Dear Jacob,

I cannot believe you are already 13 years old! My very first baby boy is not such a baby anymore. I must have blinked one too many times because you have grown up over night. You are only 2 inches shy of being the same height as your mama! How did that happen so quickly?? Pretty soon, I will not hear the words, “Mommy, you are wearing my clothes again!” By the time you are 14, you will have surpassed me!

Let’s not focus on tomorrow! We all had a great time celebrating your 13th birthday three days in a row. The first two days, we smiled and laughed at Dollywood. Thanks for making sure your littlest brothers were safe on the rides!

The cabin was an added bonus. And the surprise birthday party your younger siblings planned for you was the icing on the cake.

Sorry I was not feeling very well on day #3 – your big day. But your daddy made it special as you both feasted on crab legs – your choice, of course! I enjoyed watching you guys chow down!!

When it was finally time for birthday presents, I could tell you were super excited when you opened something you had been patiently waiting for: a new drone.

You brighten up our world. And I am thankful that the Lord blessed us with you first. You make being a mommy of a teenager an easy task. You have shown me how important it is to love others well. Your servant’s heart makes each day worth living.

I do not know what I would do without you. The Lord has used you to get me through some pretty difficult trials.  Thank you for always being here and using the words the Lord gives you to make His promises shine through. I will never forget the night we were hanging out in a hotel room right down the road from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tears were streaming down my face, and you hugged me and said, “With God all things are possible.” Your faith was so strong. I could not see past the impossible. But you trusted God. You could see past the circumstances that had been set before us.

That was nearly 3 years ago, and we have got to witness God’s promise come to fruition in a way that I could not have ever imagined. God makes things possible when they are in His perfect plan. Thank you for speaking those words when you were only 10 years old. The Lord has used them in a mighty way.  They have kept me grounded as we all continue to wait on Him to work out every last detail in His perfect timing. Do not stop trusting in His promises! I love you more than you could ever imagine. Keep putting the Lord first each day.  His promises are going to take you so far! Hope you have a great year, sweet boy!

Love Always,

Mommy 

Jacob’s birthday interview:

How old are you? 13

What is your favorite food? Crab legs

What do you hope you never have to eat again? Olives

What is your favorite thing to do? Going to Just Jump

What is your favorite animal? Puppies

What makes you happy? Getting surprises

What is the best memory from when you were 12? Going on a cruise to Alaska

What is one thing you’d like to do while you are 13? Take another cruise

What would you like to be when you grow up? Dog trainer

What is your favorite song? Love Broke Thru by TobyMac

Where is your favorite place to eat? Japanese Restaurant

What is your favorite book? The Terrestria Chronicles

Where would you like to go on vacation? Bald Head Island

What would you like the world to know? Jesus saves
Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing shall be impossible.