Ten years. An entire decade. That's how long we've been parents and it sounds crazy to say it like that. I remember in those early days after you were born daddy and I would tell each other that we felt sorry for all the other parents in the world who didn't get to have you for their baby. And now that you're ten? We
definitely still feel sorry for all the other parents in the world who don't get to have you for their son.
As our first born, you are in the sometimes unfortunate position of having to be the one who suffers through all of our parenting mistakes. You get to be the one who we experiment on and figure out what works and what doesn't! There have been many times when I've thought how great it would be to get to go back and do all of those "firsts" with you again knowing what I know now, but then I remember that it was those specific experiences with you that have made us all who we are right now. We are so thankful for how God has used you to shape us as parents and I know all of your brothers and your sister are grateful that you've softened the way for them! : )
Travis, you are a really cool kid. In this last year you've begun to grow from a "little kid" to full-fledged big kid and you're really fun to hang out with. Your sense of humor is quite grown-up and makes daddy and me laugh. I'm so glad that you've started your blog back up again. We love reading it and getting this different glimpse into your world through your own eyes. Your writing has grown by leaps and bounds - daddy and I love reading the stories that you write! I'm sure that it has a lot to do with all of the reading you love to do. You're a boy after my own heart! I had great plans of reading every book that I gave you to read ahead of time but quickly came to realize that wasn't going to be possible. I'm glad you love reading and that you know good literature when you see it!
School has been great this year. As mommy to a lot of little people
and the teacher who is responsible for making sure you are learning all that you need to know, I can sometimes start to worry that the huge variety of needs throughout our school day are taking away from the time that I should be giving to you. But then I see you outside pushing Jack up the hill in the blue police car and both of you are laughing, or teaching Ben to ride his bike without training wheels, or spending hours building towns and establishing governments in the prairie with Sam, Caroline and the kids in the neighborhood and I'm reminded that having you here at home is about so much more than uninterrupted school hours. The relationships and experiences that you are able to have because you're here at home are priceless to daddy and me and we are so grateful for how those things are shaping you as a young man. But even though the shaping of your character is our main concern at this stage in your life, I'll admit, it's been pretty fun to notice your growing ability to think critically and work through the details of what we're studying so thoroughly. Your questions and observations have taken our studies to a level that we weren't expecting and that's been really fun and exciting. You, daddy and Sam have started what the three of you call Men's Bible Study this year and daddy has noticed the very same thing during that time with the two of you. Your hard questions have kept him on his toes!
Travis, daddy and I have always looked forward to the days when we would start to experience life with older kids and this early glimpse that we have with you only makes us even more excited. I am so grateful for your tender heart and love that you are so willing to talk with us about the things that are on your mind. I also love how even though you have a tendency to become frustrated pretty easily (especially when it comes to some sort of destruction that has been brought upon something that belongs to you by one of your younger siblings), you are also very quick to acknowledge your sin and ask for forgiveness. You get that from your daddy and it is the mark of a man.
Happy tenth birthday, T-Man. We are so grateful to be your parents and can't wait to see the man you've become ten years from now!
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