Dear Hayden,

I wanted to take a minute and write to you specifically. You’ve grown up right before our very eyes in the last few months. You’ve become a braver, more knowing version of yourself.

You’ve faced the daunting task of wearing a back brace head on. There have been moments of frustration, but overall, you are doing what needs to be done with little complaint. We’re so proud of you.

You signed up for the Bard Competition at school. You recited “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson in front of a large crowd without flinching.

You auditioned and were selected to play your winter recital piece at the school concert. You stepped up to the piano and confidently played Deck the Halls in front of hundreds of people!

At your parent/teacher conference yesterday, your teachers told us how great-hearted you are. You are performing with academic excellence, but more importantly, you are emerging as a leader — one who knows how to treat people kindly. One who takes the risk of being wrong to put herself out there and participate. One they LOVE having in their class.

You studied Joan of Arc this fall and you and I were talking about her the night before your test. She’s famous for saying a lot of brilliant things, among them: “I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” You are figuring out what you were born to do: speak confidently, be yourself boldly, and live virtuously.

We are ecstatic that we get to be your parents and witness all of this. It’s one of the greatest privileges of our lives.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen,

This fall, you were invited to try out a local lacrosse club. Well, you instantly took a liking to it! You are always asking Dad to take you down to the park to practice and you truly enjoy it! This spring you are on the 8U team of the Arrowhead Warriors Lacrosse Club. We can’t wait to see you continue to work hard and play well!

Love you,
Mama

Dear H, O and B,

We decided early on this year that we were going to focus on serving others. I was noticing a pattern of concern for self above all else, and it bothered me because that’s not really what I want our family to be about. We can talk about what we are about, or we can be about what we are about. This year, we chose the latter.

We volunteered with Feed My Starving Children. We took dinner to the Vincents once a week this spring. We prayed for different people every night at dinner. We made care packages for the Peoria police department. We sewed blankets for the NICU. We sorted stuff around our house that we didn’t need and donated it to refugees settling in Phoenix. We walked six kilometers and donated money for personal water filters in support of those in the third world who must travel to find dirty water. We delivered meals to people who were sick and grieving. We sent cookies to active duty military members. We dropped off nativity pieces to bless those who we feared would have a sad holiday season because of loss and illness. We participated in the Fallen Officers Wreath Program of Arizona.

Here’s what I noticed:

Hayden, your general nervousness disappeared when you were serving others. You talked about running an art-related non-profit when you grow up to combine what you love with serving others.

Owen, you have learned to pray expectantly. Every Saturday at church, you light and candle and pray for Mrs. Vincent. You’ve expressed numerous times how hopeful you are that God will heal her here on earth. You’re teaching us all how to hope. You also decided while we were walking the 6K for Clean Water that you might want to be an epidemiologist when you grow up to help eradicate some of the diseases caused by lack of clean water. Now, I know kids change their minds a lot about what they want to be, but I am thrilled to think that this may even plant the seed of the option to choose life work that serves others.

Bennett, You are usually so silly and fun. It brings so much joy to us. It was very interesting to see how seriously you took your responsibilities when we were serving others. It brought out a new side of you.

One other thing: Even our closest friends and family had no idea that this was our focus this year. We wanted to be other-centered not for the accolades or recognition, but because we believe it’s how we’re supposed to live. None of the pictures you’ll find below were ever posted to social media. They are just for you. I want you to remember the impact that you had this year. I want you to be motivated by it to keep doing good work in the world.

We had FUN serving alongside one another. We make a great team and it fills my heart to see you putting others before yourselves. You are growing up in a Selfie-centered world, my loves. Be different. Look for ways to serve others and do it. You’ll be blessed.

Love you,
Mama

Dear H, O and B,

We had an INCREDIBLE amount of holiday fun this year! Santa came and visited us at the house, we took lots of fun pictures and kept all of our usual Christmas traditions. We celebrated Christmas Eve with Andrea and Lucas as well as all four of your grandparents. We had Grandma and Jiddoh and Nana and Papa here for Christmas Day.

One of my most favorite things about being a mom is creating and keep traditions. It’s my hope that these traditions will become the memories you keep in your heart about your childhood.

Love you,
Mama

Dear H and O,

Tonight you had your holiday recital! Owen, it was your first. You played Jingle Bells. Hayden, you played a beautiful arrangement of Deck the Halls. Both sets of your grandparents were there to cheer you on. You both played beautifully and it was a joy to come and listen to you!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen,

This fall, you and dad took up cub scouting! Dad is your troop leader and you are having a blast doing all the things scouts do together! You went on the pack camp out, you’ve completed several badges, you sold LOTS of chocolate bars and cone some community service! It’s been a sun addition to your life, for sure!

Love you,
Mama

Dear H, O and B,

Here are some of my favorite pics from this fall that didn’t make it into other blog entries!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen,

Today, you are seven! We’ve had a lot of fun celebrating you! We had a party at Peter Piper Pizza with your friends, and family dinner on Saturday. You had a cub scout meeting on your birthday so we had cake then, too!

This was a great year for you, Owen! You started piano lessons and cub scouts and you discovered a sport you love – lacrosse!

You are so smart, very funny and totally inquisitive. You amaze us with your wit and wonder!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen and Bennett,

You both played basketball this fall and had a fun, fun time! Here are some pics from this season.

Love you,
Mama

Dear H, O and B,

We had a lot of fun with costumes this fall!

Hayden, you chose to be Mary Poppins for the Read-a-Thon this year. You won the award for “truest to character” and everything! Owen, you decided to be The Big Bad Wolf for the Read-a-Thon and Lexie was Little Red Ridinghood. We even had Dash do a cameo as Aslan!

For Halloween, Owen and Bennett you decided to be Charizard and Pikachu from Pokemon. At the last minute, Hayden, you pulled out your Granny costume from last year! Still very hilarious!

I love helping you make and find fun costumes!

Love you,
Mama