A letter to Henry on his 5th birthday

How is that on this day, five years ago at 2:48pm on a Wednesday,  you were born?  Five years.  I can’t wrap my mind around that but at the same time, it feels like you’ve been here for much longer than that as I don’t remember what life was like before you arrived.

 7 pounds and 10 ounces of the cutest little baby I have ever held

You love to learn, you're a little sponge!  You know how to write your first and last name, you know all kinds of colors and shapes and you’ve learned maybe a dozen (or more?) Scripture verses.  You also know the Pledge of Allegiance, the Pledge to the Christian Flag and the Pledge to the Bible.  All 3 of great importance and you say them with pride. 

You are still a pretty good sleeper, but only if the light is on and if you have your truck blanket.  You love that ratty, old thing.

 Your last picture as a 4 year old

You are incredibly silly and you think toots are hilarious. If you get caught tooting, you will do it again just to see if I’ll laugh the second time around.  You’re obnoxious like that.  You already appreciate slapstick comedy and think it's hilarious to "hurt" Daddy and you love watching America's Funniest Videos on tv or on the iPad. 

Playing in the snow - March 2015

You love to tell stories, and although we love hearing them, sometimes Daddy and I wonder where it’s going and when it’s going to end.  Yep, you talk a lot.  I’ve been blamed for passing this trait (guilty as charged) but your Daddy has been known to carry on a conversation with just about anyone so you were doomed from the get go.  I will say though, even random strangers at the grocery store or restaurants have complimented you on how well you speak.

If you're not too busy with your Legos or running around like a maniac, you're quite the little eater.  You love spicy foods from Kung Pao chicken to Mexican food.   The latter works in your favor as Mommy works for a Mexican restaurant - you quickly eat all the refried beans, tortillas and chips & salsa that your little belly can hold.

You’re still completely enamored by fire trucks and all things rescue from the first responders, to their gear, to their cars.  If you grew up to be a firefighter, I don’t think it would surprise anyone in the least.  We’ve made countless trips to the local fire stations and you still enjoy being hoisted up in the air so you can look out the back window when they head out on calls. You also love watching videos on YouTube of firetrucks leaving the station, responding to calls.

You're starting your second baseball season and I hope you love it as much now as you did in the fall (pictured below).  You have glasses now so we are hoping that helps with your precision and makes standing out in the outfield a little more enjoyable for you.  Yes, piles of dirt are entertaining to you, we get that.

 

You’re kind and I hope you always stay that way.  Your new thing is to tell me “Mommy, you look beautiful.”  I think your Daddy taught you that and I’m thankful for that sweetness.  Not just because you make me feel good when I’m cleaning house, no makeup, still in my pj’s at 2pm on a Saturday, but I know that will make a lucky lady feel very special someday.  Your sincerity is sweet and I hope you keep that. 

Over the past few months, you will randomly start conversations that begin with "When we have a brother or a sister or a little baby, I will...." Usually it's about how you will share your things or teach them new things.  More recently, you've asked if you could hold a new baby and play with him.  (I think that's an awesome idea!)

 

Daddy and I bought you a new Cars bike for your birthday and you've spent the last two nights driving it around the living room and kitchen.  After a near collision with Kiki and Lucy, you learned the importance of yielding to all pedestrians. Now you proudly proclaim "Look, I didn't run over the doggies!"  You were so proud to drive it to the end of the block, with your Daddy running even more proud alongside of you.  I love the bond the two of you have.

You love family dinner nights when your cousins come over.  The 4 of you have become the best little playmates and I know it makes your "girl cousin's" Mommy happy too.  You hold your own quite well amongst the girls, you keep them in line, well unless Livie has a snowball. :) 

You love to do things all by yourself but “Katy bar the door” if you don’t get it right the first time.  Your level of patience is just about non-existent, but Daddy and I are getting better at parenting you through that.  I think it’s because you’re a high-achiever at heart, but your brain and body aren’t quite there yet.  One of these days though, I know you will take the world by the reigns and you will accomplish many great things.  You just have to conquer building Legos first. 

 

The other night, Daddy and I were discussing that another year is about to come to a close.  We feel like we’ve survived a lot; from colic and acid reflux to the terrible twos (that started at 15 months) to registering you for kindergarten. (Do we have to?) Just when we think we have you figured out, you spice things up and keep life interesting. I guess you could say that you're a mix of salty and sweet.  You're all boy and  you are also caring and compassionate. I love that about you.

