The Big Man's Three

Tuesday - June 15th - was Dean's birthday. (Yes, I am aware that it was over a month ago but the main thing is that it gets documented.) We had a train party to celebrate.

We began with some dinner and then the real festivities began...cake and presents.

Eating cake always brings a smile.

Studying the gifts.

Possibly the only thing better than eating a train cake
is getting a train to play with.

Dean, what an exciting past year. You learned to ride your tricycle, busted your forehead open, killed your front tooth and discovered a love for throwing and catching the football. Not to mention, became an excellent sword fighter on Coco's wii and can hit the bowl every time you stand up to tee-tee.

You are truly one of a kind. God has given you a tender heart and the gift of encouragement. You love your family deeply and are concerned for our welfare. One of my favorite stories from this past year is when you stood in the front yard and told Daddy every time he brought a stick around from the back yard while doing yard work, "Great job, Daddy; great job!" You did this for at least 30 minutes (there were lots of sticks and branches). Just yesterday when Caleb wacked me in the head with a toy while playing you were the only one who came to check on me...and you came immediately with the softest voice, "Mama, are you OK?" You are cautious and often well thought through. You have such an excitement for life. Whether it is Daddy coming home from work or playing a game with Anna Grace and me, you get so excited. Your giggle is infectious around here and when you get going it is hard to get you to stop.

I know you are getting big and growing up fast these days but I absolutely love that you still crawl up in my lap for a hug or cuddle with me. You aren't too cool to kiss me yet and I am so thankful for that...You come running every time without hesitation.

I love that you want to sing Holy, Holy, Holy every time you pick a song. And that you never want to sing alone; you always want to include everyone. I love that you love sitting in the church service with us while we sing. I love that today you were just as excited about helping me make biscuits as you were wrestling with Daddy when he came home. I love that you are so happy to go with the flow and if you get bored with us and our plans you can so quickly escape into your own world playing cars or whatever is handy. And the obnoxiously loud VROOMMM that all of your cars seem to make makes me laugh. I am not sure if in your mind they are all race cars like Lightning McQueen or if they are clunkers without tailpipes. You can hear and spot an airplane anywhere. It doesn't matter what is going on around you; you don't miss a one.

You are sincere and truthful. You tell on yourself all the time. Your heart is so sensitive to right and wrong. I wish my heart/conscience was as sensitive as yours. I told Daddy the other day when we heard you say, "Anna Grace, I think we should get out of here," that most likely it was the voice of reason we were hearing...sure enough you were trying to keep both of you from getting into trouble. May you never lose that sensitivity and may you faithfully, lovingly admonish your peers (and siblings) as God prompts you. Yes, my son, God has His hand on you and I am so thankful. I can't wait to see what He is up to in your life and what this year holds for you. My prayers for you remain the same, coming from Psalm 15, "O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved." And as we prayed for you on the day of your baptism from 1 Kings 2b-3 that you would "be strong and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn."

I love you, Buddy...I love you, Dean Freeman,
your mama