Brendan,

It is hard to believe you are already 7 years old.  You are such a wonderful kid with a remarkable personality. 

From the day you were born, you had a tremendous capacity to give love and receive it.  As I’ve told you many times, the night after you were born, I sent you to the hospital nursery in hopes of getting some sleep myself.  Within a very short time, the nurse returned you to me, saying you were crying because you were hungry.  The truth is, you weren’t hungry.  As soon as I laid you next to me, you settled right down and went to sleep.  You didn’t want to be in the basinet but as long as you were close to mommy, you were very content.  You were a snuggler from day one.

You also demonstrated your extremely caring nature from a very young age.  When you were 18 months old, Ivy decided that she should have the ball you were playing with.  She walked right up and grabbed it out of your hands.  Her father saw what she had done and took it from her, returning it to you.  She started to cry.  When you saw that she was upset, you walked over and gave it back to her. 

Around this time, you fell one day and hit the coffee table putting a deep gash above your eye.  We took you to the urgent care clinic for stitches.  When they give stitches to someone so small, they have to strap their arms and legs down on what is called a papoose board.  Even when you couldn’t move, you didn’t panic.  You trusted that we were taking care of you.  You didn’t cry at all as they began to stitch you up and before the doctor had finished the last stitch, you were sound asleep.  We were all amazed.  This is just one of the many times you have amazed us.

By the time you were 3, you were already a great defender of the family and righter of wrongs.  On your 3^rd birthday, you, Ivy and Alyssa were all playing in the yard at Grandpa & Grandma Ryness’ house.  Ivy decided that she wanted what Alyssa had and so she did a run by, grabbing the toy and making a quick escape.  As Alyssa stood there stunned and crying, you did a run by of your own, grabbing the toy from Ivy and returning it to Alyssa.  Already defending your big sister at 3 – what a great big brother you would make to Chase and Emily.

Your ability to show love, care for others, and your sense of justice were evidenced very early in your life and have continued past the toddler stage to make you the great kid you are today.  I hope you never lose these qualities.  They will always set you apart from your peers.

These many selfless acts at such a young age were a clear demonstration that you are far from ordinary.  God has given you a heart for others and I believe He will one day use that to accomplish great things.

I am so proud to have the privilege of being ‘mom’ to such a wonderful little boy.  I love you and I look forward to watching your unique gifts grow and mature in the years ahead.

Love,

Mom