Happy 5th Birthday to our little buddy!  Mommy and Daddy love you to Heaven and back!

Granny

I started writing this a couple of days before my Granny passed away.  I felt that it would help me grieve to put my thoughts into writing and although I didn't plan on ever sharing what I'd written, I've shared it with my family and I'd like to post it here.  Granny was very special to me, to all of us, and I want to keep her memory alive.  The past couple of weeks have been nightmare as we watched her struggle and as we said goodbye.  I know she's been made whole and that she's with Jesus, but my goodness how we miss her.  I thank each and every one of you who have reached out with your words of kindness, thoughts and prayers.  We've been overwhelmed by your love.

Granny loved doing things for others, she had a true servant's heart. She loved her family fiercely.  She dedicated over 65 years to one man, Thomas or you may know him as Daddy or Granddaddy.  I never heard her talk out of judgment about anyone, even though we probably gave her plenty to talk about.  She loved unconditionally but wasn't afraid to speak up if you got out of line.  (Isn't that right, Granddaddy?) She just wanted the very best for all of us and she was always there to kiss the wounds and help heal your broken heart. 

Granny loved to crochet. If I had to guess, she made at least 100 afghans in her lifetime, geesh, maybe even double that as all of her kids, grandkids and her great grandkids have a Granny-made blanket.  She's made hats, socks, scarves - perfect reminders of her warmth and love for the blessed recipient. In recent years, she learned how to use a knitting loom that she used to make hats for kids in West, Texas, the same kids whose families lost everything in a plant explosion. Even at the ripe age of 90, she was serving others the best way she knew how.

Granny was crafty and creative.  I remember trips to Big Spring during the summer with my sister Nikki or cousin Jill when Granny taught us new crafts.  I never knew yarn and plastic canvas could make so much.  I can't tell you how many things she made with just those two items and a pair of scissors. Seriously everything from coasters to bookmarks to tissue box covers. They were cute - she made ones that looked like houses with tissue coming out of the chimney.

Granny was always cooking something.  She wasn't afraid to try new recipes or experiment with old favorites. Mincemeat pie or sweet potato casserole - we all know pies shouldn't have "meat" in them and there's nothing "sweet" about sweet potatoes. But I ate whatever she cooked just to make her smile. She had that effect on me and I'm sure everyone who had the pleasure of sitting at her table would agree. She could cook for an army, too. When Henry was born, she made a pot of stew and cornbread for when they came over to see the baby. I think she was so used to cooking for a large family, that just the two of us had enough stew we didn't cook for days.  

Granny loved to tell us stories from the past and personally, they were enjoyable, felt like a glimpse into the good ol' days.  Over the past several years, if she wasn't reminiscing, that's when I worried most about her. In the few weeks leading up to Christmas 2012, she was in a rehab center after a prolonged illness.  The local family members tried to stagger our visits to where she never went more than a couple of days between visitors.  One afternoon after work, I picked up a little plant for her room and went for a visit. When I got there, she was sitting in a wheelchair, fiddling with a mess of yarn that had knotted up on her. I don't know if it was her illness or the yucky medication she was on, but she was struggling to communicate with me, all of her sentences were jumbled, bit and pieces of different stories.  Heartbreaking.  She fiddled with the yarn while we talked.  I had grabbed one end of knot and we were making progress but my Ament-attention span kicked in and I asked if she wanted me to cut it to make it easier to untangle. She smiled and coyly said "You can't give up. You gotta keep working at it." I silently prayed that she would keep fighting, keep working at it. None of us were ready to let go of her and I felt reassured by the Holy Spirit right then and there that she wasn't ready to let go either.  After lots of pulling, untangling and giggling, the knot came loose. She was right.  We had to keep trying.  I've replayed that afternoon in my mind a dozen times or more over the last two years.  "You gotta keep working at it."

I saw Granny on Sunday afternoon and before I left her house, she hugged me and told me she loved me.  I always knew she loved me, she always made me feel special and I loved her for that.  If Granny taught me anything, the most important was to always love your family.  I never heard her say a nasty word about any of her family. Only the positive, nice stuff. We don't get to choose our family, God has picked them out ahead of us. Sure they will make you mad or drive you crazy (we are Aments, you know) but try putting your feelings and differences aside and truly love each other, "You gotta keep working at it."