My Cup Runneth Over

A little photo fun with my dear firstborn before our date night . . .

 

AH . . . this boy of mine overflows his mama's heart.

This time with my oldest son filled me up.  Before our impromptu date night, we headed off into the Fall forest with a stack of our seasoned books, our little yellow school desk and my camera.  This boy loves to read and even more, he loves to write and draw.  Without fail, his favorite part of the school day is his creative writing time.  He is my little author with a vivid imagination, detailed illustrations and some of the best handwriting I've see from young hands (much to his mama's delight).  :)  I love the eagerness and fervor he has for soaking up new things.  He spends a great deal of downtime at home filling up his journals.  I have a cedar chest my mama gave me for my 13th birthday, and it is filled with my own pieces of writing from when I was in school.   It is a passion that Noah and I share, which I just love.  I have piles of Noah's journals tucked away thinking perhaps one day he, too, will want to see where he began.  

I blink and I see this little boy that has grown by leaps and bounds before my eyes.  He is no longer that tiny, wrinkled infant that I once held on my chest.  His hands wrap around more of my own now.  I have watched his capacity for compassion grow along with his form.  He has settled in sweetly to his role of the oldest brother to two little boys that ADORE him.  And our Maggie girl . . . ah, a girl would be BLESSED to have such a kind, protective older brother looking after her.  As big as he loves, I know his baby sister can feel his heart for her from way down here.  He has learned to love well--undoubtedly something he has observed and taken in from watching his daddy.  He craves structure, much like his mama, and loves to figure out how things work.  Though they have their moments, Mason thinks the world of Noah.  They are truly best friends.  It is my hope that they will just grow in their friendship as they get older.  Brotherhood was a given, friendship was a choice.  I love that they have chosen to delight in one another.  Noah shares an incredible relationship with Emmitt.   There is a bond there that was born out of pure love, concern, elation and relief when Emmitt became part of our family.  Emmitt brought a great deal of healing to our Noah's heart after taking such a devastating blow from losing his beloved sister.  He relishes his littlest brother and I love to see how they interact.  Emmitt is drawn to him like no one else, soaking up his gentleness and sweet demeanor.  As I take in all that makes up this boy, I am so proud to be his mama.
 

Some nights I fear I will tuck him in as a little boy and he will wake up with a deep voice and hairy legs hanging over the bed's edge.   It pains me to think of the day when his hurts and troubles can no longer be healed by a cup of hot chocolate and his mama's arms.  I know that it is all part of the process . . . more changing, more independence, more growing.   We have been called to raise future husbands, providers, fathers, leaders and defenders.  I pray (and I pray and I pray and I pray) that God will give Adam and I the wisdom to raise this man-in-the-making to take refuge in, gain confidence from and serve wholeheartedly the King that made him.

Noah, you were made for a purpose and God has a great plans for your life.

You are so dearly loved, my son.
What JOY you bring!!

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." 
-Charles Swindoll