From Inmates to Playdates

To: My Sweet Boys

From: Your Mama

Date: November 19, 2009

RE: Just So You Know

Dear Boys,

November is a month of thankfulness and I am so thankful that God picked me to be your mommy! I hope that I never forget to tell you both how special you are and how much I love you!

I think I missed Just So You Know last month, so let me just add that the two of you were the cutest little Superheroes ever!

Dear Stevie:

You are having a great year in the first grade! You made straight A’s on your report card, you began your second year of basketball this month and you started Cub Scouts. You ended up in the emergency room last month because you fell on the playground and got a big, ole, nasty knot on your head. Sweet child, please slow down. It was a nerve-wracking day for me to walk into the office at your school and see this…

Motherhood sure is tough some days. It broke my heart to see you sitting in the office trying to be brave. I hope I never get another one of those calls. Your biggest complaint was that “you were winning the race” before you fell. I am thankful that the knot healed quickly and that you were okay!

You are a sweet, thoughtful little boy who makes me smile every single day. You sang “Voice of Truth” at our church Youth Service this month.

Yesterday, I was working at your school laminating cornucopias that you all had made. You were asked to write what you were thankful for on it. Tears came to my eyes as I read yours…

 I hope you will always remember that God is awesome!

You decided that you are “old enough to sleep without a stuffed animal” now. Your teddy bear, “Milo” has a place of honor on the shelf beside of your bed and it was all I could do to contain my tears last night. You are growing up so quickly! I’d like for time to stand still for a bit. Six is a sweet age and it fits you perfectly!

I love you, Stevie and I am thankful for you!

Love, Mom

Dear Alex,

You are such an independant little boy! You want to do every. single. thing. all. by. yourself! I love watching you when you are determined! You love pre-school and have made many new friends. Your best friend at school is Tanner. You also enjoy attending Scout events with Stevie. I’m thankful that the two of you are good friends!

You just had your fourth birthday and you are excited about getting to wear underwear to bed at night. You received some bad news at the eye Doctor last month and before we knew it, we were at the hospital trying to explain to a four-year old what was about to happen. I can honestly tell you that my heart shattered into a million pieces as they took you through the doors and you said, “Mommy, I want you!”

At that moment, I wanted to scoop you out of that woman’s arms and run as fast as I could out of the hospital.

Sweet mercy that was one of the most difficult moments of motherhood I’ve faced. I pray that the problem is fixed and that we won’t ever have to go through that again. It was the longest hour of my life.

I am thankful that you got a great report at the eye Doctor after the surgery. You are doing so good with your eye-drops. Putting eye drops in your eyes four times a day for ten days could be miserable. You have been a trooper through the whole thing! We are proud of you!

You haven’t forgotten that daddy spent six months in Cuba and you mention it just about everyday. I never dreamed it would still be so fresh in your mind. I’m thankful that daddy is so special to you that you think about his absence in your life. Daddy is a great role-model for you boys and I am thankful that you all love to spend time with him!

I love you sweet boy!

Love, Mommy

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