Happy 5th Birthday, Elliot!

November 7, 2016

Happy 5^th 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 5^th Birthday, sweet boy.

I love you!

Love always,

Mommy

Happy 4th Birthday, Elliot!

November 7, 2015

Happy 4^th Birthday, Elliot Walter!     This year has been a HUGE year for you.    Mainly because you went from being an only child to turning into a big brother.   Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have a sibling for you.    I prayed for it, of course.   However, it seemed that science was wrong once again.   Mommy was told that you would be my one and only, but apparently, God wins again!  

You were a MAJOR part of my pregnancy with Nora.    If I had to choose two things you learned this past year, I would say you learned compassion and understanding. You helped me when I was sick, you held my hand when I would lose my balance, and you came to many doctors’ appointments.    You would talk to my belly and feel your baby sister kick to the sound of your voice.     You helped set up her room and you even helped learn her name before anyone else ever knew it.

Now I know your little sister is barely two months old now, but I truly hope that you two become good friends.     Even though she is so very tiny right now, you are a huge part of her world.    You’re an amazing big brother and you’re growing into such an amazing young man.

You have blessed my life tremendously and I am so very honored to be your Mommy.   I love you, with all my heart and soul.

Love,

Mommy. 

Elliot's 3rd birthday letter

November 7, 2014

Dearest Elliot,

            Happy 3^rd birthday!!!    Another year has gone by and you remain continually blessed!  Mommy and Daddy are so blessed to have you as our son.   You’re such a good boy.   You have a contagious smile.   A friendly spirit.   A caring soul.   Your laugh can brighten anyone’s day.   

            Each year as I prepare to write you your birthday letter, I like to take a “look back” to see how far you have come in the past year.    I then decided to go a bit further and see what I had written since the very beginning of this “project.”      I have written over a dozen letters to you so far and it’s neat to imagine you many years from now possibly reading them to your wife, or your own children.   You’re growing up so fast.    Too fast.   My letters to you include the following topics:  listening to your heart, things you have taught me, forms of love, forgiveness, curiosity, happiness, exploring, friendship, the story behind your name and your existence, the importance of remaining forever young, Ireland, laughter, and learning.  

            After looking back on letters I have written, I decided to take a look back on this year in photos.    You experienced so much in one year!    And it dawned on me… that your experiences were all special things, but simple things.   Assateague Island, Berry Picking, Car Shows, Caverns, Christmas, Church, Horses, having a pet Lizard, riding your first train in Jim Thorpe, Snow, being in a wedding, going to the zoo…. So many experiences!    Mommy & Daddy aren’t necessarily rolling in the dough.   We don’t drive fancy cars.   We don’t have super fancy things.   We can’t afford to go on a cruise or to Disney World.    But what we do have is we have love.    We have true happiness.   We all take joy in the simple things.  

           

            It took me a while to think of what my message to you would be this year.   You are so bright.   You are a sponge for knowledge.   As you continue to grow you are starting to get a true grasp on not only what is right and what is wrong, but you are learning about faith and your Church.   You are growing in faith and you don’t even know it.   Faith is believing in things you don’t necessarily see.    I want you to know that as you get older, you will feel tested.   You will have moments where you feel so very stressed out.    In those moments, I urge you to not only come to Daddy and I … but to turn to God.   God is like the wind… always present.  You might not always feel Him…. But he is there.   You are blessed with two parents who not only love you very much, but Mommy and Daddy love each other very much.   We will ALWAYS be here for you.   And if for any reason you can’t come to us – we urge you to go to your Godparents or your Pastors.   These are people you can count on to steer you in the right direction when you feel lost.   And my sweet boy, as much as I don’t want to admit it, there WILL be times where you feel lost.  

            Elliot, it is important for you to understand that faith is more than just knowledge about God.   It is more than just saying you love Jesus.   It is more than just doing the right thing.   Faith is all encompassing.   Faith is knowing Jesus, loving Jesus, and following Jesus.    Being a Christian is a whole body affair.   It’s your mind, body, spirit, thought, word, deed and act.  It affects your head, heart, feet and voice.  Your father and I hope and pray that you continue your quest to know and understand God.   At such a young age, you are already filled with such Grace.  

