4 Years Old!

 4 years old!

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Dear Elliot,


You are 4 years old! Amazing! You have grown by leaps and bounds in the last year!

These days...

- You are sleeping in a toddler bed, from which you climb in and out easily, but you still just hang out in bed when you wake up until somebody comes to get you. You like it! You read from a stack of magazines, sing a song, or just relax until someone (normally one of your brothers) comes up to say it's time to get up. Love it.

- You are a huge, hulking fellow. Thinking to be super ahead of the game, I bought a bunch of extra clothes and other assorted gifts when I was Christmas shopping, so I didn't have much I needed to get when your birthday rolled around. (This was good, since stores are closed now...) But I am dismayed to find that I bought everything a size too small, thinking of you as just a petite 3-year-old, instead of a big strapping 4-year-old. Sorry about that.

- You do a pretty good job eating your meals, although I would say you typically eat the least among your brothers (Calvin routinely polishes off his meal and has room for the remnants left over from you.) I've noticed your taking God's help to eat without grumbling, even when something is not your favorite, and I really appreciate that.

- You love to look at books. When we go to the library, you'll sit on the couch, quietly looking through the new loot for a long time. And you still like to cozy up with me and read a good book together, which is a lovely thing.

- You're gaining independence in so many areas! You're pretty good at getting your clothes on, going potty on your own, putting your dishes in the sink, washing your hands, brushing your teeth, getting your shoes on, and so forth. These are such huge steps forward! Great job!

- You are a fun and silly playmate with your brothers. It's so fun when you are all working on a big digging project in the construction site (the special project space in our backyard for you boys). Or playing "food tag" or Wild Kratts or other creative games together.

- You have a quick mind. Even though you aren't officially doing school, you join in with the big brothers for memory work, and you have mastered a surprising amount of information. (Your Sunday school small group leaders were pretty surprised when you could rattle off some facts about ancient history we learned in school!) And you show some analytical and organizational inclinations that show me God has given you a very good mind.

- A handful of times in the past year, you had some episodes of sudden, intense knee pain in your left knee. They would leave as quickly as they came, but we've seen some doctors about that. At this point, it looks like you're a strong, healthy boy with good mobility, which we thank God for!

- You have a joyful smile and contagious chuckle that brighten our days so much! You appreciate a good joke and tell them yourself.



We are in the midst of unusual and challenging days, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to change plans and affect lives all around the world. Even as we pray for God to grant protection, healing, and help from this serious virus, I am reminded about a much worse problem we have.

A universal sickness has affected the human race. We have sin-sick hearts, without exception. Even though you are sweet and cheerful much of the time, you have seen the trouble in your own heart as well. And the grim news is, our sin earns us death--separation from God forever.

Not only is this a horrible fate, there is no vaccine against it, no amount of personal protective measures can avoid it, and nothing we can do will provide healing from it.

But there is amazing and life-giving news:

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Left to ourselves, we will all fall to the sickness of sin in our hearts. But if we turn to Jesus and put our hope in His perfect sacrifice in our place, God actually makes us a part of His own family!

Your name means "The LORD is my God." And that is our great prayer for you, Elliot. That you will trust in Jesus and that He will be your God, and you will be His child forever.

I love you, sweet Elliot!

Momma

Elliot (4.24.20) 4 years old

1.       What is your favorite color? Green

2.       What is your favorite toy? My piano

3.       What is your favorite fruit? Grapes

4.       What is your favorite video to watch? Wild Kratts

5.       What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Macaroni and cheese

6.       What is your favorite thing to wear? My new glow-in-the-dark dinosaur shirt

7.       What is your favorite game? Qwirkle

8.       What is your favorite snack? popcorn

9.       What is your favorite animal? dogs

10.   What is your favorite song? Hippopotamus (Hip Hip Hooray God Made All of Us)

11.   What is your favorite verse? When I am afraid I will trust in You, in God whose word I praise.

12.   What is your favorite book? Daniel Tiger

13.   Who is your best friend? Charis and Sam

14.   What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run and play with my remote control cars

15.   What is your favorite drink? Apple juice

16.   What do you like to sleep with at night? My puppy

17.   What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes

18.   What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Culvers

19.   What do you want to be when you grow up? Motorcycle rider

20.   What was one of your favorite things that you did this year? Going camping

21.   What is your favorite place to go? To the zoo