{yesterday he was busy}
Dear Elijah,
You are my sixth child. You’re the child that we were told we could never have after Daddy was diagnosed with cancer. You surprised us all back then so should you stop surprising us now with your tremendous determination?
You are busy. You keep me on my toes every single day. Even though you’re not quite four you already seem to be four. And as you like to tell me, “I’m big.” How could I ever forget?
You bring tremendous joy to this household. You are funny, funny, funny. The Lord must have known we all needed to laugh. A lot. Thanks, Elijah, for providing the humor at just the right time. Even if it might just be that hand-drawn mustache that you added to your adorable face. {this is my fave picture even though it’s blurry}
You are an amazing big brother to Samuel.
So why am I writing you again? I just needed to be reminded about how amazing you are — sometimes all I see is the work. The cleaning up. The busy and loudness. And I forget to see all the amazing qualities of you. I’m sorry.
You are more important than the Chex cereal spilled all over the family room floor, or the line drawn on the wall by the stairs {and yes, I know it was a railroad track}, or the half-eaten pieces of fruit that you put back, or the fact that I see you running around outside with your pants on backward {cause you’re trying}, or the boxes of sorted toys that you dumped out because you wanted the boxes, or muddy little footprints across the floor.
I love those things actually.
Life would be boring without them.
Elijah, you are loved.
Wait.
Elijah, you are extremely like-crazy mega loved.
~mom
***
who would you write your letter to today?
15 comments
From an older sister’s perspective, I can totally relate to feeling sometimes overwhelmed with the messes and chaos that follow a three year old around like a shadow. 😛 This blessed me…makes me want to take the time to cuddle with Harry, mess up his mop of wavy hair, and tell him just how special he is to me. Because, regretfully…sometimes, I care too much about those little annoyances, and I forget to look at the precious blessing that he is. Thanks for the reminder to cherish each precious thing, no matter what. 🙂
Love,
–Abigail
this was so beautiful. my middle child is a handful and brings so much joy and mischief to our family. thank you for the reminder – to stop and tell her she is loved, really loved.
Beautiful.
He sounds like my Caleb…enjoy his spirit 🙂 You’re such a sweet mama to write to him. These are things he will cherish.
He looks like Hannah in that last picture! My almost 4 year old is also keeping me on my toes. Thanks for the reminder.
Awwww. What a sweet boy!
Awwww, I love this! Such sweet truth!
And I’m so glad I’m not the only one with small children who take a couple bites of fruit and put it back…
it’s so sweet to think of the simple joys the Lord weaves throughout our lives… Elijah is your unboring, full of life and determination strand. and boy is he ever cute to boot!
your daughter’s photos are beautiful. i love looking at your blog and seeing her incredible photography 🙂 he is so cute…these are adorable pics!
Such a sweet letter to your sweet boy. This one made me tear-up, in a happy way.
That is so sweet! I love the pictures. It really is important to look past all the messes because the children behind them are amazing. I have to remind myself that sometimes. Thanks for reminding me again!
This is perfect…. I love the railroad track – and that he is more important.
oh …. a miracle baby … amazing!!! and that is so inspiring as is your honesty and vulnerability. Thanks for linking up 🙂
I LOVE this. Elijah has such a sweet angelic face one would never know how much work he is. But it is all worth it. Mine are all in collge now and I remember fondly those days. It is a different work now. They do say, “A mother’s work is never done!”
Your Elijah sounds a LOT like my Elijah.
At age 2 … he climbed up to the high kitchen cupboards … got his big brother’s car keys … snuck out the back door .. unlocked the car door … and started it right up (thankfully it was our automatic … while we have several stick-shifts, as well).
At age 4 … he climbed 15 ft. up a Palm Tree in Florida … THREE TIMES … before his 6 year old brother came inside to tell us.
At age 5 … he was walking quite close to a HUGE bonfire. When I told him to be careful so that he wouldn’t get burned … he told me, “That’s okay. Jesus would unburn me.”
At age 9 …
… he goes 100 mph all day every day.
… he is FILLED with JOY.
… he keeps us LAUGHING.
… he tells me, “I love you mom” at least 10 – 100 times per day.
So glad that your Elijah blesses your life as much as mine does.
🙂 🙂 🙂