Happy Birthday, Danny!

Danny! You're fourteen. Isn't that crazy?!?

And what a crazy year for your golden day. (For everyone who didn't grow up in Minnesota, apparently golden birthdays happen at the age that lines up with the day of the month on which you were born. So, since Danny's birthday is on October 14, and he's 14 this year...)

Danny, we love you. This past year has found you fighting to become your own person... fighting to grow up during a year when you have spent more time at home than ever before. 

There's much we disagree about these days, but I hope that you know with everything we have, we love you, and we want the very best for you, always. We are for you. Always.

And we're thankful for your love of people, your sweetness with babies, your delight in adventure...

We hope this next year finds you with peace and confidence beyond your years. We hope this next year finds you discovering richest blessings and deep treasures of truth and love that amaze and delight you for the rest of your life. We hope you grow in knowing the depth and width and breadth and height of the love and mercy that God delights to pour out.

We love you. Happy, happy birthday.

Happy Belated Birthday, Danny!

So as this year’s tradition continues, I am more than two weeks late writing your blog post!

Regardless, I don’t want the next family birthday to arrive before we get the opportunity to wish you a very happy year via this blog post.

Danny, you’re a good kid. You’re sweet and thoughtful; you’re an early riser and you’re oh so good at remembering to make coffee for your tired parents on your designated coffee making days.

You regularly check in on others to see how they are doing, and I do believe you know more of the people who go to our church (and have had more significant conversations with them) than anyone else in the family.

You also still love video games. Nothing new there!

We hope your teen years treat you well, Danny, and we hope you know how very loved you are. Most of all, we pray that your peace and confidence will be found in the perfect and all-sufficient love of God.

We love you, Danny! Happy, happy 13th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Danny!

Twelve years old,  and still as sweet as can be. You're kind and thoughtful; you love people. You're a good brother to your siblings and considerate of your parents. You love to hang out with your friends, go to youth group, play drums and video games.

We're thankful for you, Danny. We're thankful for your big heart and your willingness to always go the extra mile to connect with others.

Remember that you are loved, just the way you are (to quote a tiger named after you ;)). Your name means, "God is my judge," and we hope that you always remember that you are responsible to Him, first. As long as you follow hard after God, you can have peace that you're in the right spot.

We love you, Danny, and we hope you have an amazing year!

Happy, happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Danny!

Sweet Danny, you're eleven! It fits you well.

We're so thankful for you, sweetheart. You are a dear gift to all of us.

You're cheerful and helpful and thoughtful. You're a great big brother and a good friend to your older siblings, too.

You do everything with all of your heart, and you're sensitive and considerate of others.

We're so thankful for you.

Your name means "God is my judge." As you continue to grow, I pray that you remember that. People will always try to judge you, for better or worse. Some will condone your sins and some will misjudge your good deeds as well.

But God is your judge. His decree is the only one that ultimately matters. And if your faith is in Christ's finished work on your behalf, God judges you as righteous because of the righteousness of Christ. So trust in Jesus and have complete peace and confidence that you are right before God -- you don't need to be concerned about man's judgement when you have God on your side!

We love you, Daniel Joseph! We hope you have an amazing year. Happy, happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Danny!!

Hey there, Danny -- you're ten!!

You're growing up so quickly... and really, Sweetheart, you're doing a great job. You're sweet and attentive to your friends and family, you're eager to help out and you're typically cheerful about doing your chores, your schoolwork or what have you.

You're thoughtful and kind and you're funny. Even Talia thinks so. You get her to laugh more than just about anyone else!

And you're ten! How in the world did that happen?? It seems like just yesterday, you were my sweet, littlest baby...all cuddled up... and now you're pretty much ready to take on the world!

Just remember, in the process, that you're not alone...we're here for you, Danny. We've got your back.

And you don't need to be like anyone but who God created YOU to be. Your name means "God is my judge," and we want to remember that. This world will judge you, no doubt, as people like to do that to one another. But at the end of the day, you are accountable to God and God alone for your thoughts, your actions, and your deeds. And He is a righteous and good judge, a loving judge who made a way for you...He knows your strengths, and He knows your weaknesses. And He knows that where you fall short (and believe me, we all do), He has made a way for you. That's why Jesus came to this earth, and lived a perfect life on your behalf... so run to Him and know His love and His peace!

Love you, sweet buddy! Happy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday, Danny!!

One of these days, we're going to realize that our little kids are getting bigger. I can't believe that you, Danny, our THIRD child, are nine years old today. That's halfway to all grown up (at least going by current and locationally determined societal standards)!

