birthday – Page 2 – The Dolly Mama

Dear Child of My Heart,

I need you to know that I love you. I want you to know exactly what those three words mean when they are coming from my heart to yours.

I have told you that I love you more times than either of us can remember. That’s a good thing. You’ve heard it from the first day I held you in my arms and you are hearing it again today. You will hear it from me tomorrow, and next week, as long as my tongue allows. My love for you is COUNTLESS.

My love for you is the reason that sometimes I stay awake and worry. Yet, the fear that I have that my heart might break someday is quieted by the fierce love I have for you and the knowledge that it’s all worth it. You are worth it. My love for you is FEARLESS.

I loved you when you were minutes old. I loved you when you were a “NO” screaming toddler. I loved you when you were fighting with your siblings in grade school. I loved you when you were a taller-than-me teenager. I loved you when you walked away from me into your college dorm room. I love you today. I will love you all the tomorrows. Nothing will change that. My love for you is AGELESS.

It’s been a lot of work to be your mom. The lack of sleep and the amount of energy I’ve poured in have left me exhausted at times. But the life and joy and beauty you have brought me is beyond what I could have imagined. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My love for you is TIRELESS.

I don’t care who knows how much I love you. I would shout it from the highest mountain to any who would listen. Everyone should know how wonderful and amazing you are and why you are so worth loving. My love for you is SHAMELESS.

I never knew love like this before I met you. It reaches places in me that I didn’t know existed. It’s higher than the uphill battles we’ve climbed. It’s wider than any mistake either of us make. It’s stronger than death. It’s longer than life. My love for you is DEPTHLESS.

No matter how many times I attempt to capture it in words, I am left dumb-founded. My love for you is more sacred than speech allows. My love for you is more precious than all the books that could ever be written. It’s easy to love you. My love for you is BOUNDLESS.

My love for began the first moment I found out about you and will continue until I take my last breath. You will carry it with you long after I am gone, until the moment you enter eternity yourself. We will then be reunited in perfect love on the other side. My love for you is ENDLESS.

The next time you hear me say them, even if it’s just a quick text, remember all of this. These three words come straight from the depths of my soul and I pray that they reach yours today.

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” (Elizabeth Stone)

From my heart to yours,

Mom

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P.S. One of you is having a birthday today! Happy Birthday Sarah Elizabeth Meassick! On this day 27 years ago, you made me a mom! I. CAN’T. EVEN. BELIEVE. IT. You are a mom yourself now, but no matter how many birthdays or children of your own you have, you are (and always will be) MY:

Princess
Peanut
Doodle
Sunshine
Beep
And DOLLY!

When I see you, my eyes turn into little hearts! (The Internet)

Dearest Broden Bear,

Today you turn One! I just can’t believe it’s been a year since I held you in my arms at Hershey Medical Center and had that unexplainable BIG feeling that your arrival would change me forever, in all the very best ways.

Mommy and Daddy have kept you alive for 12 whole months, 52 weeks, 365 days! This is no easy undertaking now that your adventurous, free-spirited, “I-want-what-I-want”, curious and mobile self has taken over! Just less than 72 hours ago, your determination to climb the steps all by yourself led to a not-so-little tumble, complete with a bloody nose and a call to the doctor. Thankfully, you were back to your happy self very soon and went right back to the steps, not a care in the world.

I knew way back on November 18, 2017 that you would be cute. I knew you would be super special. But I didn’t know how easily and quickly my heart would be captivated by everything Broden:

Your big blue eyes filled with wonder at anything new.
Your six-toothed smile.
The pleasure you expressed when eating pizza with us on Friday.
The way you scrunch up your face.
Your strong-willed cry when you don’t want me to leave the room.
Bubbles of laughter during peek-a-boo!
Your love of music already.
The “look” of wariness when you are unsure of something.
The way you snuggle into my neck.
Your strong determination to get where and what you want.
Your look of recognition and then happiness when you see me.
Watching you giggle when you were playing with your new birthday toy last night!

One year ago, I found myself asking the questions, “What will you be like? What adventures will life bring you and you, in turn, bring to life?” You’ve already had so many adventures:

rides in your Daddy’s 1985 Bronco
staying up til midnight on New Year’s Eve (that might not happen again for a bunch of years)
meeting your great-grandparents
reading Press Here over and over and over (parents of young ones, buy this book…it’s genious)
going to your first wedding
eating a banana popsicle
dressing up like a pirate with Mommy and Daddy
putting your toes in the sand in LBI
kissing your first fish
loving the swing at the park
eating Chik-Fila (if Daddy has anything to say about it, this will be a staple in your diet)
dressing like twinsies with Daddy
swimming in the pool at Allenberry Resort
riding in your special bike seat behind Mommy and Daddy
meeting a goat at Paulus Orchard
having your first lollipop as Charlie Brown

And it’s not over . There are many many more to come! They have and will continue to range from hazardous to great, terrible to sweet, quiet to joyous, sad to wonderful, hard to exciting. One thing for sure: all of your adventures will be unique, because you, Broden, are one of a kind! But one thing I didn’t realize then was all the adventures you would bring to me! It’s been quite a ride already! Can’t wait for more!

Regardless of the kind of adventure you take, never forget above all that that you are extremely loved. The God who formed you has absolute and unconditional love for you. Nothing you can ever do will make Him love you less or love you more. He loves you just because you are you.

Your creative, smart, kind, hard-working, compassionate mommy and your free-spirited, adventurous, wise, level-headed, willing-to-grow daddy are absolutely head-over-heels in love with you. They will love you no matter what and nothing you can do will ever change that.

You also have grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who have loved you from the first moment of hearing about you. You will never find yourself in a place that you won’t be loved.

All of our eyes do turn into little hearts when we see you! It’s impossible for it to be otherwise!

Your inner soul anchored in this place of unconditional love will be of immense value for living your outer adventure to the fullest. Never forget that you have that safe place deep down inside that no one can take from you. Live in and from that place!

This year, on the day you turn one, I want to remind you again of the “bunch of verses” that God gave to me right when you were born. They are from God’s heart to mine and mine to yours:

From the day I heard about you, I have not stopped praying and making special requests for you.

I pray that…

you will be filled with a deep and clear understanding of His will for you, that you will have insight into the ways and purposes of God.

you would live how God designed you to live, from a fully-known and fully-loved place and that you would have complete trust in Him. This brings Him the most pleasure.

your life would bear much fruit from all your hard work.

you would have a full, deep and clear knowledge of God.

you will be invigorated and strengthened with all power from God so that you will have much patience and joy.

I thank God because He has made you fit to share in all that is His. He has brought you into His Kingdom, one that is filled with love.

(Colossians 1:9-14 – EJGV – “Esther Joy Goetz Version”)

Broden, how fun that you are ONE! I am so glad that you were born right before Thanksgiving. It’s perfect timing! Having you in my life gives me countless reasons to be thankful! Next November, you will be TWO and we will do this all over again! For now, I am off to your birthday celebration! Happy Birthday to you!!!

With all the love I have in my heart,

(Not sure what you will name me…maybe we will know by this time next year)

P.S. We took a picture of you every day for your first year. CLICK HERE TO WATCH YOUR SLIDE SHOW!