When the days get difficult again, I want to remember how wonderful this one was.
Paul has been challenging since the day he was born 4 years ago. From his severe allergies to his alopecia, his speech delays to his strong will, not much has been easy with this guy...until today.
Today, according to Paul, it was not only the best Birthday ever, but the best day ever, and I might agree.
It was a day full of his favorite things; whip cream, blowing out candles at every meal, and fun with his family.
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| Highly recommend a homemade Pizookie! |
In the days preceding his birthday instead of whining about things he wanted he said, "Ma don't care what I get as long as I get some fun toys." We're working on his speech, but there are some things I might not correct like combining I and My into Ma.
He woke up to this beautiful sign by Angie, but he didn’t want a picture of it with just him, he wanted his family in the shot.
He also woke up to a glorious ground covering of slippery snow and ice, so his awesome big sister took him and his brother sledding!
He asked if Bubby, his great grandmother in Iowa would be coming to his birthday dinner. When we told him she lived too far away and there was too much snow and ice, he devised an elaborate system of snow plows, tow trucks, and ropes to go pick her up.
He announced early in the day that he needed to go to Target to buy presents for everyone else. And no amount of snow and ice on the roads was gonna keep me from helping bring that idea to fruition. So, he used his Christmas gift card to buy a dozen presents from the Dollar Spot (at least 5 for Isaiah). He originally chose some circus animal figurines for everyone, but I convinced him to go with more personalized gifts to suit each person. After we found the perfect thing for everyone, he said "Now, I just need something for you, Mommy, you can pick out anything you want!"
Watching him living his best life; buying, wrapping, and giving those gifts to everyone (on HIS birthday) almost made this mama’s heart explode. Bob Goff, he’s too young to remember that story from Love Does For Kids that we read over a year ago, but he’s following in your footsteps.
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| This bag was literally busting at the seems full of his hand-picked presents. |
When Isaiah asked him if he could play with his new camera, Paul replied, “Yes, you can play with it even more than you want to.”
Paulie is extraordinary. He is my little sous chef for every meal, he is my constant helper, he is a handful, but his heart is always full. If you are injured he will be your first responder. And today, he was my teacher. Feeling so thankful that God brought this precious challenge into our lives, and that he’s the one starting off Birthday Season, so we can all follow his lead of selfless generosity.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4
