It's 5am, on February 19, 2013, your birthday.
Right now the skies are clear, and the air is a cool 54 degrees while you sleep next to one another. In the next hour or so, you'll wake up to this beautiful day in Addis Ababa. Those big brown eyes will start to look around. You may start thinking about a bottle, or amusing yourself with your busy little fingers or cute little toes... You won't think much about this day in particular, but it's a special one, Ezekiel and Gabriel. Today you are 12 month olds. Today's high is projected to be 80 degrees. I wish I could be there to feel it and taste it with you, to mark in my mind just how much hair has grown on those sweet little heads and just how chubby your cheeks are at 12 months to the day. But that's ok. There's just an ocean between us today. In a few weeks, it will go away.
Mommy and Daddy spent some time praying over you early this am. So much lies ahead for you in the next year of your life! Mommy can't stop thinking about how fast the sweet years of your life are going to go by. There's so much we are excited to see you experience, and want you to know. Always, our greatest prayer for you, is that you would know your heavenly Father as soon as possible, because the best things in life all come from Him.
As I was laying on the floor writing thank-you notes from your shower and Daddy was washing dishes tonight, we were listening to music. A Chris Rice song came on, and even though I've heard it many times, a line popped out of it...
"Song of love You sing to me,
I ache to sing it back to Thee."
For Mommy, those words probably best capture the sentiment that glows in my heart all the time. I've been so loved by my heavenly Father. I want to give that love back. And that kind of want is the best want of all. It will drive Mommy on until the day she gets to go home to be with Him. The best thing I could want for you is to know the same love, the same want, the same drive. And so that's what your Daddy and I have been praying for you tonight.
One of my favorite things about our family's story is that when we told God we were ready to start a family, He told us we could start it in a way that looks just like our story as His children. Boys, it's the most beautiful story. The rest of that song goes on to talk about how at some point we all realize we're lost. Some people wander for a long time before they realize it, but it doesn't matter when. Once you realize you're lost, you can see who God really is. Like the song says, once you recognize who Him for who He really is, "River rinses all your shame, the Father offers you His name."
We're just weeks away from getting to bring you home with our family's name. I can't wait to hold you, to sing these words to you, and to whisper the "Happy Birthdays" you can't hear today. But you know what's special, boys? Today, your heavenly Father is with you. He's singing and rejoicing over you. And He always will be, even when Mommy and Daddy can't.
We love you so much. Happy 1st birthday.
"...I hear a sound I recognize
You lift my chin and seek my eyes
Song of love You sing to me
I ache to sing it back to Thee
Father Love prepares a place
Brother Jesus leads the way
Follow to the place where you belong
How did I miss this wondrous song
The forest sang it all along
River rinses all your shame
The Father offers you His name
Father Love prepares a home
Brother Jesus leads you on
Follow to the place where you belong"
-Chris Rice, Belong
Right now the skies are clear, and the air is a cool 54 degrees while you sleep next to one another. In the next hour or so, you'll wake up to this beautiful day in Addis Ababa. Those big brown eyes will start to look around. You may start thinking about a bottle, or amusing yourself with your busy little fingers or cute little toes... You won't think much about this day in particular, but it's a special one, Ezekiel and Gabriel. Today you are 12 month olds. Today's high is projected to be 80 degrees. I wish I could be there to feel it and taste it with you, to mark in my mind just how much hair has grown on those sweet little heads and just how chubby your cheeks are at 12 months to the day. But that's ok. There's just an ocean between us today. In a few weeks, it will go away.
Mommy and Daddy spent some time praying over you early this am. So much lies ahead for you in the next year of your life! Mommy can't stop thinking about how fast the sweet years of your life are going to go by. There's so much we are excited to see you experience, and want you to know. Always, our greatest prayer for you, is that you would know your heavenly Father as soon as possible, because the best things in life all come from Him.
As I was laying on the floor writing thank-you notes from your shower and Daddy was washing dishes tonight, we were listening to music. A Chris Rice song came on, and even though I've heard it many times, a line popped out of it...
"Song of love You sing to me,
I ache to sing it back to Thee."
For Mommy, those words probably best capture the sentiment that glows in my heart all the time. I've been so loved by my heavenly Father. I want to give that love back. And that kind of want is the best want of all. It will drive Mommy on until the day she gets to go home to be with Him. The best thing I could want for you is to know the same love, the same want, the same drive. And so that's what your Daddy and I have been praying for you tonight.
One of my favorite things about our family's story is that when we told God we were ready to start a family, He told us we could start it in a way that looks just like our story as His children. Boys, it's the most beautiful story. The rest of that song goes on to talk about how at some point we all realize we're lost. Some people wander for a long time before they realize it, but it doesn't matter when. Once you realize you're lost, you can see who God really is. Like the song says, once you recognize who Him for who He really is, "River rinses all your shame, the Father offers you His name."
We're just weeks away from getting to bring you home with our family's name. I can't wait to hold you, to sing these words to you, and to whisper the "Happy Birthdays" you can't hear today. But you know what's special, boys? Today, your heavenly Father is with you. He's singing and rejoicing over you. And He always will be, even when Mommy and Daddy can't.
We love you so much. Happy 1st birthday.
"...I hear a sound I recognize
You lift my chin and seek my eyes
Song of love You sing to me
I ache to sing it back to Thee
Father Love prepares a place
Brother Jesus leads the way
Follow to the place where you belong
How did I miss this wondrous song
The forest sang it all along
River rinses all your shame
The Father offers you His name
Father Love prepares a home
Brother Jesus leads you on
Follow to the place where you belong"
-Chris Rice, Belong
