four.

 Zack,

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY!

How can it be that you are 4? Another year has flown by and I am simply in awe as I sit here, writing you this letter. It feels like just yesterday that Daddy and I were sitting on the couch in our house, watching the Sounders game, dreaming about your arrival the very next day. And now here you are...full of life, laughter, silliness, and joy. What a great year we have had together. Every single day is filled with adventure (very necessary adventures to attempt to get some of your energy out!) You started preschool this year! And soccer. You decided to throw your paci's in the garbage (much to our surprise). You can ride your 4-wheeler and your bike all by yourself, and you have recently even taken up skateboarding. You love running, singing along to kids camp songs in the car, playing in the sand, driving your monster trucks wherever they can possibly go, going to the Bremerton RC Raceway with Daddy, going on dates with Mommy (to Starbucks to get whipped cream, or to Blueberry to get ice cream), making French Toast with Papa (and cracking the eggs yourself), and going to plays with Nana and always getting gum and drinking her coffee. You are wild and crazy, yet compassionate and sweet. You are the most precious big brother that I have ever seen in a little boy and our Hallie absolutely LOVES her ZaZa.

Just thinking about all the fun that we have had over this past year makes me so happy and incredibly excited for the future. As I was scrolling through pictures, I had tears in my eyes as I remembered all those moments that are stamped on my heart forever. Pictures of us being wild and crazy on our vacation to Lake Chelan make me smile. Pictures of you giggling and being silly, playing in the leaves, stomping in puddles, throwing rocks, taking trips, playing your guitar and 'rockin out', holding Hallie's hand, playing in the snow, going to preschool, riding your 4-wheeler, and playing in the sand and dirt have been imprinted on my heart forever. You are my precious son. You are more incredible then I every thought possible. Your laughter brings more joy then I had ever imagined - even in my wildest dreams of being a mom. I want you to know that I love you beyond measure and I will spend my life making sure you know that.

Jesus,

Thank you for the amazing blessing that you have given us in this little boy. He is so full of life and brings immeasurable joy every single day. His life is such a precious gift, and nothing short of a miracle. I simply cannot fathom a single day without him in my arms. I know that he will grow up too quickly but please help me to enjoy and cherish every moment that I have with him right now. Every morning that he comes into my room to wake me up is a blessing. I couldn't think of a better or sweeter face to wake up to. And every morning, while we snuggle and watch cartoons, my heart is glad. Lord, it is my greatest desire to see him fall in love with you and lead others toward your heart. And it is the greatest honor in my life to play an instrumental role in showing him how to do so. Thank you that you selected me to be his mom. And that you lavish your love upon me through him. I love the way he hugs, kisses, and snuggles - his heart amazes me. I LOVE the way that he greets his little sister every time she wakes up with a "Hello, beautiful girl..." and "Mom, isn't she so cute." And the way that he loves to hold her, kiss her, hold her hand and attempt to read her books. I love the way he gets attached to a toy - and takes everywhere with him (to bed, to preschool, and even in the bath tub...). I love his zeal for life. Lord, please protect my precious child. Give him your heart and pour over him with your amazing grace.

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

Lord, thank you for the precious gift and miracle you have blessed us with in giving us Zack. 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 four years ago today. God, shape him and form him into the Man of God that you have called him to be. AMEN!

Zachariah David Pentz, I am so incredibly proud of you. And once again, I am so sad to see this year pass but will always cherish these memories. I am so excited for the future! I cannot wait to drive you around to an assortment of sporting events, continue to go on adventures and special dates, watch you ride your bike without training wheels for the first time, and bandage those inevitable wounds. I am so excited that I get to love you forever and always. You are and always will be my precious baby boy.

Happy 4th Birthday, my LOVE!

Love,

Mom