            There were many times in my past where I wasn’t so sure in mind that you would come.    But in my heart, I had faith.   I knew I was destined to be a Mommy.   I was destined to be your Mommy.   I kept faith and kept faithful to God.   Mommy and Daddy prayed very hard for you.   Before we knew it, you were on your way.    

My sweet son, you are a Child of God.   You will ALWAYS be a Child of God.   NOTHING can change that.    For the past three years I have not missed one day… I tell you every day that you are my love and you are my joy.    You are my greatest blessing.    On this, your 3^rd birthday, I want you to know that you are a true testament to the beauty of faith.    God has blessed me.   I am honored to be your Mommy.     Grow in your faith my sweet boy, continue to blossom and shine.   Trust in God always.   And know that you are loved very much.     You are an answer to my prayers, and I know God has wonderful things in store for you.   Keep the faith.   I love you.

Happy Birthday! 

Love,

Mommy

Happy 2nd Birthday, Elliot!

My dearest Elliot,

It is the eve of your second birthday as I sit and type this letter to you.   I find myself thinking, "Wow...what a year!"   and "Where do I begin?!?"   My first thought is, "Time flies when you are having fun!"   As your mommy, I find myself falling more and more in love with you every day.   I remember when you were first born and how smitten I was.   I found myself wondering, "Will this feeling fade?   Will this feeling change?"  For me, the answer is 'no.'    You constantly amaze me.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Joy is the serious business of heaven."   I'd like to add to this and say that joy is also the serious business of parenting.  

This year has been a year of growth for you.   Your vocabulary, especially!   You love to talk.   You're able to tell us what you want and you make your own choices.    You know your body parts.   You can identify pictures.   You have great balance.   You are amazing with a ball!  You've got a great arm, kid!    You love to run, climb, walk, and dance.    And sometimes you take a break from these things to remove your socks and shoes.   You're experimenting and pretending a lot.    I love to watch you analyze and imagine.    You're learning to draw/write - it's so darn cute!   You greet people with hugs and kisses.   You are using the potty more and more each week.   You're in love with books.  You're never without a car/truck/train.   And still, after all this time .... one of your favorite things to do is to take a rest with your head or your hand on my heart.

The other night, you took my breath away.   We were watching one of your favorite movies (Finding Nemo) and you had your hand on my heart.   I pointed to my heart and said, "What's this?"   You replied, "HEART!"   I then said to you, "Do you know you are my heart?"

You let out one of your beautiful laughs and said to me, "Duh, mommy!"

I then asked you to point to your heart.   And you did just that.   You pointed to your heart and you said, "Mommy."  It literally took my breath away.   You are without a doubt, the love of my life.   For the past two years now I have told you every single day that you are my love and my joy.

"His banner over me was love."  (Song of Solomon 2:4)

My biggest hope and dream for you aside from happiness, is that you always follow your heart.   You are already overflowing with God's Grace.    You don't earn grace, and you don't "deserve" grace; you simply receive it as God's loving gift, and then share it with others.   You are barely two years old and you already do this.   You have such a beautiful spirit and I know it will only continue to blossom.  

I know in time years from now you are going to come up against some tough stuff.   Heck, you might even come up against some tough stuff in the next year as we begin to face the supposed "terrible twos"...  And as redundant as this may be, I want you to know that Mommy and Daddy will always be there for you.   We are always in your heart.    Follow your heart, sweet boy.   It will take you to the most extraordinary places.   Never regret loving someone, never take someones love for granted, either.  

Listen to your heart.   It's where your values live.    Everything you are learning about God from us, your family, and your Godparents rests in your heart.    No one will ever be able to take that away from you.  This upcoming year you will be learning more about God and prayer.   God delights in the prayers of His children - prayers that express our love for Him, prayers that share our deepest burdens with Him.  "The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!"  (Lamentations 3:22)..... nor does the love your Daddy and I have for you.

Elliot, you are the love of our life.   We are so blessed to have you as our son.    You bring us so much joy.   I have been thanking God for you ever since I first heard your glorious heartbeat in March of 2011.    I thanked God even more two years ago when I finally met you face to face.   You have changed my life for the better.    And just as you have grown, I have grown.    And we will together continue to do so.    You are my greatest blessing.  

