Where do I begin??? With the day we found out we were expecting you? Or the day we found out we were expecting our first son? Or when the Dr. told me that ‘there may be some problems’, and I felt God telling me that I can say to this mountain be thou moved and be thou cast into the sea… and the problems were gone that afternoon from the ultrasound screen?

Or should I talk about moving 1500 miles when you were but three months old? Or how rambunctious you are were? Watching you stand down by the fence at two, watching the trains go by, “honking them”.

Knowing in my heart that your little two-year-old leg was broken when we took you to the ER, and crying when the Dr. confirmed it…

Seeing you change Hannah’s diaper, then Isaac’s, then Caleb’s, and now Lucy’s. The joy I feel when you laugh with her and coo with her and want to hold her. It gives me hope and a vision of what a great father you will be someday.

The barn chores, cleaning up a room you didn’t mess up. Holding your tongue when you want to let it go. Reading everything you can get your hands on!

Always coming to Mom’s aid when I need handy-man work done and Daddy is at work. Always finding you outside. Always. Riding your bike to check on goats and chickens - or to run the trash out…

The anticipation of turning eleven. How can you be eleven? Just yesterday you got into the double digits, and now an entire year has passed. Make the most of your time, for it passes much too quickly.

I am so proud of you son. I could reiterate all of the moments like these, and I could not say just how proud I am to be your Momma. There aren’t enough words. I love you. I am thankful for these past eleven years and I look forward to so many more I can’t even count those either!

Have a super fantastic blessed birthday, my son!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are an awesome son!

All my love, Mom