Braden turns 5!!

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Dear Braden,

Happy Birthday buddy!!!  You are 5 years old today and when you woke up this morning you cried saying, "I don't want to be five..."  

But you sung a different tune when I told you that there were presents waiting on the table downstairs.

You are the most tender hearted boy I have ever met.  I am so proud to call you mine.  Every day you are growing a little more and I can finally see the young boy that you are shaping up to be.  You are gentle and emotional and you are kind.  You are always to thankful and respectful and I am incredibly grateful for all of these sweet gifts.

We celebrated you today bud!  You got to go shopping with Pawpy and Eileen just like Nora did on her birthday.  They bought you new boots and alot of cool superhero toys.  You ate lunch at McDonalds and played at the mall.  Your day was so full and rich!  You are so so lucky that you have great-grandparents who love you and are involved in your life.  God has given you that gift, son.

Tonight we had a party just for you!  It was pretty special.  So many of the people who love you were able to be here to celebrate the little superhero that you are.  You amaze me every day, Braden.

Right now, on this very night, I want you to know how much I love you.  It's even more than I can write or explain.  It is so much that I could literally burst.  You and I have a special thing, bub.  You are my only son and I am so glad that God gave you to me.  You are a special and caring boy.  You are generous and selfless and you are in tune to the details of life.  Someday, buddy, I know that you'll make a great husband and an even greater father.  All the days that I have had you, I have prayed these things over you and watching you grow into the boy that God wants you to be is so special to my heart.

I hope you know how much we love and adore you.  I hope you know that every little thing about you makes us so happy.  I hope that I can always foster the gifts that God has placed in your life so that you can continue to use them for His glory.  I hope that this year; the year of your golden birthday-you would always remember exactly the kind of person you are.  I hope that you feel as special as you are to each of us.  I hope today was as incredible for you as it was for me.  

I love you more than life, brother boy.
You are a perfect and precious gift to my heart.  

Happy golden birthday!!!

Love, mama.