This is Korben's birthday letter... finally... a month late.
Dear Korben,
Today you turn 5. Somehow this feels like a big one. You are now old enough to be in kindergarten.... though I am glad we have until September before that begins.
This year I've watched you become more like your Daddy in so many ways. You love to figure out the why's and how's of how things work. And you are extremely persistent in getting a full explanation when you don't have a complete understanding of the function or purpose of the tool/machine/word/object in question.
The entire summer you did the laundry. As long as I sorted you took care of the rest. You were fascinated with the workings of the washing machine and its various cycles. Unfortunately for me this excitement for laundry has worn off.
You also adjusted the sprinkler heads of our irrigation system. Again you were fascinated on how a small key placed in the top of a sprinkler head could manipulate its function. An exciting day for you was when you and Daddy replaced a sprinkler head.
Throughout the summer you faithfully waited each Tuesday and Wednesday morning for the garbage and recycling truck; after taking out our cans and Mr. & Mrs. Wagaman's too. You loved watching the automatic arm on each truck. We never left for the beach until the trucks had come and gone. One day you followed the truck, unbeknownst to me, and after searching for you and then calling upon Daddy for help, there you were at the end of the street following the garbage truck. You and our township workers have developed quite a nice relationship.
When September came, preschool and MOPS started. You were distraught about having to miss the trucks. After your first day of school I asked you how your day was. You preceded to tell me about the gutter system on your school that you could see from your classroom window.
It's the simple things in life that brighten your day and put a smile on your face. I admire this love for finding happiness in what God has given you... your everyday surroundings. And if nothing around you is of striking interest, you create something new… something unforgettable… hose attachments become weedwackers; flipped over end tables with jump ropes strung around them become decorated Christmas trees; and the list could go on and on.
You seek out opportunities to challenge your mind and expand your knowledge of the world around you. And when you find an opportunity that involves skill, you are self motivated and determined to master it. I've seen you practice something for hours until you have reached perfection. I stand in awe of your persistent in completing a task to its fullness. I tend to give up on things too quickly. This is something I admire about you.
I pray that you use your bright mind and curious spirit to follow your dreams, whatever they may be. I pray that as your mother, I don't stifle your inquisitive mind which is truly an amazing gift from God. I pray that you will forgive me for all the times that I have snapped at you. You see, as much as you are like your Daddy, you are also a lot like me. We struggle with the same kinds of things. And instead of beating each other down, I pray that we can band together as mother and son to encourage and support, and most of all love one another. I want you to know that no matter what you do, where you are , or how you behave, I will always love you unconditionally.
Here comes 2009 and I am excited to see what kinds of things you will bring to this family this year.
Happy Birthday.
I love you.
-Mama
