today.

Today we celebrated four years with our sweet Ephraim. I heard Sarah stir shortly after 6 but she never emerged from her bedroom. Curious, I peeked around the corner into her bedroom and found her propped up in bed, working furiously on a card for her baby brother. I fell back in bed and laid there, awake, for the next 20+ minutes, waiting for Ephraim to wake. I knew Sarah would grab him on his way out of bed, and I was right. As soon as she heard his door creak open she yelled, “Happy Birthday Buddy!” and he headed straight for her room. They spent the next little while cuddling together and talking about his birthday. When they finally came to wake us, this is how the birthday boy was dressed…

In his sister’s recycled birthday crown, new name tag created lovingly in those precious pre-dawn moments.

To my boy on your fourth birthday: I hope that somewhere deep in your soul you will always know that there’s no greater gift to give or receive, than the gift of whole-hearted, sacrificial, everyday, abiding love.