My mind travels back to the journey we have had with our first... the joy of his arrival, the knee-knocking experience of being a Mum who wants to be confident as a Mum but hasn't a clue! The gorgeous smiles, the joy he brings to the extended family, the challenges and battles over various things, some of which I later learn were battles not worth fighting for, others are worth every effort you can give them. Learning, growing, seeking the Lord...
Here you are Joshua - the long awaited day. You are constantly a vibrant ray of sunshine. Full of life, full of questions (as your music teacher aptly pointed out today) and full of insight, curiosity and oozing enthusiasm.
It still makes us smile to think how much you keep us all organised - making sure we know how many minutes it is until we must be going, remembering exact dates and times or writing yourself little notes to make sure you remember. I recently hung a little calendar on the bulletin board on the back of the toilet door and smiled each time I saw you had written in various activities and events and then crossed them out if plans changed. You certainly know what is going on or soon will...
Life is sometimes a mystery for you to be solved. I love the way you just have to find out why something is the way it is. Recently you discovered a hose had been dumped in our yard. Some time later you discovered another.... to you, a mystery was in the making... and a note I found in the kitchen...
We are all anticipating the discovery you make...
Another note I spotted this evening:
You have had extra responsibility being eldest - not only being eldest but being big brother to one who needs/needed extra help and time in waiting rooms, dedicated time to learn to speak, to walk or to get his muscles working harder. You watched with compassion as he went through heart surgery, and were delighted to see him recover. You were so excited to see him walk - albeit a very delayed learning to walk - that meant nothing to you. You proudly told almost all you met that he could stand unaided, then learn to pull himself up...
Daddy and I sometimes wish that we could free you a little more from some of these extra burdens you bear. We look to the Lord because we know he cares for you and understands your frustrations from time to time... we also know that he is already using you and has used these situations to make you more understanding of others, to make you more accepting of those a little 'different' and to make you into the very outgoing, lovable boy you are. We thank Him for this.
You are so precious to us. As you grow taller, eat more and more slices of bread to fill up those hollow spaces - we thank the Lord. We thank him that you are learning more about Him, that you are learning what it means to follow the Saviour and that the Lord is gracious and compassionate and loves you deeply.
Your Dad and Mum are over the moon that the Lord has blessed us with you!
MWAH!
XOXOX
...but wait, there's more!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX (which means you have a sloppy wet face from all the kisses!)
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