eight

Dear P,

Today you are eight years old.  You are eight years old today!  {I wonder if that will seem more possible the more often I repeat it.}  I know I've said before that every year I say to myself, "{              }seems so old!  P can't really be {             } already, can he?"  Well, this year I have to admit that you have definitely crossed over into BIG KID-DOM.  You have grown taller, you're losing your "baby face" more and more, and there's a hole in your mouth where your top two front teeth used to be!

You are a thinker.  I love watching the way your mind works, and I love that you are willing to talk through your thought processes with me.  This often leads to questions, and this year there have been some really tough ones, but one of my favorite things about you is your willingness to ask questions.  I hope that for the rest of your life you know you can come to me whenever you want to discuss any topic.

I am in awe of your courage.  {I am also in awe of your boldness and lack of fear when it comes to "scary stuff", like haunted hayrides.  This is a gene you definitely inherited from Daddy, because if you look up "scaredy cat" in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure you'll find my picture.}  Your courage is an inspiration to me because even when something makes you nervous or unsure, you will press forward and do it if you feel like that's what God is calling you to do.  You will step out in faith in some big ways, and that's going to take you right down the path that leads to the man God wants you to be.

This year we decided that you were ready for your own pet, which you had been requesting for quite some time.  You keep an eye on Darkfin and turn on his tank light faithfully every day.  He is a well-cared for fish!

You've done so much growing up this year!  I have tried to step back, pray, and give you more freedom to figure out how you wanted to handle certain situations.  Daddy and I won't always get the balancing act just right, but we will always be here when you need us.  You have continued to be an amazing big brother!  We are so proud of you, and so grateful that God gave us the gift of having you in our family!

Love,

Mom