Happy 8th Birthday Eli!

 

Eli, 

It's the end of January and I am just now posting your birthday letter. I literally can't believe you are 8. You are the youngest of my biological babies and it's hard for me to watch you grow, knowing you won't stay little forever. For now, you still have the softest skin. You are so sweet. You love to snuggle me and you give me little machine gun kisses on my face. You still always prefer your dad. You and him have always had a great connection. You share common interest when it comes to the Braves, UNC basketball, and collecting baseball cards. I hope y'all continue to be close the rest of your life. It is a very sweet thing y'all have.

This year, you officially became a big brother. The adjustment wasn't easy for you. Madi is a big personality and is insecure. She always tries to push your buttons and tries to make herself feel better than you at things. You struggled at first, but you have absolutely become a loving and amazing big brother. You have exceeded my expectations. I am proud that you have handled this with such love and grace. So proud!

This year you started 2nd grade. Your best friend is Brody. You have also had a friend move into the neighborhood. His name is Dylan. You go to his house almost every day. 

Your brothers think you are spoiled and get away with too much. They are right! You are spoiled rotten, but you are seriously so cute and sweet, AND funny. Ugh, what will we do with you. You are such a little man. You are still emotional and sensitive but you walk around like you are so cool and with such a huge ego. That will be something you probably have to keep in check.

Eli, I love you so much. You are my last little boy. I wish I could keep you little, but I also can't wait to see what journey you go on. This year, you have given me many challenges, but also much joy. I love you and would do anything for you. Oh yeah...did I mention you are becoming a pretty good little ball player. Dad and I coach your team and that has been so fun for us to do together. I hope this year is a great one! Love you lots,

Mom

Our New Addition

 Chris and I have felt the call to adopt for years. We started the process several times and God continually shut the door. That's when we started coming alongside families who did adopt. It was bizarre how family after family entered our lives with an adoption story of their own and a need our family could help fulfil. Shortly after getting our feet wet with trauma care, we decided to get our license to foster. We really didn't know what God had planned but we were putting our "yes" on the table. Since we had 3 biological kids, however, we did have preferences and thought we had an idea of what would work best for our family. Respectfully, we were told by the agency that they NEVER get one child in our age range. We were at peace with the fact that we may never be called upon to help in a fostering capacity since the agency seemingly only needed homes for large sibling groups. 

However, one summer, we got a call from our placement specialist who told us about a respite opportunity for a local couple who was fostering a girl in our age range. We said we would love to provide respite for them and soon realised she would be a good fit for our family. Shortly after, we provided a shorter respite, and then a 3rd, as she went with us on a beach vacation. Meanwhile, her plan had recently moved from reunification to adoption and the couple that had her were interested in fostering only. That summer, she became our full time foster placement. We enrolled her in preschool, celebrated her 5th birthday, and had our first Christmas as a family of 6. As predicted, shortly after the new year, parental rights were terminated by the courts. 4 months later all contact was ordered to cease and unfortunately, her mom passed away shortly thereafter. It was one difficult tragedy after the next for her little mind and heart to process. 

In October of 2023, Madi became an official member of our family. 

Madi is an outstanding kid. She has a positive energy about her. She is smart beyond her years and has a kind heart. She is funny and her voice is absolutely adorable. She has so many gifts and unique qualities. I pray she uses them to bless those around her and channel all that she is to bring others to know Jesus. I pray as we navigate all the complexities of adoption, that we do right by her always. Above all, I pray she knows she is deeply loved and cherished forever and ever amen. 

Mattox is 14

 Oh Mattox, you turned 14! I'm not sure why this birthday seemed different, but it did. You look older, you act older (most of the time), and I just couldn't handle it. I cried. You are such a light. This year I have seen you grow and blossom so much. You are just finished 7th grade at Weddington Christian Academy, a little private school close to where we live. Your best friend is Gavin and you had a great year. You made outstanding grades, played basketball, and made friends. Out of all of Madi's brothers, you are her favorite. You are kind and fair. You have so much patience. Sometimes, more than I do. You see the world in such a unique way and really have one of the biggest hearts I have ever come across. I just love you so much. You also look out for me, which is really sweet. I'm not ready for you to grow up...but you are, right in front of me. 

For your birthday, we gave you a phone. I held out for 14 years. Can you believe that? You still love Pokemon and know everything there is to know about it. You are going to do big things in this world if you decide to. Sometimes you struggle to find the motivation to do stuff well if you aren't that interested in it. We are working on life skills and social skills and you are getting better at both. Now, you even have a little group of friends you hang out with. 

Your best friend is Sam. You two are thick as thieves as they say. You room together and are always hanging out with each other. I pray that your friendship with continue thought your lives, long after I am gone. You both are a gift to each other. You are a good big brother to all 3 of your siblings. You are just a good and responsible kid. I love you so much and I am so proud of you. This year, you decided to get baptized. I love that. You made a public declaration of an inner transformation. You go! I pray that you continue to seek God in all that you do. He has big plans for you I think. Please always know that you are loved and valued for who you are. You are my son and I think the world of you now, and always. Here's to many more.

