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To Isaac, on your 11th Birthday!

Isaac, You are such a funny kid.  You always say "yes!" when I say I am going to leave for any reason.  You're the only kid that can get away with it.  For whatever reason, you like to give me a hard time and I'm here for it.  It cracks me up.  You are so sweet and come out of your room to give me a hug almost every night after I go check on the little girls.  I am so thankful for you.  I have seen such growth in your character lately - it seems like you are just continuing to develop into a lovely young man.  You think often of the people around you and it seems like you often try to think of how to bless the people around you.  I have also seen you struggle and persevere instead of giving up when you face hard things. Hopefully you won't remember this when you're older, but just this week you were at the park at the top of the hill by our house and your watch fell out of your pocket.  A little girl asked if it was yours and then took o...
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To Jacob, on your 12th birthday!

 Jacob,  You are a joy and a delight!  You are so full of energy and your brain seems like it goes a million miles a minute!  One of the things your received for your birthday was online drum lessons and you seem to really enjoy them.  It has been fun to watch you learn!  You are also really excited about sports, still convinced you are going to play in the NFL one day, and my biggest extrovert.  This year for your birthday we had a party with a bunch of your friends at the park.  You really wanted there to be a basketball hoop - that was the only "requirement" you had.  I think you had a really good time and it was so fun seeing you all hang out together.   You love to build things - both Legos and mechanical sets that make you think through the instructions.  You've put together some amazing builds and it's fun to watch you problem solve.  You do not enjoy "down time" or feeling like you have nothing to do.  I am so...
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To Levi, on your 12th birthday!

Levi,  Happy birthday young man.  What a joy it is to be your mom.  I am so thankful that your dad and I were blessed with you and Jacob - it's been amazing.  You are quickly morphing from little boy to young man.  It is astonishing to me to see you walk through the house sometimes - almost full grown!  I can't imagine what it will be like in a few years!  You are still very excited about video games.  You really enjoy both the challenge and defeating them!  You still like to build Legos.  I'd say your passion is reading though.  All day, every day it seems, you love to read.  I don't think you leave the house without a book.  I love watching you explore new worlds and meet new friends through books - it's a special thing!  Dad and I got you some books for your birthday - always a highlight for you! You also had your first birthday party this year!  We did pizza and cupcakes at the park with a bunch of friends....
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To Grace, on your 16th Birthday!

 Happy Golden Birthday Dear One. I cannot believe you are 16.  Growing up, I knew these milestone moments meant something to me, but I never imagined what my mom might be feeling.  Maybe because I'm not her oldest.  For my firstborn kiddo to be 16?  That feels big.   This whole year has felt big.  You are going to a public school for the first time and that has been an interesting experience.  I think going from accepting you were going to get in, because of location and homeschooling, to getting a spot and navigating all that meant was such a rush.  I am so proud of how you have handled it, although I am so glad you were home with me for so many years first.  I am thankful for the time to build into your character and speak life to you before sending you out into the world. It is such a weird world to be immersed in, isn't it?  All of the sudden you are surrounded by people who aren't on your team, who don't share your beliefs...
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To Timothy, on your 9th Birthday!

   Abi Ann, Love, Mom Timothy, Buddy.  You are 9 years old.  I know it makes me old to be shocked by that, but I can still remember the night you were born.  Goodness.  You are turning into such a sweet kid in the best of ways.  You are tough and capable, but you also see the people around you and try to bless them.  You know I am allergic to lots of things and always ask if I can eat treats you have and offer to share them with me.  It means more to me than you will probably ever know.   I also see you slowing down to help your little sisters.  I think maybe since you are the youngest boy, you know what it feels like to be on the edge of being included and you want to bring them along.   You are also more than capable of standing up for yourself, being loud and vocal if there is something you want, and expressing your frustration sometimes.  I do see you gaining self control and not giving full vent to your ange...
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To Abi, on your 14th Birthday!

 Abi Ann, You decided to dye part of your hair a deep pink color right before your birthday and I absolutely love it.  It is just one of the ways that I am seeing you mature - willing to take some risks, willing to say what you want, willing to go for it.  I am so proud of that. In the past year I have really seen confidence develop in you in a new way.  You are starting to really own who you are and it doesn't seem to scare you as much to have opinions and ideas.  You are expressing yourself more and I am so happy to see it! You could spend the entire day with books if we let you and you'd be delighted.  I love how much you read and how much of the world and history you get to experience through books.  It's awesome.  You are also so creative and artistic.  You can sketch things that are detailed and gorgeous and it is amazing to see.  You do all the craft things so I generally send kids your way when they have a project to work on or n...
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To Faith, on your 7th Birthday!

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  Faith, You're 7!!  You told me today I'll never see you as a 6 year old again...and you're right!  Next time I blink you'll be 16! You are so fun and so insightful it makes me happy to hear the wise things that your brain thinks.  You observe things I think you might miss and pay attention to details.   We are one week into school and you told me your math is too easy and you are doing such a good job reading.  I think you're going to do great and I love how hard you are working without complaining!  You get excited to finish your school work and then grab out some of the extra workbooks we have and then sit at the table to work on them! You are working on finding the fine line between sassy and funny.  You still hate going to bed and require quite a few "hugs and kissys".  You love being included with the big kids in all the things they do.  I think your favorite is when you hang out with Abi and Grace in their room - you always ...
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