November 7, 2016
Happy 5th
Birthday, Elliot Walter! Wow! What a year it has been! I’m sure as the years go on, you may read
these letters and think things such as, “Yea, Mom. I get it.
I’ve grown.” Or maybe, “Okay,
Mom. I know, I know, I’m a child of
God.” My hope is that these letters to
you will be a comfort (especially when you are older). Perhaps you will have a family of your
own. Perhaps you will live a world of
adventure. Perhaps, both! I sincerely hope that these letters are as
much a treat for you to read as they have been for me to write.
The truth is Elliot; you’re
never done growing. I remember being
pregnant with you and I found myself worrying over silly things. I remember wondering if I’d love you right
away, and would you love me back. I
have to laugh at these silly thoughts because here I am, five years later, and
still incredibly in love with you. I
love you more and more each day. You
bring such joy to my life and the lives of others. I smile every day because of you. I find myself constantly amazed by you and
forever proud of you.
This time last year, your
little sister was barely two months old.
You were still learning the ins and outs of being a big brother. As Nora
grew, you grew. You became stronger in thought, word, and
deed. It’s been amazing to watch. And special!
I’ve seen you wipe her tears, help her learn, put her to sleep,
etc. You are immensely proud of her, but
also over-protective of her. When I
reflected on a theme for your letter this year, I decided on strength.
Elliot, you are a strong
young man. You always have been. From the day I found out I was pregnant with
you, you were strong. I remember being
told that you were a “weak egg” and to not get too excited about the
pregnancy. God was my strength and I
believed you would be just fine. I was
right. You were strong inside my womb
and you are strong outside my womb. You
have tackled challenge after challenge this year. You
demonstrated strength in understanding when your whole world changed and our
family of three became a family of four.
You have accomplished things far out of your comfort zone this
year. Through this strength, I’ve had
the honor of seeing Grace, as well.
Through all this, I want you to know that there will be times in your
life that you may not feel strong; and that’s okay. Life isn’t always easy. However, you get to choose how you live
your life. It is my hope and prayer
that you always remain strong, but also always remember that the strength you
have inside of you is a gift from God.
There will be times you will feel weak, but please remember, that God
will always be with you. I am your
biggest fan, no doubt. But God, sweet
Elliot, God is your core. I thank Him
every day that He chose me to be your Mom.
You are my love and my joy.
Happy 5th
Birthday, sweet boy.
I love you!
Love always,
Mommy
