And then there were...

 

 

 

... 5 Katterson guys. 

And 2 ladies!

 

(Despite Ben's face, he's actually very happy. 😉)

 

Yes, it is quite a mental adjustment to anticipate folding a little girl into this rugged mix of boys.

 

No, it's not triplets (wouldn't that be a game changer!). Ben and I count.

 

Yes, the boys were rooting for another boy. But I think they'll rally.

 

No, I wouldn't have been disappointed to have a basketball team-ful of boys. But we most especially want the child that God wants to plant in our family. 

Yes, my OB was surprised. She said she had to read the ultrasound twice to be sure.

No, I don't have any little girl clothes. Except possibly a real cute onesie that I bought at a garage sale before we had Victor's ultrasound (lo, these 9 years ago), because I was really quite sure that he was a girl. But come to think of it, I think I gave it away a couple years ago...

Yes, I still like the first girl's name we ever picked. But I have to grapple with the reality that there will likely not be a Luke Andrew Katterson joining the family as I had thought!

 

Conversation in the car after celebratory Five Guys dinner:

 

Ben to boys: What is your favorite girl's name?

Victor, after a long pause: I don't think I have one.

Josiah, emphatically: I don't even know any girls.

[Ben reminds him of the girls in our small group, extended family, neighborhood, etc.]

Elliot: Charis. 

 

[Big points for coming up with a girl's name. This vote gained fast traction, since there are already two young Charis/Karis's in our small group.]

Calvin: Cyrus. [Long pause.] Daddy!

 

 

So, there will be some adjustments ahead. Prayers welcomed. 💗

Lord, take this little girl, and make her a follower of Jesus from her very early days.

9 Years Old!

 9 years old!

8 years old

 7 years old

 6 years old

5 years old

4 years old

3 years old

2 years old

18 months

One year old

11 months

10 months

9 months

 
8 months

7 months

6 months

5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

And now...

Dear Victor,

Happy birthday! It feels like longer than a year since I wrote last year's birthday reflections, which is probably because last year was such an unusual year. COVID, quarantine, so many changed or interrupted plans... But it also feels like you have grown and changed more than a year's worth in the past year! 

I have marveled at your creativity and industry in the past year. You decided to begin cataloguing details about animals and wrote stacks of cards with each one's scientific name, unique characteristics, home and habitat, and so forth. You got binoculars and bird books and carefully observed the blue birds, red-tailed hawks, and other birds in our yard. You, Josiah, and Elliot sometimes play an elaborate game of imagining that you are traveling and collecting or observing different animals. It keeps you busy for hours!

You decided to begin reading through the Bible, and you just finished Deuteronomy! It is one of my great joys to see God give you a desire for His word and regular time reading it on your own.

You are in 3rd grade, love homeschool co-op, are figuring out multiplication, division, and grammar, and get started on your schoolwork before breakfast so that you can finish your work extra early. You have a very strong work ethic and don't need reminders or prompts to keep you moving forward.

Your sense of humor has definitely blossomed, and you'll joke along with Dad, Grandad, and pretty much anyone else. You have a wonderful grin, and I love to see it.

You are very patient and gentle with your little brothers, especially Calvin. He can be a little persnickety, but you bear with him very kindly. 

You love to be with friends and cousins and have a huge appetite for games. You love Monopoly, Phase 10, Battleship, and Spoons. When you have spare time and no one to play with, you'll set up a game of Solitaire. 

You are a huge help to me in many ways, and your example encourages your brothers to be good helpers too. I am so thankful for your good attitude and servant disposition.

If there is one thing we have seen in the past year, it is that God is God, and we are not. We are not masters of our own destiny. We cannot improve ourselves just by working harder. We cannot fix the brokenness of the world by being smart or learning enough or doing good things.

For people without Jesus, these have been bleak, dark days, but I am so thankful that we are not victims of chance or responsible to write our own story. On the contrary, we rest in the sovereign hand of the One who rules the cosmos, who knows our weakness, and who gave His own Son to redeem us from the chains and condemnation of our own sins. 

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. ... The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! (Psalm 145:3-4, 9-10)

 

 I pray that you will always see and recognize the greatness of God and make Him your refuge and strength. The world around us needs to know about the mercy God gives us through His Son Jesus. May you be a witness and picture of His grace!

I love you so much!

Momma

Victor (1.6.21) 9 years old

1.       What is your favorite color? Blue

2.       What is your favorite toy? hand-held memory game

3.       What is your favorite fruit? Pear

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 sweatshirt

7.       What is your favorite game? Phase 10

8.       What is your favorite snack? Pretzels

9.       What is your favorite animal? Peregrine falcon

10.   What is your favorite song? Joy to the World

11.   What is your favorite verse? all the verses in the Bible

12.   What is your favorite book? The Detective’s Assistant

13.   Who is your best friend? The Lees

14.   What is your favorite thing to do outside? Go camping

15.   What is your favorite drink? Dad’s cranberry cider

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

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

18.   What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Spaghetti and meatballs

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

20.   What was one of your favorite things that you did this year? Have Grandma Kay come to visit

21.   What is your favorite place to go? Grammy and Grandad’s house