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Tag Archive - Children

Paxton’s 2nd Birthday

November 6, 2010 in Family, Motherhood, Paxton with 7 Comments

My baby is two today.

I jumped out of bed this morning excited to celebrate him and everything he is to our family. It still amazes me that just 8 years ago, doctors told us that we were an infertile couple. Every time Chance or Paxton has a birthday, I’m reminded of this blessing I will never stop being thankful for.

Pax opened his first present from Auntie Renee this morning:

He LOVES Elmo. He sings the theme song multiple times every day. So this gift was perfect.

Then, this afternoon, we all had lunch and celebrated with cake. Since Paxton is only two, this year was the first year he understood how to blow his candles out. He did a GREAT job.

Of course we had to relight the candles so Chance could blow them out too. That little stinker.

Time flies. I looked at both my sons today and wondered when they got so big so fast. It makes me want to turn back time… just to be in that moment of their babyhood again.

Flashback with me:

November 2008

November 2009

A couple of weeks ago:

Today:

My Darling Paxton…

You are such an amazing little man. You are loving, sweet, funny, determined and absolutely wonderful in every way. You never stop making me laugh. The way your eyes dance while you’re taking in the world makes me want to both protect you from the world, yet at the same time, live through your eyes… just for a moment.

Pax, every bit of you is passionate. The moment you think it, you’re making it happen. Though some of your choices have made Mama nervous, like belly-flopping from the couch to the floor, the one thing I DO know is your passion is what’s going to drive everything about you when you’re grown up. Daddy and my hope is that your passion will be Jesus… because He is all that’s worth being passionate for.

Your laugh is contagious. When you laugh, the whole room joins you. When you cry, the whole room runs to you. Do you have any idea how you capture the hearts of those around you? I’m excited to see how this transfers into adulthood for you.

Mama loves you so much! I’m so, so, so, so, so thankful God put you in our lives and let me be your Mama. And even though I’ll mess up a lot and have to say “I’m sorry” over and over, I promise you I will always TRY harder to be the Mommy you deserve. I will never take that privilege for granted… because you, Paxton, are worth every moment of my heart.

I love you, son…

Mama

School Projects

October 11, 2010 in Chance, Faith, Family, Home, Motherhood, Paxton with 10 Comments

Chance has been bringing home all his work from school. And of course, like every other Mother, I’ve been filing the really good ones away in his childhood mementos box that I plan on giving his future wife on their first anniversary together.

I love how some of his paperwork comes back saying “Cha” instead of “Chance” because he just didn’t have time to bother writing his WHOLE name, or his name is written backwards, or how his stick figure people look more like big bodied bugs with little legs and hair. Chance is LEARNING… and he’s loving it.

Their class had hung this up recently. The project was to design a plain white pre-outlined “person” as yourself:

Every child had their own creativity displayed (some had their parents artistic talent displayed too… come on! this is kindergarten!) but to me, Chance’s stuck out.

As he was creating “himself”, he told me:

“Mama… I’m gonna draw a lot of teeth because I love snacks. I think it’s really silly that my paper person doesn’t have hands because I’m totally drawing him with my hands right NOW! And he’s gonna have green shoes cuz shoes help me run fast… and green means ‘GO’! Hey! I’m gonna draw green on where my hands should be too so they know next time to put hands there. And I’m gonna draw my heart cuz that’s where Jesus lives. And my smile is gonna be the biggest thing because I’m so happy!”

I didn’t help him with his project at all… though I sat with him the whole time he worked on it (btw… this is a good example of what kindergarten homework looks like). As you can see, he also stuck smiley stickers all over his paper person too… including his EYES. And either he’s bleeding into his leg or Jesus flows down into there. I’m not sure. Whichever way, the REAL Chance got bored with this project at about 10 minutes and decided this would be how he’d turn it in.

Another day, he came home with this project and gave it to Paxton to wear:

I laughed first… then my heart overspilled with joy.

You see… Chance LOVES Jesus. I know he thinks about him often because he TALKS about him often. And because he’s the big brother, it’s trickling down to his little brother. And on the days I feel like a failure of a mother… I think about these days and remember I got one thing right…

… they know Jesus.

My kids teach me more about the love of God than any seminary class ever could. And for that… I’m thankful.

Paxton at 18 Months

May 10, 2010 in Family, Motherhood, Paxton with 17 Comments

Here’s just a bit of my sweetpea, Paxton, before bedtime the other night.

He makes my heart sing.

This kid is a clown.

Wonder where he got THAT from…

30 Seconds…

January 4, 2010 in Chance, Family, Home, Motherhood, Paxton with 7 Comments

… of my life.

Yes. Welcome…

Don’t call the authorities on me. Really… my kids like this.

What weird things do your kids like?

Christmas Trees For Kids

November 25, 2009 in Church Planting, Faith, Ministry with 1 Comment

Our church, Church at Bethany, is raising money a different way for Christmas this year. In fact, the money we’re raising isn’t even FOR our church… but ALL of the proceeds will go toward the helping homeless children in our community and towards aiding children in orphanages.

If you’re in the Portland area, and are planning on getting a tree for Christmas this year… please consider purchasing it from us. Your money will go to those in greater need. There’s no BETTER way to get a Christmas tree this year!

Below is the press release I pulled from Matt’s blogsite.

Christmas Tree Sales PRESS RELEASE

Church! at Bethany, a 3-year old church that meets at the Stoller Middle School, is selling Christmas Trees For Kids.

100% of the proceeds will go to help children. 50% will go to the Beaverton School District Homeless Student Fund and 50% will go to Children of the Nations, which is a Seattle based organization that works in Africa to care for orphaned children.

The sale will take place at 16260 NW Bronson Rd Beaverton, on November 28th, 29th and December 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th

Hours of operation are Saturdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sundays 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Trees are available starting at $25.

Donations are accepted and can be made online here!

Check out our Facebook Page and invite your friends!

Happy 1st Birthday, Paxton!!!

November 6, 2009 in Family, Motherhood, Paxton, Personal Entries with 20 Comments

Today is Paxton’s FIRST birthday.

His first year of life has flown by, but it’s as if he’s ALWAYS been a part of our lives.

Pax has got 6 visible teeth right now — 4 on top and 2 on the bottom. He’s walking EVERYWHERE and can get up the stairs in less than 5 seconds. His talking sounds like gurgling and babbling ALWAYS brings a smile to Brian and my face.

He’s gonna be a big blogger, obviously!

Paxton Joel,

YOU are cherished. You help me look outside myself. You give Mommy hope that I can be a better person… for you, for Chance, for Daddy AND for myself. Your smile melts my heart. Your cry breaks me into a million pieces. All I want to do is make your world right for you. And I know I don’t have that kind of control, so I just hold you… and drink in your presence.

“Pax” means “peace” and you have brought JUST that into our lives. You have no idea the kind of restoration you’ve brought into Mommy & Daddy’s life just by existing. I thank God EVERY DAY for letting me be a part of your life. There is NOTHING you could ever do to make me stop loving you. NOTHING!!! And when I forget to tell you I’m proud of you, or that I love you… I hope you’ll know by my actions that you mean the world to me.

Happy first Birthday, sweet Paxton… my darling peacemaker. You came just in time.

Love Forever and a Day,
Mommy