Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Four

This week's Hodgepodge questions are one post down.

Dear Mancub, 

Today you are four. 

You're there and I'm here and that's okay. God has a plan for each one of us and you there and me here is part of His plan for both of our lives. 

You are a world traveler. 

You've spent one half of your life living on the other side of the world, seeing new and interesting sights, hearing a language not your own, eating foods most toddlers wouldn't dare touch with a ten foot chopstick, and sharing your life with us via the miracle of technology. You are far far away from extended family and that's okay. 


Your momma and daddy have done a most excellent job of forming deep and lasting bonds with friends who have acted as family in absentia these past two years. Friends who will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of your parents. Friends who will send you Christmas cards as the years roll by and who will go out of their way to visit you in person no matter where you roam.

You ask a lot of questions. 

I read recently the average four year old asks as many as 200 questions each day, but that's okay. This statistic only confirms what I've known since you uttered your very first word, and that is you're extraordinary.

One of the things I look forward to most about having you here is listening to all your many questions. When you hear a new word, even in passing, you must know what it means. You don't settle for a simple answer either, and you drill down to the nth detail until you understand it completely. You are growing your brain and keeping ours young and sharp too. 

You still love books.

I cannot overstate how happy this makes me. Nana has piles of books for us to share snuggled up on the couch, sitting on the porch, or riding in the car. Anywhere really. 

You love big. 

You and your little brother are developing such a sweet relationship as you've grown into the role of older brother and we love having a front row seat to your shenanigans.

You've learned to share your favorite people's time and attention, to understand the miracle of family love and the way our human hearts can expand and make room for more and more of it. 

You should know I stole all these pictures from your momma, and that's okay. Once upon a time she was my three-year-old turning four and I see so much of her in you. 

She also loves books and words and her people most of all, and we are so lucky to call her ours. 

To call you hers. 

To be on the receiving end of so much joy and magic. 

Happy birthday mancub. You are so very precious and your Nana loves you deep and wide. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

6 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to your grandson! Grandsons are the best!!

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  2. Happy birthday to your dear grandson! What a sweet tribute of your love for him. Four is a fun age!

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  3. I love this post and he is going to love it someday when he reads it. He is so inquisitive, I love that about him. Love all of the photos your shared. Happy 4th Birthday Mancub!

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  4. Happy birthday to your sweet Mancub!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family with us. So much joy!! xo

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  5. What a beautiful post! Happy birthday to the mancub!

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  6. What a darling baby boy. Thank you for sharing him with us. Love that you call him the mancub. We are big on nicknames in my family. We have a Buffy, NeeNee, Clammy, Clunger, and Coo!!

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