Happy 4th Birthday, Chase!!!!

 HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, CHASE!!!!

Today my oldest turns four years old!!  Can't get over how big he is, how much he has grown up and how much he is learning!  He brings us so much joy and we couldn't imagine what our days would be like without him.  During the time it took us to get pregnant with our first baby I spent so much time wondering what it would feel like to be a mom, what my child would be like, what my child would look like ... God did an amazing thing when He gave us our Chase, when He knit him together so perfectly and gave him all of his character traits.  He looks so much like his Daddy but has my hair and eye color.  He has such a tender heart and loves to be around babies and other children.  He has such a strong desire to please that sometimes he puts too much pressure on himself.  He loves to learn and most importantly, loves to learn about Jesus and what He did for him.  His prayers melt my heart and his hugs and "I love you, Mom" brings me to tears.  Even though he's turning into a big boy, he loves to climb onto our laps, snuggle and tell us how much he loves us.  He is a big brother to two younger brothers and takes his role very seriously... he wants to be a role model for them and wants to always be there to help take care of them.  It has been such a joy for us to watch just how much he loves his brothers... he was only 14 months old when Jacob was born and we saw a love for his baby then but now that he is older we have seen it even more since Luke was born.  Chase has accomplished a lot this year and has had a lot of firsts.... he had his first real stomach virus (NO fun!), he learned to ride a bike with training wheels, he has learned to recognize his letters and has even learned to write his own name.  He started Cubbies this year and lives to learn his Bible verse for the week.  He has learned what it means to really be a helper for me and loves to take on that role.  He went on his very first camping trip with his Daddy, he swam in the pool all by himself (with floaties on and Mommy very close by!).... I could go on and on with all the things he did this year... it makes me realize just how much they grow up in one years time.  I wonder what he is going to be like this time next year, how he's going to do in school, what activities he's going to want to be involved in, what college he's going to want to go to, what he's going to be when he grows up.... but most importantly when he is going to take the step and trust Jesus as his Savior.  He loves reading his Bible stories, loves talking to Jesus through his prayers.... our prayer is that he will trust Jesus as his Savior at an early age and live to follow Him.  We are so very blessed by our oldest son and are so thankful that the Lord has given him to us for this time.  We know that he is not "ours" but that he belongs to Him and that the Lord is entrusting him to us and is requiring us to raise him in a Godly home where He will always be the center and focus!

Dear Chase,

What a year this has been!  You have grown up so much this year and have become so independent.  It makes me so happy to see you get yourself dressed, put your own shoes on, help Jacob with his shoes, hold Luke for me while I fold a pile of laundry.  You are always so happy to help me or be my big helper... it makes you feel so proud to be able to do things the other two cannot do quite yet.  You take your job as the biggest brother very seriously.  You do not go a day, sometimes not even a few hours, without telling them both that you love them.  You are getting so big and yet you still love to sit on Mommy's lap and snuggle.  Lately you love to run up to Mommy and Daddy, wrap your arms around our necks as tight as you can and whisper in our ears "I love you, Mom" or "I love you, Dad".  You've learned a lot about your God this year.  You're memorizing His word and hiding it in your heart.  We talk daily about what He did for you and how He so willingly became a sacrifice for you and took your sins to the cross.  Sometimes out of the blue we will see you pat your heart and say "Jesus lives in my heart" and it makes us so happy to know that your little heart is already moving closer and closer to Jesus. We can't wait for the day that you pray with one of us or someone else close to you and ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Savior.  Thank you for being the sweet little boy God created you to be... you're not perfect, no one is, but you have such a teachable heart and your Daddy and I pray that your heart stays that way.  We pray for your future, for who you are, who you will become and who you will end up being as an adult.  We pray for your future wife, that she will be a woman after God's own heart.  You have so many exciting things ahead of you and we will always be your biggest supporters.  

We love you, Chase Smoak!!!