Three Candles

To our precious Kendry Dru:

Today you turn three years old.

Three.

Daddy and I can hardly believe it - even if you do have the vocabulary of a five year old. 

If there is one thing we will recall from this stage of your life its that you talk non.stop.

And you like to perform non.stop.

We love you to pieces, Bud.

Your endless energy exhausts us sometimes, but it also keeps us young at heart. Whenever we seem a little drained, just know we're  trying our very best to keep up with you each step of the way. And if we occasionally roll down all the windows on the drive home from church to muffle your 10 minute repeat of "Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough...", rest assured it is done out of love.

You are still an early riser, but thanks to your trusty alarm clock you know to stay in your room until 7am. That does not stop you, however, from occasionally performing a drum solo at 6:30am, regardless if there are guests sleeping in the next room. (Auntie Amanda thanks you for that one.) When 7am hits and your clock turns green, you always emerge with a happy face and a full battery. If we are still in bed you love to snuggle between us, but never for very long. Your attention span is still pretty short.

Your imagination has begun to develop. You pretend to have a pet puppy, or you act like a frog or a kitty. Your latest game is to hide from a lion by shutting yourself in the bathroom; you are still learning why locking the bathroom door for this game is a big no-no.


You have an imaginary friend named Gink Gink Gonk who pops up unexpectedly from time to time. Daddy and I have never seen Gink Gink Gonk ourselves, but from what you tell us he appears to be a bit mischievous. With a name like Gink Gink Gonk I can't really blame the kid for acting out.

You love riding in the pickup with Daddy and baking cookies with Mommy.

You love reminding us that Jesus didn't stay 'in the cave'.

Your favorite books are "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" and "The Monster at the End of This Book" (mommy's childhood favorite). Your attention span doesn't hold for long with movies (not that we mind this at all), but you adore Veggie Tales "Dave and the Giant Pickle" and the "How to Build a Road" construction movie from Cousin Caden.

You still sleep with your bear from GG.

Your love of basketball continues to grow. You call yourself a basketball player. If permitted, you would wear your basketball shorts 24/7. You are undaunted by 10 foot hoops, and when you miss the shot you remind me that some day you will be tall like Uncle Dru. Just this weekend you gave me a speech about how "we always keep practicing."

You finally understand the meaning of the word 'privacy', although the last time you used this word it was to assure me that you, in fact, did not need privacy while you were on the potty.

You are smitten with mustaches and beards, pointing out each and every one you see, even if we're halfway across the restaurant. "Mommy, that guy has a beard!"

Daddy and I never worry about losing each other in a store because we can always hear your foghorn chatter. Its like our own family game of Marco Polo.

You continue to grow like a weed. We won't know your official height/weight stats until your three year appointment this week, but you wear 4T bottoms and are starting into your 5T tops. You wear a size 10 shoe.

You love rocking out on your guitar and using our front porch as your stage. You always open with "Hi guys! How're you doin' tonight? Do you wanna sing some songs?"

Always the entertainer.

We thank God for the strong personality He has gifted you, and pray that you always remember to be kind and respectful.

We wish you many more little boy days - shoes weighted down with sand from the sandbox, countless grass stains, wrestling matches with Daddy, and ripped holes in your jeans from driving your matchbox cars for miles on your knees.

May you never despise your long toes - rather, may they remind you that you come from two athletic lines of genetics, for which the long toes must deserve some credit.

We pray that you never lose your amazing enthusiasm for life and that it will be contagious for everyone around you, just like your smile.

May you keep the sprinkle of freckles on your nose and that tiny dimple in your right cheek.

Never stop learning, laughing, praying and singing.

Know and believe every single day that you are a true miracle and a child of God, and that He has plans for you beyond your wildest dreams.

Love Always and Forever,

Daddy and Mommy