Dear Liam,
This letter follows the tradition that we have in our family of writing you a letter on your birthday, so that someday you can go back and enjoy your milestones, your childhood, the silly things you do.
This fourth year of your life has been one of endless energy. As you have grown older and taller (5 inches from last year at 3 1/2 feet tall!) you have become more daring and adventuresome. Were I to ask you your favorite thing to do, your answer is always, "Climb Trees." No matter where we are, if you see a tree, you ask me if you could climb it.
Liam, you made me a Mom. You changed my life and rocked my world in a way that nothing else can compare. That day, four years ago when you came into my life is engraved upon my heart. I will never forget.
Between you and your little brother, Aaron, my life is full of motion and chaos. Activity, running, jumping, playing, loving and arguing. You love each other endlessly and drive each other nuts. Aaron wants to do everything (did I say EVERYthing?) that you want to do. He wants to be like you. Sometimes you shoulder that responsibility with pride, like yesterday when we were teaching Aaron how to stop running away from us at the park. The care that you have for your brother makes me smile. And there are times you look up at me with begging in your eyes to just.be.alone. I get it, trust me.
Mr. Liam, my Little L, Monkey-Man. I love ya. I can't believe that you are big enough to be out of the car seat and into a booster (no thank you), the conversations that we have as we drive, how you help me fold towels. The other day we were sitting at the dinner table and you were asking me about heaven. It was totally out of the blue and Daddy was upstairs getting the bath started which is where you should have been. For some reason I knew that I needed to get down, look you in the eye and listen to your heart instead of scoot you upstairs into the tub.
You asked me how people got to heaven. If you would go. Do you have to die to get to heaven. When I answered yes, your eyes filled, big tears popped out and you said, "but Mom, if I'm in heaven, how will I find my way home? How will I find you?" I scooped you up and held you in my arms, your sobs in my shoulder, knowing that this was too big a thought for you. I told you that Jesus is there. That he has a place for you. And I will be there before you. (I prayed, dear God, please let this be true. Please let me be there first. Please.) And with that assurance you jumped off my lap and ran upstairs.
Liam, my prayer for you this year, is that as you begin to learn about this world around us, as you make friends and discover who you are, that you will be overwhelmed by the forever love of Jesus Christ. I love you with every fiber of myself and the love that I have for you is nothing. NOTHING. in comparison with the love that He has for you.
I love you Liam. Happy Birthday.
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