The gift of Jack!

Due to a few days of no internet access, I wasn't able to get Jack's birthday post up on time...but that doesn't mean we didn't celebrate our newest four year old's special day!!!

Along with superheroes, one of his main interests now is space.  To help encourage his interest in this, we got him a book about space and a set of space shuttles/vehicles.  You can tell by the expression on his face how ecstatic he was!  He is beginning to learn the names of different planets, rockets and constellations.  (Big sister Sarah would be proud...she is also very interested in space!)

Daddy also wanted to get him a set of water guns...and we found these big guys at a local store!  But, much to Jack's dismay, once filled with water they were too big and heavy for the boys to play with.  So...Jack chose to give them to his friends Nathan and Ezra, the sons of our missionary friends here. 

We were able to visit them on his birthday as well, because it was also their mom's birthday!  Jack enjoyed racing around with the boys, as usual.

Then...back at home....what birthday would be complete without a romp with the hose in the backyard, squirting your little brother?  (More about our new yard in a later post!)

With a Spiderman cake already enjoyed in Ohio, Jack asked for a Superman cake this time around.  He had just as much fun blowing out his candles the second time!

Our Jack is one special little boy.  He is so unique and has so many strong and wonderful personality traits.  Though he remains very strong-willed, we've seen that strength begin to develop into really wonderful characteristics.  He has a sensitivity of heart that makes us melt.  He enjoys life and learning with an enthusiasm that is infectious.  And his creativity continues to grow. 

In this photo, he decided to use his shape-tracing cards to make various "monsters" with different features and personalities. 

While on the farm, we learned how to make a homemade bubble recipe and use sticks and rope to make huge bubbles - Jack loved it and became a pro!

His interest in farm life continues now that we are back in Curacao.  He plays with his tractors and tells me he is planting corn or hay or soy beans.  (He also says he misses "Dan" - Josh's cousin who farms the land around Grandma's house.  Cousin Dan took Jack for a tractor ride one day and he's never forgotten it!)

Jack is a loving big brother and for the most part is very helpful and protective of George.  He worries a lot when George gets disciplined and often asks me to say I'm sorry to George when I've made him cry with a reprimand.  He still loves holding his little brother's hand - on walks, in the car and while falling asleep. 

As we celebrated Jack's birthday this week, we also had another reason to celebrate.  Our house in Texas finally sold, after being on the market for almost a year.  Many of you know the burden this has been for us for the past several years and we appreciate your prayers for us during this time.  We praise the Lord for allowing us to sell the house.  And, we remembered this week that the house was not always a burden....it also has some very special memories attached to it.  This was the home that we brought Jack back to four years ago....his first home of many. 

 

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of our beautiful, vivacious, joyful boy Jack!  We love him so much and we pray that he continues to grow in wisdom and in stature as a boy who learns to love You and serve others with kindness and love.  Thank you for his special place in our family.  Please bless him in special ways in this next year.  Amen.