Dear Brother,

Dear Braden,

Today you turn three years old. It doesn't seem possible yet it's true. You are quickly moving out of this baby phase of life and beginning the journey of being a little boy.

Buddy you have no idea how much I love you. From the moment I laid eyes on you I knew you were going to take me on a very ferocious journey.

You came into our world like a whirlwind hurricane. With your fiery red hair and sweetest blue eyes, I had no concept of what the Lord was beginning to do through you. He used you right away to better me, buddy.

Over the last three years, we have had so many ups and downs. You are a challenging, hard headed little man. You get it honest for sure, but it's still alot to handle sometimes. I have prayed for patience, wisdom, mercy, forgivess and laughter almost every day. You have shown me how to have all of those qualities at one time or another.

You are our only son. You are so special to us that I could never truly convey to you how we feel about you. The depth of our love runs far beyond the moments that have tried us. We are in awe of just how unique you are.

The Lord has always had a strong calling upon your life, Braden. In fact God spoke to me at one point and told me that you were going to use your voice to preach His word someday. I know you will reach hundreds of people for the Kingdom of God. I'm convinced that your persuasive and sometimes aggressive ways will be an asset that you will utilize in leading others to Christ.

Although you have spent much of the past 3 years screaming, crying, and whining--you have also spent much of the last 3 years molding me into a stronger woman and a braver mother. I see in you a reason to fight for all that I believe so strongly in. I have found in you a reason to be an advocate for all of my children.

From the moment that you entered the world, your sister has adored you. She has watched you grow, teased you with passion and loved you with deep, unfailing love. You are her best friend and she tells you daily. Although I often hear you tell her the same. You are a mighty team; one that will always have a victory in one another.

You have always been my blanky boy. This very same blanky that you were laying on at just a few weeks old is still being pulled around by your chubby fingers today. There are not many places that we can go without it. You cry when I wash it and you have to stroke the corner with your fingers over and over for comfort. It's just about the sweetest thing in the entire world and I pray that you continue using this same blanky for many years to come. It reminds me of your innocence and sweet baby ways.

Even now, at three years old, you are great buddies with your daddy. He is a strong hand in your life, yet a gentle touch. He was, by far, the most patient person with you in those first few months of your life when all you did was cry. Your daddy would walk you up and down the hallway for hours. He would sing to you, play guitar for you, swaddle you, talk to you and pray over you. Even now there are many times that he does some of those very same things to calm your spirit. You are alot like your dad, Braden (so dont ever let him tell you different.) He is a great man and he adores you. You make him so proud to be your father. I know because he tells me. Although you have challenged him too, I believe that you will ultimately shape him into the best dad that God has called him to be.

Braden Eugene.

Bubby. Brother. Buster.

Light of my world. Lover of trucks. Keeper of food. Talk of this house.

You are all I ever dreamed that a son would be and more. I am learning every single day how to mother you better and I just continually pray that the Lord would better me for this task. I hope that someday you will look back and know just how special you are to all of us. You make up the greatest part of who I am and in you I feel such delicate love. I pray that you will grow and learn about the Lord in a way that is so mind blowing that even we can't understand it. My hopes for you exceed anything I could ever put into words but all I know for sure is that I want you to feel as special as you are, know how deeply we love you and believe in all that God created you to be. Happiness will follow if you turn to the Lord first and because daddy and I are doing that in our own lives, I hope that you will see how vital it is for your own.

You were one of the greatest gifts God could have given me, Braden. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to mother you, mold you and teach you. Thank you for climbing in my lap, wrapping your sweet arms around my neck and telling me that you love me. Thank you for letting me hold you in the kitchen the other night and dance with you to the worship music that was playing. Everything faded away around us at the moment and I breathed you in deeply. You are my sweet boy only for a moment and I promise to embrace it now, while I still can. I will love you always. Always. Always.

Happy Birthday Buddy.

Mama.