HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MASON!

MY LITTLE MASON TURNED 9 YEARS OLD TODAY. I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM AS MY SON. I KNOW EVERY MOTHER SAYS IT BUT FOR REAL, WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE! IT SEEMS JUST LIKE YESTERDAY THAT MARK AND I WERE GAZING AT THAT CHUBBY LITTLE FACE IN THE DELIVERY ROOM. I REMEMBER THAT MOMENT SO CLEARLY, LIKE IT HAPPENED 5 MINUTES AGO. I KNEW IN THAT MOMENT OUR LIVES WOULD BE RICH. WE WERE IN AWE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE LAVISH GIFT THE LORD HAD GIVEN US.

HE IS JUST GROWING UP TO BE SUCH A GREAT YOUNG MAN. SO IN HONOR OF MASON'S SPECIAL DAY, I WILL TELL YOU ALL 9 THINGS ABOUT OUR LITTLE MAN (THANKS FOR THE GREAT IDEA AMY):

1. MASON HAS SUCH A GENTLE HEART. HE THINKS OF OTHERS FEELINGS IN NEARLY EVERYTHING HE DOES. I WISH I COULD SAY WE TAUGHT HIM THAT...WE DIDN'T. THE LORD BLESSED THOSE AROUND MASON BY GIVING HIM SUCH A GENTLE SPIRIT.

2. MASON LAUGHS LIKE ME WHEN HE REALLY GETS TICKLED. IT SOUNDS LIKE A CACKLE. WE GET IT FROM MY MOTHER.

3. MASON IS A WONDERFUL BIG BROTHER. EVEN WHEN A LITTLE BROTHER CAN GET TO BE A BIT MUCH, HE TRIES SO HARD TO BE KIND AND PATIENT. OF COURSE, THERE ARE DAYS THAT A GUY CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH, BUT OVERALL HE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE TO HIS LITTLE BROTHER. HE EVEN LET HIS BROTHER HELP BLOW OUT HIS CANDLES.

4. WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYSTATION RACING GAMES, MASON IS THE MAN! HE CLOBBERS ME EVERY TIME AND HAS GOTTEN TO WHERE HE CAN BEAT MARK MOST OF THE TIME NOW!

5. MASON IS PRETTY SAVVY WITH THE TOOLS THESE DAYS. HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE A CORDLESS DRILL SINCE HE WAS 4 YEARS OLD. I ADMIT, WE HAVE EXPOSED HIM TO MANY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. HE HAS EVEN HELPED OUT WITH REMODEL PROJECTS AT CHURCH WITH HIS DAD. HE LOVES IT AND I LOVE TO WATCH HIM ENJOY SUCH A SPECIAL BOND WITH HIS DADDY.

6. MASON IS A GOOD STUDENT AND A GREAT READER. HE LOVES TO READ NON-FICTION BOOKS ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK...SUCH A GUY! HE EVEN LOVES TO WATCH MODERN MARVELS WITH HIS DADDY.

7. MASON IS TOTALLY FINE SLEEPING IN HIS OWN ROOM...EXCEPT WHEN A LOUD THUNDERSTORM ROLLS TO TOWN. IF THE THUNDER WAKES HIM UP, HE WILL QUIETLY COME IN OUR ROOM AND ASK IF HE CAN GET IN BED WITH US. I'LL ENJOY THOSE SNUGGLES WHILE THEY LAST!

8. MASON LIKES FOR THINGS TO BE NEAT AND ORDERLY. HIS ROOM MAY GET MESSY BUT HE CAN GET IT UNDER CONTROL PRETTY QUICKLY AND DOES NOT NEED MY HELP ANYMORE. HIS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER SAID THAT WHEN THE STUDENTS WOULD COME AND TURN THERE PAPERS IN ON HER DESK, MASON WOULD COME UP AND STRAITEN THE STACK FOR HER. SHE SAID HIS FUTURE WIFE WILL LOVE HIM FOR THAT. I AGREE! OR HE WILL DRIVE HER CRAZY ;-)

9. MASON LOVES THE LORD AND IS LEARNING HIS WORD. I KNOW THAT HIS DEDICATION TO LEARNING SCRIPTURE WILL ETCH THE PROMISES OF THE LORD ON HIS HEART. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THE LORD WILL MOLD HIM AND USE HIM...WELL, YES I CAN, NO NEED TO HURRY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MASON! MOM AND DAD LOVE YOU SO MUCH.