Saturday, April 7th, Samuel turned 10 years old. One full decade!:) Out of those 10 years, we have had the privilege of spending (almost) 3 of them with him...and this was his first birthday celebrating with Papa and Grandma!
After realizing that I could not make a "Canuck logo" for the top of his cake...and I had no way of buying some type of hockey paraphernalia to stick in his cake :)...he got brave and went with my suggestion of brownie pie for his birthday. (Samuel loves brownies!)
Thankfully, it was a huge hit (and has already been asked for birthday 11 :)) along with the other food items he requested that day....pumpkin pancakes, mexican chowder, and cornbread (not all eaten together, of course!).
He had a fun day of an Easter egg hunt at the city park, an afternoon with a friend, and a night of food, family, and Wii Bowling!
As a parent, I couldn't help but think of how neat it was that his birthday was "sandwiched" between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. How we pray that Samuel's life (and not just his birthday) would always be lived within the cross and Christ's victory over sin and death!
Dear Samuel,
In the last three years, we have learned much about you and you have learned much about us. We know that you still don't like milk that much and cheese is best eaten on pizza only!:) We have come to realize that we might just have to say to other people "Yes, that is our son with the big Afro!".:) We have learned that you are one great hockey player and look forward to seeing what kind of baseball player you are going to be. You love sports...and that has given you a great common bond with Micah.
We have watched the two of you grow in your care and love for each other. You have become "Best Brothers" and that is something we prayed for even before you were in our home! Samuel, you are a "people person" and our hearts have been so blessed by the kind things others have to say about you. Your respectful words, the way you help out the little ones at church or when we are with another family with young children, and the fun you have with friends and your excitement about their lives.
God has given you a very bright mind. I still can't believe you caught up with your class and learned all 50 states and capitals in less than a month! (Thanks, Max, for your extra help!) What you put your mind to, you usually excel at! Of course, we all know that the opposite is true to...when you don't engage your mind, it's never a good thing.:) Praise the Lord, this month it has only been a broken pinky toe and a concussion. We pray God would spare you of further injuries as you learn to think before you "leap"...quite literally!:)
Samuel, I am so very thankful God has placed you into our home and into our hearts. God has used you to grow your father and I in so many ways! God continues to use you and your siblings to stretch us, humble us, and help us see our continued need for God's wisdom, power, and grace in our lives as we seek to train you in God's precious truths. We are so thankful that He shows us each and every day that we cannot live life on our own, that we cannot glorify Him apart from His Holy Spirit.
As I think of your own life, I pray that for you as well! There is much in your 10 years that you have had to do "on your own". It has ripened an independence in you years before it should have ripened. We are so thankful that God saw fit to make you our son and give a place of dependence to your independent heart. But, greater still, we pray that God would continue to draw you to Himself and that you would feel "at home" in His arms. That you would learn the beautiful peace and joy that comes from fully depending on the Lord and finding out that all that your heart needs is found in all that Jesus is!
I love you Samuel...and I look forward to many more years and many more birthdays filled with brownie pies, pumpkin pancakes....and LOTS of love!
Happy Birthday sweet Samfro!
love,
Mom
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