Happy Birthday Caleb!

Caleb,

Today you turn 7 and to say that you are excited about that is an understatement! And to say that mama is shocked at how the time is flying by is even more of an understatement. I often feel like it wasn't that long ago that it was just you and me, playing in the front yard of our little base house in Minot and waiting for Daddy to come home from work. Just mama and Caleb. How you love to hear stories of when it was just us!

My boy, your personality really hasn't changed all that much since then. You were sensitive, curious, spirited, intelligent, cautious and loved being outdoors. You still are all those qualities and more. You love to read, write cursive, learn about animals, draw, play sports and you play outside for hours with the neighbor kids. You have a great sense of humor and love your baby brother and sisters. Oh, Caleb, how they love you!! You have a great sense of compassion and really want to know the truth. You like rules, boundaries and structure, and you never give up. Never! You will work hard at trying to figure something out and won't quit until you have, not only figured it out, but mastered it. As I write all these things, I realize more and more how much like your Daddy you are. And I love that! You would be blessed if you were just like your Daddy.

You are a natural leader Caleb. I have noticed that in the past couple of years. While you are the youngest in the neighborhood, the kids all follow your direction. Your teacher said the same thing about you last year. She called you a "Peer Leader" and you even got student of the week for that quality. I pray that you are aware that people are following and that you lead them in the right direction. That will be hard, buddy, but I have faith in the one that YOU call, "Savior." He will always lead you in the right direction!

I love all these great things about you Caleb, but what I love most is that you know Jesus and you know His Word. I'm proud of you for scoring high on all your tests last year, but what I'm most proud of is that you scored so high in your bible knowledge and comprehension. I love that God continues to reveal Himself to you and that you understand concepts like "grace" and "mercy" and "Turkish delight". I love that you try to explain God to Luke and that you really want him to know more about your Savior.

Caleb, I love you and am so proud of you. I'm thrilled to see this light inside you shine through brighter each year. My prayer for you is that you continue to love learning about God and sharing that knowledge with others. I pray that people are drawn to you because of that bright light within you. You are an amazing little boy, so full of life and promise, and I pray that you always remember that, "to whom much is given, much is expected" and that with Christ all things are possible.

I love you Caleb,
Mama