Happy 13th Birthday to my last-born!

To my dearest lastborn, Daniel

Happy 13^th Birthday, 
Feb. 17^th, 2011!

6 mths.

10 yrs.

6 yrs.

                                                                           

Proverbs 3:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

1MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

It is so hard to believe that my ‘baby’ is a bonafide teenager today—13 years old!

Happy Birthday, dear Daniel.

Each day I realize what a perfect gift you are to me and to our family. In a way, you are the glue that binds us together with the special love and understanding you have of all of us. God has gifted you with a unique sensitivity and insight into people’s hearts and you ‘get’ each of us.

You are the best hugger I have ever met, ever since you were a baby. You know how to express love and give of yourself and your resources willingly to those in need.

I pray that as you prayed for this new year, that you will learn to love and know God’s love for you, that you will recognize Him:

“Recognize God’s Voice
I recognize God’s voice like I do the voice of anyone I talk to a lot. A new friend is going to have to identify herself the first few times she calls me, but then I’ll recognize her voice and the kinds of things she talks about.
Suppose Mary loves shopping and hates baseball. If someone calls up and says, “Hey, it’s Mary. Wasn’t that a great baseball game?” I’d know it is someone other than Mary, because that’s just not what Mary is into.
It’s like that with God, too. I recognize Him by the way He talks to me and what He says. If what I’m hearing doesn’t sound like His personality and character, then I know it can’t be Him talking. That’s why people who want to hear from God need to develop an in-depth knowledge of the Bible. It’s there we find out what He loves, what He hates, what is dear to His heart.
Michelle McKinney Hammond”

God has given you a gift in music and creativity—a true artist with that sensitive artist’s heart. I pray that you will guard your heart with God’s Word. I pray this for you: Ephesians 3:14b-21

^14-19… I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
 ^20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Also remember:

Joshua 1:5b-9 (The Message)

In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

Daniel, thank you for the way you love me, so unconditionally..for the way you make sure our eyes meet to wave goodbye when I drop you to school…the way my heart fills up when I see you walking back to meet me after school..for the way you know when I just need to be hugged…for the way you are loyal to your brother and Dad…wow, so much about you wows me..what a perfect gift God gave me when He gave or rather ‘lent’ you to me. I look forward to all that he has in store for you. Remember, stay close to Him, spend time with Him, so that your heart connects with His, so that what flows from your heart to create will be for His glory. Remember to listen humbly to wise counsel and respectfully submit to those He has placed in authority over you, for that is how we grow. I love you with all of my heart, Dee-dee(:

Thank you, God, for a glimpse into my son's life in a different window.
Be pleased, O God, to continue to sow into his life, his spirit, your good and perfect gifts.
Guard and protect him from situations or people that would crush his spirit in any way. Bring into his life those who would edify him and lead him on higher ground.
Grant him a humble and contrite spirit, for that You will not despise.
Give him and those who influence his life daily, like us, his parents, his teachers, his youth leaders, a glimpse of Your purpose for him and grant us all the wisdom to encourage him along.
Grant to him a fear, a holy reverence for You so that he will have wisdom to make the right choices.
And, God, did I say thank you for all You have done for him? For I know I have been a most imperfect mother, yet as I gaze upon him, all I see is Your stamp, and it is so beautiful, I am entranced and cannot take my gaze away from his countenance.
He is Yours and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Thank You, Lord for Daniel. May Your blessings fall on him. May You protect and provide for him all that is needed to keep him on the right path.

With all my love, thoughts and prayers,

Mom

If I Could
(Songwriters: Sharron, Martha Vanessa; Hirsch, Kenny; Miller, Ronald Norman)

If I could
I'd protect you from the sadness in your eyes
Give you courage in a world of compromise

Yes I would

If I could
I would teach you all the things I've never learned
And I'd help you cross the bridges that I've burned
Yes I would

If I could
I would try to shield your innocence from time
But the part of life I gave you isn't mine
I've watched you grow so I could let you go

If I could
I would help you make it through the hungry years
But I know that I can never cry your tears
But I would, if I could

If I live
In a time and place where you don't want to be
You don't have to walk along this road with me
My yesterday won't have to be your way

If I knew
How to try to change the world I brought you to
And there isn't very much that I can do
But I would, if I could

If I could
I would try to shield your innocence from time
But the part of life I gave you isn't mine
I've watched you grow so I could let you go

If I could
I would help you make it through those hungry years
But I know that I can never cry your tears
But I would, if I could
Yes I would, yes I would
If I could