4 years old!
3 years old
2 years old
18 months old
1 year old
11 months old
10 months old
9 months old
8 months old
7 months old
6 months old
5 months old
4 months old
3 months old
2 months old
1 month old
2 weeks old
Dear Calvin,
You have very patiently awaited your birthday (it's hard when all the siblings have birthdays that fall earlier in the year!). So what a joy to celebrate with you at last! You are 4!
- You are a fellow with a fabulous smile and joyful countenance. You like jokes and being goofy right alongside your funny brothers. You love your little sister and shower her with hugs and toys. I love your infectious laugh!
- You are very interested in trucks and can read about construction vehicles for an undetermined amount of time. You likewise love to dig in our construction site and wear the summer dirt well!
- You eat well, and you'll normally pick a piece of candy for a treat. (Calvin, would you like a piece of triple layer chocolate cake or a Tootsie Roll? Okay, a Tootsie Roll it is...)
- You are a chatty and detail-oriented boy. You have many thoughts and love to share them--from observations you make about vehicles while driving to visions of wouldn't it be so funny if... Your grasp of language is remarkable. And cracks me up regularly. ("Wait a moment! My mommy said I should sit on the potty now...")
- You have a great imagination (aided by your father). When we drive past a water tower, you're always quick to point out, "There's a huge marshmallow!" or "Look at that rocket!"
- You are a big helper. You now take part in the daily bathroom-cleaning-by-the-boys. You make your bed, empty the plates and bowls from the dishwasher, run the sweeper under the table, and often help me get lunch on the table. I hope you continue to develop a love for serving and hard work that will honor the Lord throughout your life.
- This year you and Elliot and I had special Bible lessons together after lunch. I love to hear your thoughtful and earnest prayers and the way your sharp mind memorized our verses and put together deep theological truths. When you're asked to pray for a snack or meal or our morning at church, you normally start, "Dear Father, thank You for this beautiful day and thank You..." May the Lord continue to deepen and grow your faith in Christ.
- You're growing in coordination and love to zoom on your strider bike. (You're also eager to getting your own big boy bike.) When we go on family hikes, you can keep up very well! But sometimes it's still nice to ride on Dad's shoulders...
- My favorite thing as we've celebrated your birthday is every time you opened a birthday gift you gave your priceless smile and said, "It's just what I wanted!" You have also taken to responding with a "Thanks, Mom" to just about every little thing I give you. It's the sweetest. I hope you celebrate the Lord's kindness and receive His gifts with that enthusiasm all your life.
One of the lessons that we are working on with you (and God is working on with me) is not to fuss, even when we face disappointments, difficulties, and discouragement.
How is it possible to give thanks in all circumstances and for all things? Here are a couple reasons:
- God is wiser than we are and divinely orchestrates all things for the good of His children. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
- God has proven His great love for us by the gift of His own Son. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32
- God has told us the end of the story. Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:3-4
- God even turns suffering into profit in His children. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison... 2 Corinthians 4:17
We live in a broken world where we will encounter trouble. But we belong to a sovereign God who nevertheless has transformed death into life, defeated sin and the devil, and is preparing us for eternal life and joy with Him through the gift of His own Son. He is worthy of our trust. So let's keep laboring to cheerfully trust, obey, and follow Him!
I love you, my Calvin,
Momma
Calvin (6.25.22) 4 years old
1.
What is your favorite color? orange
2.
What is your favorite toy? my excavator
3.
What is your favorite fruit? apple
4.
What is your favorite video to watch? Toy Story
5.
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? peppers
6.
What is your favorite thing to wear? polo shirt
7.
What is your favorite game? Candyland
8.
What is your favorite snack? goldfish
9.
What is your favorite animal? tiger
10.
What is your favorite song? the alphabet song
11.
What is your favorite verse? Psalm 91
12.
What is your favorite book? Truck, Truck, Goose
13.
Who is your best friend? Isaiah
14.
What is your favorite thing to do outside? play
tag
15.
What is your favorite drink? root beer
16.
What do you like to sleep with at night? my
blanket
17.
What is your favorite thing to eat for
breakfast? orange
18.
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? spaghetti
and pizza
19.
What do you want to be when you grow up? a
worker
20.
What was one of your favorite things that you
did this year? county fair
21.
What is your favorite place to go? McDonalds
