Jess Foreman: Toddler

Showing posts with label Toddler. Show all posts

at 4/06/2016

Dearest Landry,

This month you will be 2.... TWO years old! They say time flies when you're having fun... and life with you is a Disneyland ride that has rushed by before my eyes. I want to write you letters from time to time to share my heart, my wonderful memories of you, and some words of wisdom along the way... I hope you will cherish them one day like I cherish you.

Lets start with you. You are a treasure. Your heart is bigger than the moon and you have a smile to match it. You love people ferociously, and people love you with an equal devotion. You love to hold my hand wherever we go and you squeeze it so tightly as if you are holding on for dear life. But I love it. You are fiercely protective of those you love, especially your Mommy. You exude caution but deep down I can see adventure in your eyes. When I look at you I can see a dreamer who is passionate about everything he does.

Music and touch are your love languages. Where there is music, there is Landry. It's the only thing that stops you in your tracks as you drink it in, captivated by the power and awe it creates. You are little but you command an audience like a giant. You are loud and animated but tender and sweet in the same breath. You are creative and sensitive. You speak your own language but for those of us who are lucky enough to speak "Windry" we are blessed by your little revelations and discoveries.

You move too fast for my camera to capture but I catch your spirit in every blurred image.

I adore the rosy apples of your cheeks and how they are a sandwich with your eyebrows, devouring your eyes in between them as you smile. I love your ears, I love your laugh, I love the way you give "Shoogs" (kisses). I love the way you scrunch your manly nose when you're trying to figure something out. You dance to the beat of your own heart and it entertains the masses. You are created by God, for God and I pray that someday, in Him, you will move mountains.

Never lose your love of people. To love and serve others, putting their needs above your own is where you will find the most freedom and joy out of life.

Try not to be afraid of people just because they're different than you. We currently live in Austin, Texas... a place where "weird" people live.

But can I let you in on a little secret?

You're weird too.

We all are... How awesome is that?

Embrace your uniqueness and learn to love people no matter what they look like. What a boring life it would be if you only surrounded yourself with people who looked and thought just like you. My hope and prayer for this powerful unconditional love is that with it, you will be able to share the love of Jesus with anyone God puts in your path.

Never stop dreaming. When you get older, there will be a tendency to suppress any childlike aspirations due to this thing we call "practicality." Practicality is cancer to dreams. Dream big and pray for God to reveal His heart and plan for these dreams to you. He may want you to surrender them at His feet so you can get more of Him. That's ok... Jesus is better. Or He may want to make them a reality so you can get more of Him. Jesus is still better. But either way, dream away and share those dreams with the One who planted the dreams in your heart in the first place.

You are an amazing little person Landry Reid. Words cannot describe how much we love you and how thankful we are to have you in our lives. Happy Birthday month and thanks for being you!

Love always,

Dearest Landry, This month you will be 2.... TWO years old! They say time flies when you're having fun... and life with you is...

at 12/11/2014

at 9/16/2013

at 8/13/2013

Dear sweet Liv Monroe,

I decided to start writing you letters for you to be able to read one day and be reminded of how loved and special you are to me. I also want to offer some words of wisdom that I pray you take to heart along the way.

Words cannot describe how in love I am with you. These past 17.5 months have been filled with more joy than I can stand! There have been so many moments in our time together where you will do something so charming and adorable that I am moved to tears and am overwhelmed with praise to God for allowing me to be your mommy. I prayed for you for years before you made your debut on this earth and I will never stop praying for you as long as I am on it. You have challenged me in so many ways and make me want to be a better person. I often pray for God to teach me how to be a good mommy to you because I feel clueless at times. However, as hard as being a parent can be, my love I have for you makes all the sacrifices so much easier.

Since you came into my life, my perspective of God and how He views me has been magnified and made clearer. I now see just how much He loves me, how there is NEVER anything that I could do on this earth to make Him stop loving me, how He wants to bless me abundantly, and discipline me only because He loves me and wants what's best for me. I never fully grasped all of those truths until I had you... because that is EXACTLY how I feel about you.

I'm sure every parent thinks this of their own child, but I have no doubt that the Lord has created you to do BIG things in this world. Your personality is too big for your body at times and you are absolutely fearless... something that scares your daddy and I constantly but I envy that in you the most. I know that there have been so many times in my own life where fear has kept me from being obedient to God and trusting Him enough to get out of my comfort zone. But I know you my sweet girl, will probably dive head first into any mission that the Lord leads you on, not fearing the dangers or the dark world we live in. Never lose that. God did not put us on this earth to live a safe, comfortable life. We are to live for His glory and make His name known to the ends of the earth. And if you have a willing Spirit, He will use you in miraculous ways and take you on the most beautiful adventures... those experiences will get you even more of Jesus and there is nothing sweeter than that.

Something that is also very evident about you, is that your beauty is captivating. I think this scares your daddy the most. ;) I probably hear him say "NO BOYS!" on a daily basis... and you're not even 2 years old! No matter how gorgeous your external beauty might be, never lose sight of what true beauty is... "beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30. Abide in the Lord and He will abide in you... there is nothing more radiant or beautiful than that.

I'll save the "NO BOYS!" talks for later letters.

I cannot wait to see the amazing woman that you will become. The world is a better place because you're in it... I'm just so thankful that I get to be a part of your life.

With all my love,