Samuel

I am so grateful for our sweet, sweet Samuel. It was a bit overwhelming when he came just 10 months after our wedding day, but I wouldn't change a day of it. He has grown from an adorable baby (with colic) to a handsome young man (without colic!) I just can't thank God enough for this guy and what a gift he is to our family. He has taught us a lot as our first son, helped us a lot as a servant, and made us laugh a lot usually unintentionally.

As for the laughter, my favorite examples follow:
Every mom knows this, but it still surprises me how much time you spend picking out your child's name, and then you can't seem to remember what it is when you call them. For example, when Samuel was 3 and Josh 2, getting their names mixed up was an hourly occurrence. I would start to call Samuel "Josh" then switch in the middle and vice versa. I didn't realize how bad it was until Samuel, who had just learned what a nickname was, told someone that his nickname was Samuel, and his real name was "Ja-Samuel"!

One of Samuel's favorite things to do is to help in the kitchen. He thoroughly enjoys anything to do with cooking or baking. When he was 3, he stopped taking naps. We lived in an apartment so I needed to find a quiet occupation for him while his brothers were sleeping. We started making stuff in the kitchen. I would ask Sam for an ingredient, measure it and then give it back to him to pour in the bowl. Once when I asked for All-Purpose Flour and then handed it back to him to pour, he stood in stunned amazement. He grabbed the bag it had come from and looked inside. "Why isn't it purple?!" he asked. "Because it's white. Why did you think it would be purple?" I responded. "Because it's all-purple flowers!" he said. Even after I tried to explain, he just looked at me like I was the one who didn't understand.

As for serving, he's a real trooper. All I have to do is say "Ugh!" and he's there to help. (It doesn't hurt that he's nosey, too!) Whenever someone at the dinner table mentions that they need salt, milk, a napkin, etc., he's there immediately with whatever they need. To be honest, he inspires me more than anyone in this area. He just loves to help people. The most dramatic examples of his servanthood come when we are sick. A couple of years ago when we were all sick with some funk. Samuel (with the immunity of steel) took care of all of us by getting drinks, changing Gabe, fixing food, getting pillows and blankets, anything we asked! Shortly after, when the little guys were still sick, but Matt had gone back to work, Samuel was still my right hand man. He was bathing his brother when he mentioned that his ear hurt. Since we were going to the doctor anyway I asked Dr. Green to look at his ears. Dr. Green checked him and said he had a very severe double ear infection. I know what those feel like and can assure you, I would not have been cheerfully bathing and caring for my little brothers in that condition.

Thanks Samuel for being a faithful servant, who loves God's word (he's farther along in his Bible reading plan than I am!), worships passionately, serves his family, puts up with a lot of joking from his little brothers, works diligently in school, and makes life more joyful! Happy Birthday, Son!

please comment on things you love about Sam.