anders is 4

dear anderson...
you turned four last month.
sometimes i call you anderson, even though mostly we call you anders.  this is because i can look into your eyes and see glimpses of the man you will become.
you can be as ornery as they come, just like all of us i guess.
you love being loved and you love to love.  this is remarkable.  a tenderness and a deep kindness in you.  your dad and i are always trying to direct you in your emotions.  any conflict in any sort of story or movie, makes you uncomfortable.  you get that from me.  you can be as soft and tender towards others and then you can get hot fast.  self-control is a difficult thing when you are a rambunctious 4 year old who feels so much.  it's hard to balance all that, i know, and your dad and i are here to help, son.
you are able to not only perceive what others are feeling, but you truly care about them.  if anyone is upset for any reason, big or small, you lean in.  if someone has accomplished something, you rejoice with them.
great job with those blocks, haze.
mom, you really cooked good tonight, thanks.
wena, good job eating!
emptathy, encouragement, friendliness...these are yours.
and you, little 4 year old son, are sincere.  your honestly is a breath of fresh air...
God, today at school, i accidentally bumped into emmy at recess, i'm sorry, forgive me
God, thank you that we get to serve others
dad, when you were at work, i hit hazel
music is like a window into your soul.  you love it.  you tap your toes and remember songs more than you remember anything else.  you take banjo lessons and just started gymnastics and you love them both because you just love life.  i think we could sign you up for basket weaving and you'd be excited about it.  i love this about you.
you have a different and unique kind of creativity, you make up words and but those made up words into songs or with objects and imagine your own world with it's own set of rules.
you love getting a laugh out of others.
you have a big blue dump truck that you got when you turned two and you still love it.  you push it all around the yard, fill it up with snow or dirt or sticks or whatever is close by.

superheros, legos, bikes, dad, racecars, motorcycles, dumptrucks, music, playdough, blocks, building, running, racing, sports, holes in the knees of pants, macaroni and cheese from jasons deli, ranch, almond-shaped brown eyes, bow ties, backwards underwear and pants, mismatched socks, movies...these are things i will remember about your 4 year old self.

yeah, you are wild but i hope you are always wild in your love for life and love for people.  i know the reality of things in life that could crush that, but i pray over you, child.  that all your wild will be protected and entrusted in the arms of Christ.  that the One who is love will be your source of love.