You're sweet and smart and witty and fun. You never lack energy, which is not too surprising considering that you were never a laid-back child; it was full-speed ahead during my pregnancy with you and you weren't much of a sleeper as a baby. You've always been go, go, go!

But you do love people and love to stop and relate to those around you.

You're getting super good at piano this year and you have finally convinced us to get you some new wheels. We can't wait to see what this next year has for you!

Our greatest desire for this next year is that it sees us all loving God and through Him, loving others better than we do now. That's our prayer for you, too, sweet Danny. Love Him, first. Everything else comes out of that.

We love you, Danny, and we thank God for you!! He knew what He was doing when He gave you to our family. Have a very happy birthday!!

Happy Birthday, Danny!

You're eight! And living life to the fullest!

Danny, you're a sweet, cool kid. You love life and people. You're happy and kind and confident. You love talking on the phone to anyone who will answer. You love electronics and learning and playing games. You love singing and music and anything that has anything to do with "How to Train Your Dragon." You hoped that we would name your youngest sibling "Hiccup."

You don't love soccer. But you are enthusiastic about encouraging your siblings on in their endeavors!

You are sweet and affectionate and your eyes light up as you share your excitement with the world. You're kind to strangers and you make friends easily.

You're adventurous and fearless, always up for trying new things. You easily express gratitude and appreciation.

And we love you. God knew what He was doing when He placed you in our family, and we are genuinely thankful that He gave you to us. We hope and pray that as you grow in wisdom and maturity, you will find your peace and confidence in His goodness and His love for you.

Just remember: we're on your side. Happy, happy 8th birthday, sweet Danny!

Happy happy birthday, Danny!

You're SEVEN!! YAY!!! =)

Danny, you're a delightful child. You have more energy than a chipmunk with a caffeine patch, and you can talk laps around me, but this often points to the joy that regularly overflows your character. You love to tell jokes and you often have unique views on life about which we love to hear.

You pour your heart into whatever you're doing (especially if whatever you are doing involves the Wii, ahem), and we love that you are so exuberant about life.

I'm excited to see how this next year goes for you, my sweet, affectionate child, and I hope that as life continues to speed along, you take the time to revel in the love that God has poured out for you.

Press on, my caffeinated chipmunk! We love you and hope you have a very, very happy birthday!!

Family Photos from 2012

Somehow we neglected to share our family photos here last year... our apologies! But better late, than never, right? :)

Video: Spray Park Fun

We took the kids and Auntie Danelle (who is visiting from Minnesota) to a local park this past Saturday and discovered that the spray park is up and running. Everyone had a blast!

Video: A Pink Wall and a Bed

See the inside of our new house as our kids saw it for the very first time earlier this month.

Happy Birthday, Danny!

You're FIVE!! That's amazing! Just like you, kid. You're so much fun to be around, and we just can't get enough of you! You have such a winsome personality. You love everybody, and everybody loves you. You enjoy life and life is more enjoyable, seeing it through your eyes. Even when you're picking flowers while you're supposed to be engaged in your soccer game, you do so with such delight that we can't help enjoying the moment along with you.

We love your exuberant hugs and the excitement you have over each aspect of your life. We love how you sing and dance on a whim. We love how your great big grin is such a part of your regular countenance. We love how caring and gracious and forgiving you are with your siblings. We love how you dance to the beat of your own drum and see things through your own lens.

We can't wait to see what kind of man God makes you into, sweet Danny. We pray that as you grow in age and maturity, that you'll remember what your name means: God alone is your judge. You are accountable, first and foremost, to Him -- the good, gracious, loving and righteous God who created you to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. May you glory in the cross that made a way for you to do just that. As you look up to so many people, we pray that you'll remember that we all fall short of God's holiness, but that He never falls short.

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Happy, happy birthday, dear Danny. May you know this day how very much you are loved!

Video: Mikey Scores a Goal

Video: Go Tigers!

Here's a video I put together from Mikey and Danny's very first soccer game last Friday. Enjoy!

Video: Face-off at First Base

Video: Danny and Mikey's First At Bats

Video: Mikey and Danny's First T-Ball Game

View photos

Video: Mikey, Danny and Ruth at T-Ball

Video: Books of the Bible

Happy Birthday, Danny!

Hey there, Big Eyes! Happy Birthday!!

So you're four now... Let's see. What kind of mushy things can we say about our favorite four-year-old?

You're a doll, Danny. A sweet, affectionate, funny, boisterous BOY!! You're so much fun to be around, but you also have an intensity about you that can be quite touching. And you know how to use those big eyes of yours, for sure!! We pray that this year will bring hidden adventures and delights for you, and that your love and passion for life and others will only be out-weighed by your love for our sweet Saviour.

Love you, Danny! Happy, happy birthday!!