this world with abandon. 

Happy Birthday to our sweet Thomas! We LOVE you!!!

She's 11!!!

Our girl is 11 years old and we can hardly believe it. I know I say this every single year and every single time one of my children turns yet another year older. I keep thinking one day time will slow down and yet it seems to be speeding up with every passing day. 

We spent the weekend celebrating her precious life starting Friday night with a small sleepover. Saturday afternoon she met her friends at the mall for a movie, and then they all came back here for a Harry Potter birthday party. Go Team Gryffindor! She decided she wanted to do all of this on Wednesday, and so we did the best we could to throw something together.

The Harry Potter cupcakes.

She had a great party and we are thankful that she has so many sweet friends here. 

Sunday morning we did her birthday pancakes so the whole family could be there to enjoy them. 

Those boys love their big sister SO much. Both of them made her a card that named her as "the best big sister ever!" I have no doubt that it's true. She loves her brothers so well. I love that these three are best friends!

Last night, on her actual birthday, we had her birthday dinner--homemade Chick-Fil-A nuggets, Mac and cheese (from the blue box), and roasted zucchini, her favorite.  We topped it all off with a brownie cake AND cookie dough. I know. I know. That's a whole lot of sweet, but she's worth every single calorie. 

We are so proud to be this girl's parents. She constantly amazes us. She is a kind-hearted, courageous, smart, brave, fierce little thing who loves Jesus, her family and her friends so well. She is wise beyond her years. She has been through a lot since coming into the world in Skopje, Macedonia. Lots of moves. Lots of goodbyes. Lots of hellos. Lots of homesick for... somewhere. But oh so many sweet belly laughs and fun memories in so many different countries with so many different people. Our constant prayer for her is that she will love Jesus with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength and that she will abide in Christ, her Savior and Lord. We pray that she will be faithful to Him and worship only Him all the days of her life. 

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127:4

So as we get one year closer to shooting this one off to face the world on her own, our hope is that we will continue to shape and sharpen this beautiful arrow that God has given us so that she shoots straight for His great glory!

Happy Birthday, our sweet Kate! You are loved beyond your understanding!