Happy 7th Birthday to our Jack!

 Today my firstborn turns seven years old.  Is it even possible?  He has become such a big boy this past year...but like any mother, I can still so vividly recall him as a tiny newborn in my arms.  He has always been a challenging kid who has taught Josh and I much about how to rely on God's strength and wisdom as parents!  But oh what joy and life he adds to our family! 

Since Josh is working today, we let Jack open his big present on Sunday so that Josh could see him enjoy it!  Jack had seen a kid ride this type of bike (it is actually a Huffy Green Machine) at the park one day and was just itching to try it.  He never had the chance.  But when we found one offered on Craigslist for a great deal, we knew it would be the perfect present for our active boy.  HE LOVED IT!  All he wants to do is ride this thing!  I think he even dreams about it while he sleeps!  It is fun to see such pure joy on our boys' faces!

Jack amazes us with his creativity and resourcefulness.  One day he asked if he could use two old shelves from bookcases and paint.  And THIS is what he created!  Complete with a wire hook on the back with which to hang it up!  He made this as a present for Toby - with the colors of both Toby's and our flag and Christ in the center.  Wow. 

 Jack is extremely extroverted and is all about people.  He loves his brothers, his cousins, his friends at church and recently...the boy who moved in four houses down the street!  He would be surrounded by people every minute of the day if he could.  We know God will use this for some great purpose!  But oh how it exhausts his more introverted parents!  :-) 

He loves his little cousin Logan and is so happy that he gets to see him more often now that they live in Arizona!  (Jack prayed hard for Logan at the beginning of his life!)

 If we could use two words to describe Jack, they would be PHYSICAL and ENTHUSIASTIC! 
This boy wants to be on the move all the time - riding, running, climbing, jumping, swimming.  His goal is to one day be a Navy SEAL - and it looks like it could be a possibility if he continues on this path! 

 Homeschooling works well with him, since we can do short lessons and lots of hands on activities for his busy mind.  We've noticed he works better at school stuff when he's had time to jump on the trampoline or ride his bike in the morning.  It isn't easy to get him to sit down for some short lessons, but he will sit next to me curled up as I read chapter books and never get bored!  He is an interesting little guy!

 He loves to paint and draw and has created many masterpieces in our home!  He's even become a "professional artist" since some of his paintings sold as fundraisers for Toby!

 Jack's faith is growing each day.  He is tremendously interested in our Bible time each morning.  He asks deep questions about God and faith.  And this summer he expressed an interest in being baptized.  So Josh was able to do it in Phoenix at my parents' home church...where Josh, Jake and Sarah were baptized in 2006!  He has a very tender heart for the lost and hurting of this world.  We often see homeless people as we drive around Las Vegas.  When we can, we stop to give them something...but sometimes Jack will see someone who is on the other side of the overpass or out of reach, and his heart will break and tears will flow that we were not able to help.  As he's learned more about orphans and has begun praying for different ones by name, his heart breaks for the harsh treatment they get in the orphanages and he says, "Mom, we just have to get a bigger house and bring as many as we can home to us and out of those orphanages!"  We love his heart!

 He loves to be outdoors.  Not just being physically active, but enjoying nature. 

 Jack lost four teeth this summer!  His two top ones came out within 24 hours of one another! 

 Jack is a loving big brother...but is eager to have Toby as a big brother and buddy! 

 His adventurous spirit comes out with food, too!  Here he is trying sardines!  He insisted that we buy some at the store after reading about them in a story and learning that Grandpa Terry used to eat them.  Funny boy!  (He was not a fan, by the way!)

Lord, thank you for the gift of our Jack!  Thank you for giving him such a love for life and such boundless energy!  May you open his heart and mind even more in this next year to learn and grow and develop into the young many You want him to be!  Happy Birthday, sweet boy!