Happy Birthday, sweet boy.    My love.   My joy.  

I love you with all my heart.

Love,
Mommy.

Happy 1st Birthday, Elliot!!!

Dear Elliot,

            When I was pregnant, people would tell me how fast time would go as a parent.    During my pregnancy, it felt like FOREVER until you would finally be here.  And now, as I look back... I wonder where the time went.   You are ONE!   ONE!   This has been the BEST year of my life!   

            1 Corinthians 15:51 says - "Listen, I tell you a mystery:  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed."     You have changed me!   This letter will be different from the rest.  Instead of giving you a lesson, I am going to tell you what you have TAUGHT me this past year.

            Elliot Walter, you have taught me that miracles happen.    You are my miracle.   According to some doctors, you're not even supposed to be here.    I was told I'd never have a healthy son.    Look at you!   You are PERFECT!   I now look back on those painful appointments with a silly smirk on my face.       God's Grace Abounds!   

            You have taught me that my touch brings comfort.    When you were first born, I would simply smile as I watched you nurse.    I remember our first night alone together.   The nurses wanted me to sleep for a little while.  They took you to the nursery.   Before they left, they told me that when you were ready - they would bring you in to be nursed.   I remember in the darkness of the night, they brought you to me.   The nurse helped me position you and left us alone.   It was finally you and me.   As you nursed, I blessed you.   I prayed over you.    I was giving you spiritual nourishment as well as physical nourishment.   It was so sacred and special.    Even now, my touch still brings you comfort.   I hope this will be eternal.   I love being the source of your comfort.  When you have trouble sleeping, the sound of my heart beating puts you to sleep.    When you have a boo-boo, my kisses make it all better.  

            You have taught me patience and time management.    You come first in all things.   If it means we are late for something, so be it.   Your needs trump everything else.   You're worth it.    I'm not going to rush you for my vanity. 

            You have taught me problem solving.   I remember a few weeks ago we were driving to Philadelphia and you began crying.    I knew you were in a clean diaper.   You were definitely fed.    Nothing was pinching you.   The music was not loud.    Finally, I had to put myself in your shoes to figure out what was bothering you.   It was the darkness and the flashing of the lights.    It was scaring you.    Your daddy and I now have light up toys in the back seats of our cars just in case you get scared again.    And in life... there will be even scarier times.    For those times, we will be your light up toy.    You can come to us for anything you may need.   

            Elliot, you have taught me how to be a kid again.    You and I do silly things together.   Whether we're making funny faces or having a tickle fest, your laughter brings me joy.    You have taught me how to find the fun in the simple things.    Even going to the grocery store is fun - all because of you!  

            You have taught me the sanctity of silence and listening.   Even now, I still love watching you sleep.    I love listening to you talk.    I love hearing what you have to say.    That will never change.    You've made me more relaxed and more reflective.  You are my greatest blessing.   God has blessed me tremendously.   I am honored to be your mother.    You make me proud.   You make me smile every single day.  

            You've taught me to take nothing for granted.    You've taught me to cherish every single minute of every single day.     You've taught me how to be a better person.    It's true!    You've even taught me new ways to pray and talk to God.  

            As you go through life, you will find times where you need motivation.   Elliot, you motivate me!   You help me be the best mommy I can be.   Everything I do now is for YOU.   

            There has not been one single day in the past year that I have not kissed you.    There has not been one single day in the past year where I have not told you I loved you.   Every morning I kiss you and I tell you that you are my love and my joy.    Elliot, you have taught me a whole new form of love.   You have taught me about the type of love that I didn't even know existed.    I fall more and more in love with you everyday.     I even fall more and more in love with your Daddy.    Seeing you two together makes my heart overflow with happiness.    

            Elliot, you are the love of my life.    I know that there are going to be challenges ahead.   We'll overcome each challenge together.    I want you to always believe in yourself.    Trust in God and His plan.   Know that your family will always be there for you.    Please know that I could never stop loving you.    I will always be proud to be your mommy.   Thank you for being you.  You have changed me - and for that I am eternally grateful.   You are the love of my life.    You are my LOVE and my JOY.   

            I love you!   Happy 1st Birthday!

            Love,

            Mommy

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

--Irish Blessing--