Dear Happy Buddy,
Here are some things you’ve said and done in these last few weeks that I am writing down because I love them and I want to forever remember the way God is working in your little 3-year-old heart.
I love how in the last 2 weeks you started eating hot dogs, pizza, macaroni and cheese, and Chicken Cacciatore (without picking all of the vegetables out).
I love how you think that seeing a trash truck is almost better than having Christmas.
I love how you play ‘Trash Truck’ by going from room to room collecting random things (like clothes, toys, shoes, spatulas, etc.) and throwing them in giant piles all over the house.
I love how when I crawled into bed a few nights ago there was a Matchbox car under my pillow.
I love how you stopped crying at night before bed… You used to be afraid that Mommy or Daddy was going to leave because we had been leaving so much to visit your brother in the hospital, but now that he is home and we are finally a family under one roof, you have peace again.
I love the big goofy, toothy grin you’ve been giving the camera lately.
I love seeing you run around our house in your Thomas the Train undies.
I love that you like to do the ordering at the grocery store deli counter.
I love that you love school and have somehow managed to remember the last names of all your classmates.
I love that when your brother is in his crib not napping, we sit together and giggle and look at the monitor and tell him to, “Go to sleep.”
I love that I used the phrase, “Stressed Out” one time in your presence and now you repeat it back to me several hundred times a day – especially when I am trying to give your brother a bottle. It’s a shame I can’t hide my feelings better. 🙂
I love that you sing worship tunes around the house and set out books on the floor and call them your ‘screens,’ like the ones at church that display song lyrics.
I love that whenever you hear the gas come out of your brother’s feeding tube, you say, “Holy Smolies – did you hear that?!”
I love that you are mesmerized by Blue’s Clues. I kind of am too.
I love how occasionally you will look over at me (and even when I haven’t showered for days) and say, “You look like an angel.”
I love that you lie awake in bed mimicking the ‘Woh, woh, woh” sound of my breast pump.
I love that when you see me sad and frustrated over your brother’s struggle to eat, you remind me to, “Trust in the Lord, Mommy.“
I love that you started saying, “I love you” to Daddy and me and even your baby brother.
I love that you occasionally break out in prayers of thanksgiving.
I love that when you hear thunder clapping you shout, “Halleluia!“
I love that when your brother recently took a decent volume of milk you got so excited and said, “Good job, Brother!”
I love hearing you say how much you love your bedroom.
I love that you don’t seem to mind an extra helping of TV shows while I spend so much time trying to feed your brother.
I love that you can recognize the word Jesus.
I love that when told it was time to go during our last two trips we have taken to the mall, you hopped right up and marched out the door without throwing a tantrum or getting upset.
I love that you know how to use iPads and iPhones better than I do.
I love how if you could drink chocolate milk and eat only pretzels for the rest of your life, you would.
I love that you can roll your ‘r’s’ as if you speak Spanish.
I love that you have an imaginary friend named Geoffrey who has a little brother with a feeding tube, too.
I love the way your little brother looks at you.
I love that despite the roller coaster that has been the last several months, you are still very much The Happy Buddy.
I love that you remind me of the bigger picture.
That the battle I fight daily with your baby brother’s eating issues is not one that will leave me consumed (although I apologize for the days when it seems it has and I am grumpy and weepy).
I love how the other day we pretended to put on our battle gear and armor before heading in to feed your brother.
Because I love that even if the outcome is not what I expected, you help me to see that I have the victory when I trust in Him.
I love how God has given you great wisdom for a 3-year-old.
Bottom Line – Mommy Loves You.
How good to remember the things to be thankful for, it helps us to put things in perspective when it seems there is so much wrong. What a wonderful happy buddy to remind you about Jesus. It does a momma’s heart good to see that their children love the Lord with reckless abandonment. He is a sweet boy and his momma is magical, teaching us and reminding us that even in trials we can find joy. Love you so and praying.
I always feel so encouraged reading your posts! You are a wonderful mommy and I’ve used several things from your blog with my little buddies! We have prayed for your family several times and will continue to do so!
These memories are a mother’s gold…harvested, collected, stored up for a rainy day when he is older and may live far away. Wise of you to give them permanence.
Love this. Such a precious numbering of God’s rich blessings. Praying that He will continue to strengthen you and give you hope and joy.
Dear Julie,
Mommiehood is a challenge but always rewarding everyday! Being a Mom is the BEST job in the world! You are an AMAZING Mom to your boys! Love you Julie!!!
