Dear Birthday Boy,

My Dearest Bubba Boy,

Nine years old today!  You have been counting down the days to reach your last single digit year. . .and I just wonder how it has gone this fast!  It seems like only yesterday and yet it was almost a decade ago. . .almost.  We still have this last year to celebrate the joy of boyhood and all your super powers!  We have some more time to go where magic fascinates and stumps you all in the same breath.  Actually, I hope you always have a love for all things magic. . .you putting on a show at your sister's fourth birthday party this year is a memory I will always treasure!  Nine years old and you have my heart.  Those eyes of yours absolutely melt me!

I love how this year your classroom is right across the street and every time I open the shutters in my room, I see the twinkle lights and I whisper a prayer for you and your teacher.  I love watching from the front window as you cross the street most days on your own now.  You confidently look both ways a couple times, not quite trusting the long line of cars waiting for their own kids.  You take your lunch every single day. You have outgrown your love affair of peanut butter and jelly and just last month began asking for turkey. You only want a half a sandwich because you want to get on to recess and play!  You don't want to come home for lunch most weeks, and I secretly hope that changes in your last two years of elementary school, but truth be told--it probably wont.  You love recess like most boys do to run and play and be a kid breathing deep California air no matter what kind of weather we have.

You played flag football again. You are so fast.  I encouraged you to sign up for spring ball or track because I felt like you needed to do something.  You chose track because it was only held at lunch recess with only one meet to attend.  Then you surprised yourself by placing first in the relay and second in the 800 and you qualified for the regional meet.  You wore that medal proud that day.  I think you doubt yourself sometimes, and when you saw how well you did, it pumped up your confidence a little bit.  But son, who you are on the inside will always matter more to us than what you accomplish on the outside.

Your loving, kind heart is so obvious to so many people.  You wear your heart on your sleeve and you want to help your friends.  Just this year, you told me you wanted to be homsechooled because you didn't like the way you weren't able to get out of your seat to help people when they needed it. Ha!  You have a way about you that is sensitive to what others feel. . .I love that about you, son.

You like school most days.  You get frustrated by the amount of material you have to read sometimes, and the way I make you rewrite certain things because it is not neat.  I choose my battles wisely with that. You fluctuate with your love of reading.  Sometimes you're really into it and sometimes you just don't seem to find material you connect with.  I've enjoyed reading aloud to you guys.  First the  Bunicula series and now  The Mysterious Benedict Society. You sleep in your bed during the week nights--not by choice but out of necessity for everyone getting a good night's sleep. You don't like being the only room downstairs, can't say I blame you--but you don't want to move either.  We have our roots here and our small house is growing a very tight family.  I love that.

Jonathan, always remember "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This verse found you in kindergarten when you were in your first play.  I just read and looked at those pictures with pride.  You are a good boy.  You have a kind heart.  You are a world changer and I pray you always follow the path God has for your life.  It will not matter what you accomplish on the outside, all that will ever matter is the lives you change by the love you give.  Let your heart lead you. Shine His light always and have the best ninth birthday year ever.

All my love always,

Mom