Yep, our eldest son has embarked on his last “single digit year!”
Ryan really wanted a friend party this year, and we happily planned something special. Two days before his birthday, we invited three friends to join us at a trampoline park and then for frozen yogurt afterward. It was just the right number, and I had the rare opportunity to observe him interacting with the boys he talks about the most. I was impressed by the way they treated one another. The younger siblings stayed at home with Grammy and Papa (This was a big kid party, after all!), and Paul even took the afternoon off of to join in.
(l. to r. Everett, Ryan, Nolan, Mason, and Paul)
We also enjoyed celebrating with family on his actual birthday, although illness prevented Granddaddy and Uncle Jonathan from attending. This year’s menu, selected entirely by Ryan, consisted of: chicken noodle soup, salad greens with blueberries and poppy seed dressing, spoon rolls (“Nana K’s recipe”), and German chocolate cake.
Truthfully, the past year was a tough one for Ryan and for us as his parents. We faced behaviors and learning issues that tested us mightily. At times, we leaned heavily on outside help to guide us. There were entire days that felt like one long prayer for wisdom and strength as I worked with him. It seems unfair to Ryan to go into much detail on a public blog, but I can report tremendous progress.
Ryan is a natural leader and strong protector, especially when it comes to Caleb. He loves playing the piano and drawing. They are both relaxing activities for him. He has proven himself trustworthy and safety-conscious, so he bikes around the neighborhood with relative freedom. The pride in his eyes when he returns from a long ride fills me with joy! In the past few months, he has begun reading on his own for pleasure. He is currently tackling the first book in the Percy Jackson series – a bit of a stretch perhaps, but he is determined. His mind is curious about so many things. He asks a lot of questions and eagerly learns any new skill someone will teach him (sewing, tying flies, woodworking, cooking, golf, etc.).
Ryan is a patient, logical teacher. I regularly find hand-drawn booklets around the house with titles like, “How to Draw a Minecraft Zombie,” laid out in clear step-by-step instructions. He is a giver of sweet notes, and he always remembers people’s favorite colors and other preferences (“I will draw a flower for Grammy because she loves planting flowers.” or “I know Daddy’s favorite color is blue!”). The Valentine’s Day cards he chose to make for each family member included our favorite things with a holiday theme. For example, Miles received a picture of Spiderman shooting hearts inside of webbing; Abby’s was a picture of a princess castle with heart-shaped flags and windows.
Above all, Ryan has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and has received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is one of the verses that regularly comes to mind when I think about and pray for him:
For we (Ryan) are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we (Ryan) should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Ryan was crafted in love by a heavenly Father who knows what good purposes Ryan’s strengths and challenges will serve. He chose us as Ryan’s parents, knowing what he would need the most. He will equip us along the way, as I have experienced many times just this past year. There can be joy in the journey and great hope for the future!
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