Precious! Thank you for being a reflection of Jesus to all of us. Praying always.
Aww! Listen, lady 😛 I just fininshed my makeup for the day and now I’m all teary eyed! What a lovely thing to read as I start off my day. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words!
God Bless you!
Although the challenges you face you have found a way to do just what God has called you to do and that is LOVE. It is very evident to me while reading your blogs that you are a wonderful mother striving to excel in Gods plan for your family. When you can do nothing else just stand and watch God work. Blessings and Prayers your way, keep up the good work Mama you are AWESOME!
Oh what a blessing! Melted my heart.
Thank you for sharing your life’s blessings with us. I love your family and never even met you! You guys continue to be in my prayers! Xo
oh this made me all teary-eyed!! I’m a mom of a little boy too so it all hits so close to home! I’m so happy that you have a God-loving little guy! 🙂
Julie, you and your family are such a blessing to so many of us. You are a reminder to all of us to be thankful to God for whatever comes our way because it is allowed by Him for His purposes which we can not fully understand. As we get older though, we can look back and see God working a plan for His Kingdom which includes us and be thankful that He has included us.
That was SO beautiful. And inspiring. Make SURE he reads that someday….It CAN be so easy to focus on the child who is struggling in some way. And it is SO important to make sure to focus…at least some of the time…fully and completely on the child who does not SEEM to be struggling. Good for you! You’re doing a GREAT job, mommy, in a very trying situation. Keep it up!
It seems to me you get what you put in. Sounds like you are a loving and fun mother. Less not forget all you and your husband put into little buddy to get a well adjusted child. Good job!
This sweet new post made me cry!! I just love the insight and wisdom that God has given your little man! What a blessing!!
Jennifer Roddy Family Ministry Coordinator Seacoast Church- Long Point Campus 843.881.2100 x1129
Sent from my iPad (so it’s short & sweet :-D)
Julie, I am so blessed by your blog!! I am a “Nana” of a precious 17 month little girl and I began a diary for her the night before she was born. I try to write her every couple of weeks and certainly every time she does something spectacular! I have instructed my daughter to give my journals to her when she graduates highschool if I’m not around then to do it myself!! Keep up the good work!!
Hi-I don’t know why, but I now get really big –too big-pictures in this email. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Chris Bures
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This is so sweet. Keep writing down all these sweet memories, the years go by so fast and you think you’ll never forget, but as time goes by, all these things get forgotten. Happened to me, so I’m glad I have notes to refer back to! And in a few years, your happy buddies will love to read about what they were like when they were young!
What a sweet boy, Julie! I can’t say I’m surprised, though — the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Enjoy your boys!
Dear Happy Home Fairy,
I wonder if the Happy Buddy and the Happy Baby would like a “Tubie Friend”? A group of volunteers makes stuffed animals with feeding tubes (and other medical “gadgets”) for kids who have them. Here’s the link: http://www.tubiefriends.com/. No, I am not affiliated with them and do not work for them. I have two little friends with feeding tubes and thought I’d pass along this info to another “tubie Mommy”.
You have a beautiful heart! We continue to pray for your family.
Julie,
The other day I was listening to a talk about leaving a legacy. I thought of myself and the words of wisdom and openness to love and truly be myself around my kids. Am I leaving the legacy that I would want them to behold and remember me by. I believe so, and I see the same in you. Life is not easy. Trials, pain and hurt although are not a continual part of our life, are what God intends for us to go through to teach us who he is, make us stronger and more grounded in our faith and to make us really really thankful for the promises and the Hope that this is not our home. We try to hide those pains from our children but through our temporary tears and our openness to rely on God and His Love and Strength, not ours, leaves behind the exact Legacy that our children need to hang onto. It is in our Weakness that God is the strongest. What you have done in your openness to share, to cry and to praise your Lord freely around the Happiest Buddy I have ever seen, is to teach him that in his life, he to will have pain and struggles, but with Jesus by his side he will never be alone and yes, he will get through it. Love that you are finding so much Joy in your precious boys, even when you find a matchbox car under your pillow and putting on your armor and making light for a task that I am sure can melt a hardened heart. You are precious in His Sight. Rejoice in that always. Jane Hall
So beautiful…I’m in tears! God has truly given you two amazing little gifts. He has also blessed both the Happy Baby and the Happy Buddy with the gift of a gentle, loving, godly mother. Thank you so much for the inspiration you are to me.