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He's EIGHT!
No way. Couldn't be!
just when I think each day lasts forever around here, he goes and turns eight and I know the days are flying way faster than . . . well, then fast flying things.
(Yes, it's probably near midnight and I'm a bit on the tired side.)
Christian said, "Mom, my seventh year went by faster than the year before. Each year seems faster!" I was somewhat surprised to hear him say that considering that he has literally been counting down the days to his birthday since last spring. I would have thought he would say it took forever.
He has studied my calendar. Seriously studied it. I remember when he told me, "Mom, it's now 196 days until I turn eight."
My calendar sits on my desk. He walks in and finds it and flips through it and counts. He would say, "I can't wait until my birthday. It's --- days away." Smile and then walk out.
We take the children out alone on their birthdays. Started that this past year and Robert and I are so glad we did. It's been awesome all the way around - for us, and for them. Christian has been just dying to go out with us. We took him to mini-golf and then to eat. He and Robert played golf and I kept score. Christian made a hole in one about half way through the course.
He hit it out of the course, onto the sidewalk, it bounced back in onto the green and went into the hole. I kid you not. Never seen anything like it in my life of mini-golf. It made his night.
At dinner, over his mac-n-cheese, he told me he either wants to fly planes when he grows up, or be a doctor. He's always told me, since he was a little thing, that he wants to fly... but this doctor thing was a new one. I asked what kind of doctor.
He told me one that doesn't see a lot of blood.
I've seen a lot of spiritual growth in Christian the last three months. Back in the summer time he was not really desiring to pray or spend time reading the Bible. About the first of September I was burdened for his heart. I was reading in my quiet time one morning in Psalm 108 and read:
"...that your beloved ones might be delivered, give salvation by Your right hand and answer me..."
I underlined and it and on the side wrote, "Prayer for Christian 4 deliverance."
And I stepped up my praying for him.
I felt led that I was to make it a priority each night to pray privately with him. Since the four boys share a room I wondered how this would work ~ but I found my way in. All the boys love back rubs, but Christian especially so.
I go up and rub the boys' backs before bed. When I would get to Christian I would rub his back and then get down right next to him and I would whisper a prayer in his ear for him, hugging his shoulders. He really seemed to respond to this and I could tell, really began to look forward to our quiet little prayer together.
Since the beginning of September, I have really seen the Lord work in Christian's heart in lots of little ways.
He is a private person, more quiet in a group and praying at the table at meals has always been something he has been shy about. I haven't pushed him about it, because I've known a lot of it is just personality. . .
Not to mention he's got three extroverted brothers who jump in so fast he doesn't have a chance much anyway.
Well, since our nightly whispered prayer together he has been desiring to pray more. The other day when he prayed at lunch time, once again, it just really touched my heart and I thank God for it because I know this is something that God has done new inside of him.
I have also seen God work a new heart of compassion in him. He's a tough guy - he's all boy - and has had his fair share of injuries. In the past when one of the children would fall or get hurt, he'd kind of look their way, shrug, move on... kind of like, "Get over it and get up." I don't know that he meant to be this way, he's just kind of the soldier type.
A few months ago I spoke with him about how loving others is to show compassion - that when someone gets hurt, it is loving, whatever took place, big or small, to check on them, to ask them if they are okay, to help them up or whatever he could do to show love.
I have been so encouraged to see him taking what I said into action. At first it was a new thing for him, hard for him - outside his normality to stop and take time to help someone up. But over the last few months, he has made it a habit - ON HIS OWN - working hard to show compassion and love. And now I am seeing it come from his heart.
When asked what his favorite thing about this past year was he said it was going to the beach as a family. When I asked him what his goals were for this upcoming year of his life, he said, "To catch a monster crab."
(Shelton was the picture taker for us here so we kind of ended up at the bottom of the picture~ )
Things I love about this guy:
-He has a wonderful laugh! It is so contagious. 
-He is a deep thinker. And though he doesn't let on, even a deeper feeler.
-He talks quiet, but sings loud.
-He gives hugs that squeeze the life out of me.
-He has dimples.
-He loves babies and animals too.
-He's tough.
-He's the ideal student.
-He reaches out and holds my hand. He is extremely affectionate.
-He tells me he loves me.
-He is a strong leader type.
-He can mimic any voice he hears.
-He is who he is. He likes bag pipes and his favorite music to listen to is a Scottish bag pipes cd. He did not get this from me. He puts it on and it sounds like all of Scotland is going to war in his bedroom. He marches and tackles things. I put up with it at the high volume because as it goes on and on and over and over it just blows my mind that he loves it so much.
-He talks my ear off when no one is around.
-He has eye lashes that are longer than anyone's I know.
-He loves to get dirty. He is 100% boy, plus some.
-He knows how to work a deal. 
-He likes to make faces when I take pictures.
I look forward to seeing what God has in store for Christian. I enjoy each and everyday I have with him. Seems like yesterday I was sitting in IHOP eating pancakes for supper after a long day at the zoo with my two little boys. I went into labor. Robert paid the bill and we rushed out.
An hour and a half later, Christian arrived... had him in our living room at home - we were living in a one room house at the time and the living room was Robert's and my bedroom!
Oh, goodness, what a time! Robert ran our two little boys to my sister's house up the road a ways while I was in very active labor at the house, leaving me there alone as the midwives still hadn't arrived! I can remember thinking I was going to have our third baby all by myself!
Thank God I didn't. What I remember most about Christian when he was born was his beautiful dark skin, his eye brows and eyelashes, his head full of THICK, BLACK hair, and how he hardly ever cried. He was our earliest crawler, walker and swimmer out of the bunch. And up to this point, has had more stitches in his head then nearly the rest of the children put together!
I am so grateful for this son that God has given us... a son to give back to Him. I pray he will be a man hard after God.
Happy Birthday Christian Soldier! I love you so very much.
a. ann
P.S. She found the mascara. She pretty much missed both eyes, and was quite proud about it.
Twenty-three weeks old.
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| | Posted 11/11/2009 1:23 AM - 731 Views - 72 eProps - 38 comments
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Hallo Christian. Your mother loves you very very much. Van Harte Gefeliciteerd met je 8ste verjaardag. Heel veel leuke dingen wensen wij jou toe.
Many happy congratulations on your 8th birthday. A lot of wonderful things we wish you.
Give your mom a big kiss for me
Godeliva