Monday, March 12, 2012

Happy Birthday, Lake!












Today was my sweet Lake Christian’s 5th birthday! He has been dreaming of this day for the last 364. We got to celebrate at the beach this year. We had eggless lemon cupcakes, played putt-putt, and he got to drive a go-cart. He actually beat his older brother. There was something wrong with Evan's go-kart that made it really slow and Lake's went around the track like a rocket. It was HILARIOUS to see the look on Evan's face.

 Reece and Evan say Lake is “lucky”. He pretty much wins all card and board games we play. He has recently started beating them in chess.  The one game he always loses at is hide-and-seek because he can't stop singing. So, when you hear worship coming from behind a shrub, it is kind of a give-away.  Everybody loves him so he gets invited to places a lot. He walked into a store today with my mom and picked out some starbursts for his birthday. When the owner of the store realized it was his birthday, he said, “well, I give starbursts to all little boys on their 5th birthday!”. So, he walked out with a FREE pack of starbursts. Of course his brothers were green with envy.

Lake is such a gift to me. God gave him to me in a very specific time. I was very very sick when I got pregnant with him. He was unplanned but VERY wanted. I had to be on IV medications when I was pregnant with him. I feared so much for his health and life. Months before I was pregnant with him, the Lord spoke clearly to my heart and said, “I will heal you. It will take time. But, I will give you joy in the mean time”. It was a promise I clung to. A few months into my unexpected pregnancy right in the middle of my health storm, I realized. The “joy in the mean time” was this sweet baby. And, oh, the joy he has been to me. He is so full of joy. He sings constantly. He sang WAY before he talked.  His brothers think he was born with TOO much joy. He is so full of joy that it has to come out and it comes out in song. Beautiful songs. Songs from heaven. Songs of worship. I tell his brothers that he has to sing or he will explode.  He constantly tells me he loves me and is usually hanging on my leg singing. He plays with my hair. He notices when I paint my toenails as soon as he walks in the room. He adores me and I adore him.  He is busy looking for me the whole time he is practicing baseball and as soon as I see him, he waves with his huge smile. We both do better knowing where the other is. 
I think he was a gift given to me in the secret place of suffering. And, wow, is he a treasure.
"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
Is 45:3

We are tight, Lake and me.
This is such a cool answer to prayer because I was too sick to breastfeed him. I cried my eyes out thinking I would not have a bond with him like I did my other children. He is a heavenly child. All of my children are. Lake is so sweet. Even sweet to his not-always-so-sweet-sister-who-likes-to –hit. She will LOVE him when she realizes how gentle he is with her.

People are drawn to him. He brings joy with him wherever he goes.
He isn't perfect. But I think he is pretty close. He does get in trouble. But he usually makes me laugh during discipline. One time I told him I would give him a quarter if he could make daddy laugh. Since then, it is his mission to make ME laugh for a quarter. He is constantly tickling my neck. It doesn't tickle but, for some reason, it is very funny. Tim has said for years that he is our curly headed kid that came with the "entertainment package".

About 3 weeks ago, he gave his life to Christ and asked Him to come into His heart. It was beautiful. His 2 older brothers and his dad and I all prayed over his life. I know God is going to use him in mighty ways. Since his prayer to give his life to Christ, he has started reading the Bible on his own (even though he can barely read). He won't eat breakfast until he has spent time in God's Word. His brothers have modeled that for him. Now, he takes it very seriously.  My older 3 boys have all given their lives to Jesus Christ and I have seen fruit in each of them. A hunger for God's Word is obvious fruit that the Holy Spirit is leading Lake. The Holy Spirit always points us to Christ... a.k.a.. The Word of God. I pray that my kids stay close to the Word their whole lives.
"The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

 The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

 By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward."
Ps 19

 He has been our child who has suffered the most. Hundreds of days spent coughing with asthma , dealing with eczema, and not being able to eat what everybody else eats. Lake and I rode together in the ambulance for a 3 night stay at the hospital when he got very, very ill with a violent asthma attack.  I slept with him in a little tiny hospital bed holding the oxygen mask over his face. Watching his every breath and singing this song over him..
this is the air I breathethis is the air I breatheYour holy presence living in me

His health is improving so much. We have prayed to Jehovah Rapha for his healing for years.  God is hearing our cries! When Lake prays, he says, “God, thank you for my allergies”. I learn so much from him about JOY. About laughter. About WORSHIP. About unconditional love.  He writes me love notes every day.

He is a gift to all of us. He isn’t my favorite. I have 5 favorites. They each have my whole heart.

If you don’t know Lake, you are missing out.  I cannot believe he was given to me during such a difficult trial. God’s gifts are truly more than we could dream of.
 "He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. "
Is 61:3

6 comments:

Erin Southwell said...

God heavens, I am crying!

Happy birthday sweet Lake! So glad you are here to light up this world!

Amy Jones said...

Chris and I were just talking about this last night after practice. He is so sweet and his smile is infectious! He cracked me up running the bases because he was giggling the entire time.

Amy Jones said...

Chris and I were just talking about this last night after practice. He is so sweet and his smile is infectious! He cracked me up running the bases because he was giggling the entire time.

Anonymous said...

awesome and amen. :)
what a darling face with purpose made in heaven.

Alyssa

Liel said...

Oh my goodness!! I LOVE Lake! Seriously, your little guys are my ROLE models! Wish you lived closer!!
Love y'all!
Liel

Philippians 4--

Kim said...

so beautifully written from the heart!!

He is just so cute!!

Happy Birthday Lake!