Will is FOUR!

Dear Will,

I am a month late in writing this, but better late than never.  Happy 4th birthday my precious little Will Bug!  

It is so hard for me to believe that it's been four years since you made me a mama...and ultimately changed my heart forever.  You are the sweetest, most loving little boy in the world and I am truly blown away at your ability to make my heart burst the way you do.  The last few months, you have become such the charmer-always giving compliments and telling me how much you love me.  You have a mind like a steel trap and can remember anything and everything we have ever done or discussed(this amazes your daddy!)  You have continued your love for all things garbage truck, and your relationship with Isaiah has only gotten stronger.  Each week you ask me, "is tomorrow garbage day?" and you do not stop asking until the answer is "yes!"  We have gotten to see our special friends every week this summer while you've been out of "school" and this has brought you so much excitement!

 You love to "do" for others and it's usually your idea to give our friends cold Gatorade or make them cookies.  For your birthday, I called the Environmental Services Department to see about getting a tour of the facility and it ended up turning into a small birthday party for you and some of your sweet friends.  I am so proud of you for loving others the way Christ loves us.  I feel like I am getting a glimpse into the kind of heart you're going to have as you grow up, and it makes me cry tears of joy to consider what a compassionate little fella you're going to be.  When Doc was leaving on his mission trip, you got money out of your piggy bank to give to him and it was YOUR idea.  You truly do consider others in such a big way to be such a little guy!  

Your favorite foods are chicken nuggets, yogurt, all fruit (especially strawberries and watermelon), oreos, biscuits with honey, and Sprite(which you discovered when you had an upset tummy and ask for at every restaurant we go to!).  
Your favorite books are the Bible, Truck Stop, Are you my Mother, Pete the Cat, and pretty much any and all other books!  You love to read and you memorize books well...and then read them to Livi.  Your favorite movies are Finding Nemo, Frozen, Stuart Little and Home Alone.  I recently introduced the original Parent Trap to you and you love it because it was my favorite movie as a child.  You think it's so funny to hear me quote the entire movie(you're probably the only person that will ever think this is funny!)  
You have started to love the pool this summer and you and Livi both ask, "is today a pool day?"  You do not like being in the "big pool" without your puddle jumper on, but the fact that you're no longer scared of the water is a huge step!  You love to do down the big slides and love to jump off the sides of the pool. You are doing really well riding your bike, but you would much rather be playing "garbage trucks" or building things in your sandbox.  You continue to sleep with your lovies, "Rover and Denny" and you cannot go to bed or nap without them.  You've been asking about getting another puppy for a few weeks now.  I think Gus' death has just now set in for you and you're longing for another dog.  You are not scared of animals and you LOVE bugs!  You and Livi would search the backyard for bugs for hours!  

Will, I am so proud to be your mom and I pray your sweet spirit continues to grow with you.  I pray your heart for others will only grow as you develop a heart for Christ.  I pray your consideration for others will help you to be the friend that "sticks closer than a brother"(Proverbs 18:24). I pray that you guard your heart when it comes to relationships, but that you will love with your whole heart when you meet the right woman.  I pray that your daddy and I can model marriage in such a way that you will want to have a marriage just like ours.  I pray that you will have courage to stand firm in your convictions and that you will set your mind on what is eternal.  I know you're only four years old, but these are big things...and I want you to know that these were things I was already praying even at your birth.  

I love you Will bug!  You are one sweet little guy and I am so thankful to get to be your mommy!!!  

Love you, Mama