Five Stars for a Five Year Old

We celebrated Noah over the weekend.  He turned FIVE Saturday, which was much anticipated.  Something about becoming a five-year-old has been a big milestone for us all.  He was SO excited leading up to his birthday and is still relishing in his new year of life.  With each thing we do, he says, "that was my first time to ___ as a five year old.  And it was really cool!"  --go to church, go to pre-school, ride his bike, etc--  

I know you other mothers understand this... it is so fun to live out exciting milestones with your children.  Seeing his heart alive brings added life to mine. 

I know you think there aren't many more things I could say about my sweet son that I haven't already said at some point on this blog, but you are oh-so-wrong! :)  I could write a post about each of my children for the rest of my life and never run out of things to say.  They are that unique and that special to me.  They intrigue me to the core.  

When I sat down to write a post celebrating my Noah in words, one strong thing came to mind:

his love for work!

  

I have watched this love blossom in Noah's life over the past year. 

He is a hard worker and he loves to be busy with purpose.  

He gives his full attention to detail and precision.  He often spends entire days (literally) working.  He thrives in spending hours upon hours digging, planting and grooming our yard with his dad or Pop.  

And I've notices that this all is most true when he is working with his hands and he is outside.  

I've marveled time and again how the Lord really does create man to work and provide because I've seen this come to life in Noah.  

It isn't a strain for Noah, he thrives on it.  

 Of course, he enjoys his breaks and the cool snacks he works so hard for. Ha. 

But I've also been amazed by his initiative to work.  He shovels, rakes, takes out trash, sets the table, moves rocks, all on his own.  He sees a need and attempts to take care of it without so much as a word from anyone.  

I snuck this picture recently just to keep for myself for years to come, but decided to post it here so that I could be blessed each time I see this post.  Most mornings, Noah rises early with his Daddy to have coffee and study scripture.  I can't tell you what it does to my heart and my love for the Lord to walk into our dining room and see this.  The Lord is giving Noah a hunger for the Word.  This process is causing new parts in me to rise up in awe of the power of the Holy Spirit.  That, and it makes me love these TWO boys in even deeper ways.  What a sweet father my children have.

I thought I would throw this picture in for good measure.  This was my boy's recent first trip to the dentist.  He was so nervous and so brave.  Everything inside of him wanted to cry and fall in my arms, I saw it written all over his face.  But he didn't.  And I admire him for that.  I'm watching my little boy grow into a big boy on a daily basis.  

I find myself daily amazed at the maturity taking place before my very eyes.

This boy of ours, he is such a joy!

I'm blessed to be his mother.

Happy 5th Birthday, Noah Hudson!