Thoughts on Birthdays {Remi is almost one}

It's been a while since I set down down to blog about something that wasn't one of my children but I think the eve of my son's first birthday is as good a time as any to pick it up again.

First birthdays are always a little emotional for mommas and I have to admit that I've been feeling a little emotional today. But if you see me crying at all this week, it will be tears of joy. My little guy will be a year old tomorrow and I am so thankful for his life and for this past year with him in our family.

I used to not be a big fan of Birthdays. I always thought they were full of unmet expectations and let downs. How selfish is that?

After my daughter was born and I turned 26, I started to view birthdays in a different light. Instead of focusing on the number of birthday wishes I received, I wanted to focus on all the blessings I'd received throughout that year. Thanksgiving was going to be a new theme for my birthdays. 

I want thanksgiving to be a theme for my children's birthdays too. I want them to learn that their years are numbered and each one is a gift to be celebrated. And a celebration can be simple or elaborate. They probably won't get a huge party every year, but every year we can look back on the past one and praise the Lord for all he's done. 

So on the eve of my son's very first birthday, I'm thankful for nurses and doctors who made the call to send him to the NICU for a week after he was born when his little lungs weren't' working the right way. I'm thankful for modern day medicine that got him right back on his feet and that we were able to take him home, a week later than we had thought, but we got to take him home. I'm thankful for a sweet little girl who loves being a big sister and a caring, hard working father for my little guy. I'm thankful for our friends and family and a community of believers to raise our little boy in. And Im thankful for this handsome little guy and the way that he has changed our family for the better.