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To Tim, my son: You are my firstborn, and you are my heart.

You changed my life even before you were born.  And before I ever saw you, God was already working out His perfect plan for you ~ my heavenly gift, my son~ my heart.

When you were born, I loved you more than I believed possible. It’s true I’ve always been the girl who loved too much, but when you came into my life, all others paled in comparison. I’ve often wondered how I could bear caring for someone as much as I have loved you ~ and love you still.

I loved the way you reached for the stars, from the very beginning! You learned quickly and were singing your ABC’s by the time you were two years old. When you were very small I began to marvel at your intelligence. I was in awe of you! You began walking early, anxious to race forward and plunge into life with total abandon. And I loved you more than life itself.

You were always smiling, always laughing, always entertaining! I loved the ever-present mischievous look in your eyes! When you were very small, with dancing blue eyes and a busy little mind, we made up that joke: “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches go in the mud?”  I loved the way you’d laugh at such a proposition! I loved your brilliant sense of humor, your quick mind. Even then you were a comedian, an entertainer!

Was there ever a happier time than that? And did I know then just how blessed I was? Sometimes I close my eyes and think of you laughing, singing, reading, reciting your alphabet as a toddler. You grew too quickly, and time stole those precious moments before I could savor them. Too soon they were gone.

I adored the way you chewed on your “blankie” and later your shirt collars! Your dear little ways left precious imprints on my heart.

Memories of cherished moments and fleeting years! I often think back to those days, when I felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of motherhood. I’m not sure that I truly understood just how blessed I was. But I do now!

I packed your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for school. I laughed when you reported, “They had CHEESEBURGERS at school! Yuk!”

And so time passed. As I watched you grow, I began to see in you the man you’d become: fiercely disciplined, patient, persevering, dependable. I’ve never known anyone more diligently goal oriented than you. In every task you’ve ever tackled, you’ve been tireless, meticulous, and tenacious. I’ve admired your absolute iron will, your determination.

You’ve never allowed anything to keep you from attaining your goals in life! You worked hard to learn the piano. You mastered the arts of videography and  “road testing” cars (haha) as a teen. You decided to be Valedictorian of your high school, went on to graduate from Texas A & M, and then finished your Master’s at Brown University. You then became a scientist, pursuing miracle cures for cancer and other devastating diseases.

You kept up your skills as a pianist and learned to play drums during college! Then you taught yourself to play bass guitar! You’ve constantly reached higher, mastered new skills, challenged yourself, succeeded!

I’ve admired your gentle spirit ~ demonstrated in a myriad of ways. I’ve loved your loyalty to your friends and their devotion to you. You’ve often befriended those who needed a friend, who weren’t the best at finding friends or finding their way in life. You’ve made a difference in so many lives…more than you probably know.

I’ve always adored your extravagant love for animals. I watched you become a gentle, tenderhearted pet owner who cared for God’s creatures with total devotion. Yours was the hamster that survived, of all we owned. Yours was the one that lived a long, happy life, tenderly carried around in your shirt pocket. Yours was the one that we buried with a proper funeral and many tears ~ along with his toys and his bed ~ after years of devoted care. And then there were the chickens you’d place on the horses’ backs to “ride.” You were the one who took our fluffy little “House Muffs” to school for show and tell…How gently you held her!

I marveled at your love of horses and your innate abilities as a horseman. I loved to watch you ride like the wind! How graceful, how skilled, how masterful a rider you’ve always been. You’ve always had a special connection to animals ~ they intuitively sense your gentleness.

I especially love your hands ~ they are the hands of an artist, a musician, a scientist. More importantly, they’re the tender hands of an exceptional “Daddy.” Yours is the gentlest touch I’ve ever seen. I’ve sat and watched you wash Brenna’s hair, patiently running your fingers through it to work the tangles out. I’ve often seen you lovingly stroke Hunter’s hair or tenderly place your hand on his shoulder. Being a husband and a dad have come quite naturally to someone as kind, tenderhearted, and loving as you. And what a wonderful family you and Reanne have created!

To add to all you’ve done, now you’re a wedding photographer in your spare time. Your eyes are those of a visionary ~ you make every bride beautiful! You’re the only person I know who sees AND captures beauty in even the most mundane objects. What a gift!

Looking back, I saw all the beauty in your gifted soul early on. I saw the artist, the musician, the thinker, the daddy.  The years have come and gone, and you’re a more shining treasure than ever. All the qualities you possessed as a youth have been polished and refined, to make you the man you are today.

More than anything else, I admire your faithfulness and loyalty to God and your family. You’re an exceptional husband and father, and you shine for the Lord in all you do. I’m so thankful to have you and Reanne as my faithful prayer partners and constant support in times of need.

Thank you for simply being who you are! It’s an honor to be your mom,  and I love you more with each passing year. I pray daily that God continues to bless and strengthen you and Reanne, and that your love will continue to flourish as the years go by. God is your strength!