Happy 3rd Birthday, Gavin!!!

Sophie is so proud of your Bieber look!

{All photographs by Jody Martrain Photography.  

Click the above photograph for link to Jody’s facebook page.}

Grandson, I’ve learned a lot from you the last three years. I’ve known a joy that cannot be described with words, but possibly with a look. It’s the look of a grandparent and that’s all I know. I’m not even sure an artist could adequately portray it. Perhaps a photograph.

I know this—your pictures paint a thousand words. Your smile warms my soul.

Proud to be an American

I’m your grandmother in spite of the fact that you think that’s hilarious and respond with, “NOOOOO, you’re NOT!” And then you crack slap up. But I am. And although I’m still learning about this whole grandparenting thing, I’m pretty sure I’m the one who is supposed to be teaching you. Yet you teach me.

I don’t know what you’re doing in this next picture but I think we all know what it looks like which is a little ironic since you continue to struggle with the potty training. Again, you’re teaching me, this Nanny who determines to conquer the potty training.

Mama’s boots

I’m learning to hold fast to that which matters and let go of all the rest. It’s a slow process. I want to speed it up like I do everything in life but that can’t be done. Because slowing down is the whole point.

My Mama wears combat boots!

If I could hurry up and teach you, give you a crash course for the year that lies ahead, I would. I would try with everything within me to prepare you, sweet mama’s boy. Your mama wears combat boots and though you can’t remember the first year of your life when your daddy wore his off to Iraq, you’ll soon know that those boots were indeed made for combat. More than anything, Nanny wants to prepare you for this. But the truth is that I’m not sure I’m prepared.

And really, the very best gift I can give you is the love of Jesus so that’s what I’ll do. I’ll let Him teach me how to walk each day this coming year and I’ll pray that you’ll learn how too. You’ll see me stumble but hopefully you’ll see me fall right back on Him. This life, this walk, is a walk of grace if you walk with Him.

We’ll celebrate on Saturday and you’ll wear you Superhero costume along with your Aunt Sophie and your friends. And in the years ahead you’ll learn that your mama is a Superhero.

No Words

It will be hard, Gavin, so hard. But we’ll do this with you. And together, if we trust Him, we’ll be even stronger because He will carry us. And the peace and the joy that this world is looking for, that cannot be found in the best of circumstances, will sustain us in the worst of circumstances. We’ll trust Him to carry your mama. He is faithful. And He is always good.

We’ll trust Him to bring her right back.

And maybe together, we’ll learn to thank Him in the wait.

Happy 3rd Birthday, my sweet little man.

Nanny loves you. Mama loves you, too. I’ll remind you of this daily. And that Jesus loves you even more.