Fourteen.

My most precious boy,

FOURTEEN incredible years—and somehow, you continue to blow me away every single day. I could not have dreamed you up, even in my most perfect fairytale life. I knew I always wanted to be a mom. I knew I loved kids. But I had no idea it was possible to be this smitten—to feel this much awe and gratitude—for the incredible young man you’re becoming.

You are truly one of a kind, Zack. You’re a natural-born leader. You’re an incredibly disciplined student and athlete. You’re thoughtful and kind, quick-witted and hilarious. You have the best “dad jokes” and puns and always come up with the perfect one-liner at just the right moment to crack us all up. Your love for Jesus is quiet and steady—but oh, it shines so brightly through your character and your actions. You’re driven, goal-oriented, and incredibly wise for your age. And let’s not forget—you’re brilliant. You’re holding a solid 4.0 GPA while taking the most challenging classes available. Zack, I’m simply in awe of the man God is forming you into. Your future is so very bright—and I feel so lucky that I get to love you and support you as we watch this crazy and awesome adventure unfold.

Right now, we may be in the busiest season of life so far. You’re rocking school and playing middle school football, Sports Beyond basketball, and baseball. To say you’re overextended is an understatement. You barely have time to sleep—let alone have any real downtime—but somehow, you still show up to everything with focus, strength, and a quiet confidence that’s all your own.

You’ve stepped into this next level of impeccable time management—bouncing from one practice or game to the next, coming home to crush your homework, scarf down dinner, and crash into bed just to do it all again the next day. But what’s amazed me most is not just that you’re doing it—it’s that you’re thriving. You lead with presence. You encourage your teammates. You set the tone with your work ethic and character. You’re out there playing like a total boss—a brick wall on the football field, a driving force on the court, and somehow, after just one month of swinging a bat, you’re hitting baseballs like a seasoned player.

All those early mornings in the gym—when you blasted us out of bed to work on your shot, your ball handling, your form—they’re all paying off. You’ve figured out, at such a young age, how to set your goals and attack them with everything you’ve got. It’s rare. And it’s amazing to witness.

And beyond all that, you bring something so uniquely Zack to our family and to every trip we take. You fill our vacations with energy, speed, boy humor, and thrill-seeking. Whether it’s go-karts, roller coasters, cannonballs, or scooter races—you’re all in. And every memory, every inside joke, every frozen pizza night and mountain of junk food—it’s all richer, better, and more fun because you’re a part of it.

Zack, you are one of life’s absolute greatest gifts. You make me so proud, not just because of what you accomplish, but because of who you are. You’ve taught me what unconditional love looks like. And I thank God every single day that I get to be your mom.

So today and every day, I pray this prayer over your life—and I marvel as the promises of Jesus and the deepest prayers of my heart continue to come true. He is so faithful, and this life with you is so beautiful.

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 middle school. And before I know it, he will be off to High School…and then college. 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 altar, 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 fourteen 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, you’re one of the greatest adventures and biggest blessings of my life.

I love you. I love you. I LOVE you.

Forever and always,

Mom