7 it is

7 Things I love about you, Brody:

1. When you love something, you talk about it. You showed your grandparents and auntie approximately 37 ocean animals over skype today.

2. Your endless amounts of energy. I am determined to bottle it up and sell it on the black market.

3. You have fought hard to mature. You have been a good example in class at school, and you fight to exercise self control. Some moments you win, some you lose. But you are willing to face the opportunity to make a different choice.

4. Your smile and your laugh. The joy is CONTAGIOUS, my son.

5. That you call Koleson, Baby Koleson. Dareth and I hope you will do this into his teen years.

6. How you can be socially awkward at times. I'm not sure that it is your autism that's showing as much as your genetic code from your mama.

7. I love how you have wrestled with the Lord these past couple of months. You haven't been afraid to ask hard faith questions in regards to Grandma K, you have been honest with the fear you have had, and you have talked it out with your God. It has been difficult as your mom to watch you ask the tough stuff, knowing the Lord responded with a no to some of your questions. But it has been so beautiful at the same time. You are growing in your faith, and that takes my breath away.

I am so very grateful to be your mom. And in what I am bracing myself to be a more difficult year of growth for you, I am praying you will continue to chase God with the questions of your heart.

You are pure joy. With a side of crazy and no appreciation for sarcasm. The perfect blend for our family. I love you!

KinderEve

About 10 years ago, a dear friend of mine sent her youngest off to kindergarten. It was before I had any children, but I imagined that it would be so difficult when your baby started school, so I brought her flowers. Her youngest now starts high school tomorrow, and I am sending my baby to kindergarten.

And I would like to state for the record that everything I thought my friend may be feeling, I should have multiplied by 1,000x.

Brody,

I wish I could convey to you how much you mean to me, but there simply isn't a word to describe how much I love you. You are my heart, son.

There is a song that Ms. A played in your end of year slideshows. It has become my song for you.




Dream Big, B.

Love

Mommy

Oh My, Five!

Brody,

Today you are five. And your mama is an emotional wreck. Five is so, well...big. It leaves no baby face to squish, no traces of toddlerhood. And while you haven't been anywhere near baby for a long time, five just marks it permanently.

You my sweet, funny boy are 55 pounds of lean muscle height! You are tall and solid, and you only go at one speed - full force. Your size 2 feet are merciless when stepping on toes and you often knock me off balance when you run at me to give me a big hug.

This is your last year of preschool, and you have blossomed in your school environment. You enjoy not only your letters, but your phonograms, too. You are a big fan of the sound can, and love the sensory table.

You, son, have blown my world apart. I never knew the sweetest joy that the simple things could bring. Daddy and I TREASURE your communication. You speak so well and with so much enthusiasm. Everything is EXCITING! and FUN! and DOABLE! B, professionals weren't sure how much you'd talk, if at all. I wish your first speech therapist could see you now!

You are a never ending adventure, my boy. Your newest thing is to ask people what their name is and then introduce yourself, and whoever else is with you at the time. I just love it. You are so social! The thing I am loving the most about you is when you tell us you want to go to Africa (or Japan, or Australia). When I tell you we'd have to fly there, you ask me to take you to the airport, and when I tell you it costs alot of money, you say "Where can I get money?" B, there would be no greater pleasure for me than to take our family to Africa.

My prayer for you, Brody, is that you will always keep your adventurous heart and imaginative spirit. God has a plan for you, my boy. And it is a prosperous one. 3 years ago, I don't know if I could've stood in that promise confidently. A diagnosis of autism turned our world into a very dark place. But you, sweet one, have brought light and a thousand different colors that I never knew about before. God has used you to bring Him much glory. May that always be your heart's desire. May you always remember the first Bible verse you memorized: "The Lord is with me, He is my helper." (and reach for the sky- added by you). He has made you an overcomer. And we are just so grateful to be on the sidelines cheering.

Your Sissy, Daddy and I all love you very much. We can't wait to see what 5 brings!