First Church of God

(Jacob's birthday! He is eleven!)

Ok, so I know the title of this entry does not make sense at all.  But, just hang in there and I will explain what I mean!  The 15th was Jacob's birthday.  He is now eleven years old, and I can't believe it!  He is my "baby".  I feel like it was just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with him.  And, just the other day was his first day of school.  The boys always like to talk about things they did when they were little, especially on their birthday.  I think that birthdays just cause you to reflect on years past, even when you are young.   

So, I got to thinkin' about what Jacob's favorite things were when he was little:  when he was upset he liked for me to sing "You Are My Sunshine", at night his favorite bedtime book was "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Suess, and he has a blanket that he has affectionately called "Itchy" since he could talk.  (I'm not really sure why he calls it "Itchy", because it is fleece with what is left of a satin binding.  Kids just come up with these things...who really knows how or why!)  

"Itchy" was a burgundy color, fleece, blanket with a satin backing and a gray satin binding.  I use the word "was" because I don't know if you could really classify "Itchy" as a blanket any longer.  You see, one cold morning Jacob decided to warm "Itchy" up on the space heater we had in the basement family room, and  "Itchy's" satin backing did not take so well to the heat.  It melted to the fleece in the middle and I had to cut that part out of it.  This created a big square hole in the middle of "Itchy".  Jacob was devastated, but the hole did turn "Itchy" into a cape of sorts.  Kind of like superman!  So, I told Jacob it would be okay.  I told him that I had made "Itchy #1"  and I would just make him "Itchy #2".  So, off to the fabric store and sewing machine I went.  I am sure you know how the rest of this story goes.  New "Itchy" was not the same as old "Itchy", and to this day we still have old "Itchy" which looks more like a rag than anything else, and every time "Itchy" gets a "bath" more of him falls apart. 

We read alot of Dr. Suess as the boys were growing up.  I got really good at creating little voices as I read the books to them.  "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" just happened to be Jacob's favorite.  "The Foot Book" was Caleb favorite Dr. Suess book.  And, we could all quote together the words from "Goodnight Moon" which is not a Dr. Suess book but ranked right up there at the top of the list.  We would read these books and when I would get to certain parts I could stop and the boys would finish the sentence, and sometime the rest of the book!  I will never forget going to "Islands of Adventure" in Orlando when the boys were little.  The children's section of the park happened to be in a Dr. Suess theme.  And, to Jacob's delight they had a ride named..."One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish".  We rode that ride about a dozen times, before we finally talked him into moving along.  Jacob loved to be read to when he was little and today he reads all the time on his own.  I will go in his room and he will be laying on his bed reading a book.  And, if I could brag a little...his reading level was evaluated this year in 5th grade, and his teacher told us that he is reading at a 9th grade level.  I guess we never realized just what an impact "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" had on him, and now we know!

I used to sing to the boys all the time when they were babies.  Jacob liked for me to come into his room at night and sing to him until he fell asleep.  But, when he was crying or upset the only thing that seemed to calm him down was bouncing him and singing "You Are My Sunshine".  He would almost immediately quiet down, and then we could figure out what the problem was.  Today, the boys don't really want me to sing to them, but they both have an appreciation for music.  Jacob has taken a few steps beyond "You Are My Sunshine" as he really likes Toby Mac, and I don't think I could ever rap like that! 

Isn't it funny how we remember these things about our children.  We remember little things like, their favorite toothpaste, their favorite television shows or videos, their favorite foods, or color of Play Dough.  And, for most parents that never changes.  If you don't have children, you probably know the favorite things of a spouse, a parent, or a best friend.  Whatever the case, when you really love someone and invest in their lives, memories come along with that.  Some of our memories are good and some may not be so good, but those memories are there none the less.  We watch as our children or others that we have relationships with grow, mature, and change.  Growth does not change the precious memories of times past, but it does however make us long for more good things in their future. Understanding where someone has come from, how they have grown gives us a unique perspective on their lives.  We can see how past experiences have shaped them into who they are today. 

I don't know what my boys will become when they grow up and leave our home.  I'm not sure how reading, music, and a warm little blanket will affect them as they go.  But, I do know that I will pray as they walk out the door this scripture in Colossians 2:6..."So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."  I guess at the end of the day I just want them to be thankful for what they were given as children. Not just thankful for the Lord in their lives, but also for the little things like...sunshine, "One Fish...", and "Itchy"!  After all, these are the things that make us feel loved and give us a sense of belonging.  So, if you feel as if you have read the same book a hundred times, if you have a notion of throwing away a blanket that might be a little embarrassing, or maybe your just not in the mood to sing...think again.  We have this moment today...and nothing is ever trivial when it is done out of love! 

Happy Birthday, Jacob!  Your Mom loves you more than you will ever know!