Dear Carver,
Today you are ELEVEN. Officially in the pre-teen years and I am just stunned. These years really do pass so quickly. It both makes my heart want to shatter into pieces, and it makes me feel such fierce pride. You are a gift. To me and daddy. To Carson and your grandparents and all of your aunts and uncles and cousins. You are a vital and irreplaceable part of this family. We feel so lucky to call you ours.
This year, 2020, has been weird for the whole world. Covid-19 has changed so many aspects of our lives. Some people have had immense struggles; with physical and mental health and a thousand other things that have been impacted by this pandemic. But, thankfully, you have thrived in a lot of ways this year. You haven't been without disappointment or irritation over the things we can't do because of Covid-related restrictions, but you have handled it all well and still managed to have a lot of growth and contentment this year.
You have always, or at least for the last three or four years, really loved and preferred to be home. School has never been your favorite, and you like to do our planned outings and such, but you are always extra happy to get back home. You love days, or days on end, when you don't have to leave the house. I completely understand this and I'm the same in a lot of ways. So this year has allowed you to live your best life in a lot of ways.
Despite the struggles of 2020, I will always, always be so grateful that I had this extra time with you at home. I love having you (and Carson) home with me all day. I love getting to do school with you and not being busy or rushed from activity to activity. I had no idea 2020 would give me this unexpected gift of time.
It is an interesting path that parenting takes, as kids get older and relationships change and evolve. I no longer have to make your snacks each day, you do that on your own. I haven't helped you with a bath or shower in years. You do your designated chores on your own and navigate your friendships without me having to orchestrate play dates. And instead of fighting bedtime, you now ask me every night to lay with you and have, what you have coined "end of night conversation." I love, LOVE, that you just want to lay and talk with me. And end the night with conversation and a "group hug" with me and Bentley. You even still sleep in my bed often, and I love that too.
You tell me that you love me at least twenty-five times a day. I'm not sure why, exactly. Sometimes I think you say it without even meaning to. You say it when I walk into a room while you are playing video games. Then you'll say it again four more times within the next few minutes. You have always made me feel so loved. I hope you always are good at telling (and showing) people that they are important and that you love them.
This year, 2020, with all of its madness and chaos, also came with the very, very best moment-- you were baptized over the summer. I have prayed every day of your life that you would believe in the truth of the Bible and know Jesus. And you do. The night when you asked me to pray with you and then when you were baptized a couple of months later will forever be some of the most precious moments of my life. My continued prayer will be that you grow in your faith, that you are bold in your testimony and courageous in your beliefs. I am so proud of you.
Here are some other things about you now, for when you are reading this years down the road:
You love animals, and they love you. I have always been so impressed with how you care for them, and for how they respond to you.
You love video games above everything else...but Legos are a close second. I worry about how much time you spend playing video games... But you do love it and you are so good at them. Minecraft and Among Us are the current favorites.
You love popcorn, hot fudge sundae poptarts, rainbow goldfish, and Dr. Pepper.
You do not love it when we make you eat real food.
You are mostly agreeable and easy. You do chores without complaint, and you do your school work with minimal struggle. This year has seemed to brought a renewed contentment with your life and a better self image than in past years.
Carver, my word for you for this year is kindness. I pray that you see the importance in showing kindness to others-- people you know, and complete strangers. That you will choose kindness over anger or sarcasm or judgment. That you will seek to make someone's day better, not harder. That when people describe you to others that they will say that you are a "nice guy" and friends with everyone-- that you treat people well and live with honesty and integrity.
And I especially pray that you show a little bit of extra kindness to your brother :)
You are 11. And I am praying that this year is your best yet. That every year gets better and better and better.
I love you beyond all measure.
Happy Birthday Carver!
Love,
Mama
