Eight.

Oh Zack,

Happy 8th Birthday, sweet boy! Buddy, I have to admit that I'm a little late in finishing this birthday post because we have been crazy busy and loving every second. Between school, track, playing on our new boat (which we named 'Betty White'), and chasing little Jovie everywhere she goes, we have been on the run! Oh what a joy it has been. This year, as with every other year, you are an absolute delight. You are incredibly sweet, crazy smart, the best big brother in the world, and smoking fast!!! Your PR this year in the 100m was 16.41 with a long jump PR of 9' 10"!!! Your knowledge of Jesus and the world around you is growing exponentially with each passing day - and also growing exponentially are your height and your feet! Good grief, I cannot even keep up with you! I've said it before but I must say it over and over again; Zack, you are one incredible little boy!

Zack, because I'm a bit late this year, today we went to Poulsbo to watch the fireworks and I had a pretty cool epiphany while we were there. I attempted to have dad take a picture of you and I with the fireworks in the background for cool effect. But, its very difficult to get the timing and lighting right so none of the pictures turned out very well. It was at that moment that I realized that being your mom is a lot like watching a fireworks show. I do my best to capture everything that you are by taking pictures, saving important work, and cementing as much as i can in my memory, but I will never ever be able to truly do it justice. Watching fireworks is magical. But its coolest if you are simply present in that moment with the people you love. Zack, thats what it is like being your mom. Its magical. But there is no possible way for me to even come close to capturing it with words. I get to have a front row seat to the greatest show I have ever seen which is watching you grow up. And I get to watch you take off and fly. I just opened your report card tonight and in addition to all the perfect marks, your teachers comment brought tears to my eyes. It says, "Zack is excelling in all academic areas. I love Zack's zeal for life." Zack, you are excelling and your zeal for life is contagious. And I love watching every single magical step of this journey unfold. You are a gift to me every single day. You are goofy and loving, wild and cautious, and tenacious and tender. I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest mom in the world. 

This whole year has been a wild adventure. We welcomed our sweet baby Jovie in August (right into soccer season) and again, you proved that you are the worlds greatest big brother. This last winter, you became a snow skiing maniac! You skied Crystal Mountain countless times, as well as Mt. Bachelor AND Whistler/Blackcomb! And went to the very top of Whistler with Dad and skied it like a champ. When I skied with you in Whistler, you flew by me as you bombed down the mountain and I think my jaw just about hit the snow! SO FUN! We also went on countless other wild adventures and mini vacations - and with each one, I got to soak in the wonder of who you are. 

So again today, on your 8th birthday (and everyday), I pray this prayer...

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, every single day. 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. This year he rocked 2nd grade. And before I know it, he will be off to 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 eight years ago today. God, continue to shape him and form him into the Man of God that you have called him to be. 

AMEN!

Zack, it is my absolute greatest pride and joy to be your mom. Cannot wait to see what year eight has in store for you. Keep rockin it, buddy. I love you always.

Love, 

Mom