two

Cool dude!

Why wouldn't you eat breakfast with a headlamp?

Love that smile...

And those eyes...

Well, it's official...I'm now the mother of a 2 year old! I feel like a broken record when I say that time flies because I am completely blown away by how quickly these 2 years have passed. Just tonight after dinner I was watching Zack sprint back and forth across our house while singing and dancing and I almost couldn't believe that this was my life...that this crazy and wonderful child is mine...and that I get the opportunity to watch him sprint around like a crazy man and listen to him laugh while hiding in his tent or getting tickled by Daddy. I love this.

But, I cannot believe that it has been 2 whole years since the day that he came into our lives and changed our hearts forever. I remember all off the emotions of that day and how nervous and anxious I was. Change is always a little bit scary but this was terrifing because, although I had always known that I wanted to be a mom, I didn't know how I would adjust or if I loved the idea of it much more then I would the actual action of having a child - a precious life - that I am primarily responsible for. The idea of taking on that much responsibility along with the fear of the unknown overwhelmed me.

And now, here we are...2 years later and about to embark on this journey all over again. To bring another precious life into the world and continue to love our son more than I could ever have imagined. And I AM SO EXCITED! This is by far the most amazing journey that I have been on in this life...and there is SO much to look forward to!!!

My Sweet Zack,

Happy 2nd Birthday!!! I cannot believe it has been two amazing years that I have been blessed with the opportunity to be your mom. I feel like it is the greatest honor in the world to be able to love one of God's most precious creations - YOU! Over the course of this year, you learned how to walk, run, sprint, jump, kick, throw, swing a bat, shoot a basket, clearly communicate with us, count to 10, recite your entire alphabet, sing songs, and you even went pee pee on the potty for the first time!!! It is amazing to me what you have learned this year. And, I couldn't be more proud to be your mom. Just looking at you makes me smile. And I think almost all of your actions and words make me laugh. You bring pure joy into my life and my heart.

Even more amazing to me then the things you have learned is your tender heart toward God. You love to read your Bible...sometimes its upside down, sometimes you take it and sit right in the place that Daddy sits every morning, and sometimes we are just keeping you from ripping out the pages...but everytime I love to see it! It's one of your new favorite things to pray - always before meals and bedtime, but sometimes in the middle of meals too. So we do. And you love to follow it up with an AMEN! which always makes me smile. You love to go to church and see the guitars and drums...and sometimes you add on "and God" with your hands raised in the air. And you love to play your own pretend guitar while you sing "worship God". On Easter Sunday when we were at church on vacation, you heard the pastor say Jesus...you looked at me with wide eyes and a smile on your face and began to sing, "Jesus loves me this I know...for the Bible tells me so." And my heart melted. Just the other day, you were reading the Bible upside down at my night stand and proclaimed (almost yelling and shaking your hand at me) "SINS ALL GONE!" You are precious to me! May you continue to grow and thrive in all the fullness and richness of Christ. I love you Zack!

So, my dearest Zack, I pray this prayer again on this special day...

Lord, I pray that you would raise Zack up to be a Mighty Man of God and a warrior for your kingdom. That he would love and serve you and love and serve your people and honor and obey us as his parents. And Lord, that you would give us great wisdom to be parents worthy of his love, honor, obedience, and respect! God I pray that Zack would be a man of integrity and great character. That he would be strong and courageous. That he would tenaciously seek you and your will, but that his heart would be tender in the pursuit of your people. Lord, I pray that your grace and mercy would pour out over his life and that he would accept your amazing gift of forgiveness. And please work in our hearts to never take this weight of parenting lightly. Lord, we are raising your precious child. He is not ours, he is a child of the Most High God. You have created every speck of sand on the shore, every star in the sky, and know every hair on his head...he is yours. But thank you so much for giving us the amazing opportunity to be his parents and love him every day of his life. Lord I pray that you would protect him from injury, disease, and illness. Protect his heart from heartache. And Lord, please help me to be his greatest fan and encourager. Before I know it, he will be running down the pathway to elementary school...and then Jr. High...and High School! All too soon I will hear Zachariah David Pentz announced as he walks across the platform and is handed his diploma. Lord, I pray even now for Zack's future spouse. I pray that Zack would lay his life down for her as you did for your church. And on that day, on that alter, you would join them together forever in a union that only you could create. Man, it makes my heart happy to think about the day that Zack will hold his baby and gaze into its face just the way that I did two years ago today. God, shape him and form him into the Man of God that you have called him to be. AMEN!

Zack, you overwhelm my life with joy. Your smile is a constant reminder to me that God loves and blesses his children. You are truly a gift and a miracle. I am so proud of you and honored to be your mom. HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!

Love,
Mom