Happy 12th Birthday Sam

 

Happy Birthday Sam. You are 12 now and this year has been a good one. Shortly after your last birthday, we got another foster placement. A little girl. Her name is Madi. She was 4 when she moved in with us. You have been very mature in understanding what we are doing and why. You haven't been overly nice to her, mainly tolerating her, but occasionally thinking she is funny. You are a good big brother. You have had a GREAT year swimming. You continue to grow and get faster a little bit at a time. You seem to enjoy practice and still have Coach Rob as your coach. He is a great role model and your best friend on the team is Parker. Each meet, you show improvement in almost every event. It's pretty impressive.

This year, you started the 5th grade. Alec is still your best friend. There has been more drama than ever this year and you do very well to stay out of it. You are very solid, avoiding highs and lows. You are wise. Very observant and have very high expectations of others. You always do the right thing and make good grades. You make me very proud. At the end of the school year, you scored the highest score on a Spanish fluency test. There were 4 high scores. 2 of them were 8th graders and the other 5th grader has parents from Puerto Rico. That is a very big accomplishment.

This year, we lost Summer Girl. She was old and was not doing well. You grieved more than I have ever seen you in my life. She was such a good dog and we still miss her a lot.

Sam, you are such a valuable member of our family. I have loved to see you grow and mature over the last year. You are really a very neat person. You have taught me how to love better, be more intentional, and that I don't always have to respond to anyone I don't want to. LOL You are going to do big things. I love you so much. Happy Birthday buddy.

Eli is 7!

 Happy Birthday Eli. I am a little late on this post...as usual. You turned 7 this year and you are seriously one cool kid. This past year you finished kindergarten and started 1st grade. Your best friends at school are Brody, Harry, and Korinn. However, more than anything, you just want to hang out with Nolan and Graham. You had a great baseball season. You were one of the better kids out there. You did summer swim team and played basketball. You love sports and especially love baseball. You and dad love the Braves and this year you went to a game. You are so loved by your teachers. You have everyone at school in love with you. This summer, we got a new foster placement. It was hard for you at first, but now, you are such an amazing big brother. It is cool to see you rise to the occasion like this. We put you in a tough spot and you have rocked it. Your personality is super awesome. You have a great combination of being a tough guy but you are super sweet and sensitive. You have the most amazing smile and you are a little bit of a flirt. Oh yeah, and over Christmas break I pulled your first tooth out with pliars. It was so gross but you were PUMPED! You are really easy to love. I am so thankful God gave you to us. Our family would not the be the same without you in it. You had your birthday party this year at a rock climbing place. It was a Lego party. I made your cake and you thought it was amazing. It gave me a lot of joy. I hope year 7 is a good one. Keep your eyes on the Lord and your heart ready to say "yes" to Him. I love you with all that I have within me...forever and always.

Mom

Mattox is a Teen

 Mattox,

Buddy, you are now 13. I am about a month late writing this, and you have just started 7th grade. The past year has been a good one for you. Last fall, at the start of 6th grade, you committed to getting better at soccer. You have worked all year and have found yourself working mainly as a goal keeper. You started middle school at Parkwood Middle School, but after Christmas break, you transferred to a small Christian school. Academically, you had an amazing year. You made straight A's all year long. You made new friends and recently expressed an interest in getting baptized. 

Last fall you also became a foster brother to a little guy named Jermaine. You were great with him. We recently got a new placement. A little girl. She adores you. You are one of the kindest brothers anyone could ever have. I admire your patience, kindness, and fairness. 

Your favorite thing in the world is screen time. You and Sam are best friends. You are very intelligent and always want everything to be equal. You aren't a huge extrovert, but you don't love being bored either. You don't love being outside in extreme weather and you absolutely hate mosquitoes and other bugs. You are seriously handsome. 

I am feeling optimistic that the teenage years aren't going to be as bad as everyone says they will be when it comes to you. You are logical, kind, fair, and smart. You are a bit sneaky but you are a terrible liar and you don't get away with much. I love you so much. You own my heart and always will. I will always be here for you if you ever need anything. I hope you can always come talk to me. Here's to many more birthdays! I am very proud of you.

Love,

Mom

Sam turns 11

 Sam,

The past year has been a year of major growth for you. We gained a foster placement at the beginning of the summer. A little guy with a lot of medical problems. At first, you were unsure. You weren't the first to hug him or touch him or help with him. Soon after he came though, you started to really be his champion. You were so sweet and kind to him. You grew to love him. He went back in October. This year you started and completed the 4th grade. Your best friend (other than Mattox) is Alec, a buddy from school. The two of you are pretty funny and yall talk like a bunch of old men.

This year you also started your first year of club swim. You swam for a team called, Team Charlotte Swim. You are a decent swimmer. You never complain about going and you are continually getting better, stronger, and more confident. It has been very fun to watch you swim this year. You really like your coach, Rob, and he is the perfect role model for you at this point in your life. You met another good friend through swim. His name is Parker. The two of you swim almost every event together and are super cute to watch.

This year, you also did awesome when we went skiing. You are slow, but getting faster and better each time you ski. You are such an easy and likable kid. You still LOVE Pokemon and now you have an obsession with video games. 

This year was the first time you made straight As. You are a smart kid. You are also very wise. You don't run your mouth or react to anything drastically. You are pretty steady but I think you have a lot going on inside your head. You are a good friend and brother and I think you are a mentally strong 11 year old. You have grit and I don't really worry about you. Everyone loves you. 

I love you the most because I am your mom. I pray that you continue to seek the Lord's will for your life. I love you and I am very very proud of you. I hope year 11 is filled with health, fun, friendship, and success. 

Thanks for making me a proud mom.

Love you always

-MOM