Ezra's 4th Birthday and Gotcha Day

1st time holding Ezra in Ethiopia

1st picture of Ezra we received of Ezra in Dec. 2006

Dear Ezra,
  Today is September 1st and you turn 4 years old today.

It has been 3 years since the Lord graciously brought you into our family. We thank the Lord for how He has used you in our lives to make us more like Christ and how God has changed our world through you. We love that you are our firstborn son and are grateful that before the beginning of time God planned for you to be our son and us to be your father and mother. Our family would not be the same without you. Your deep belly laugh, your tender kisses to Camille, your extra juice energy level, your love for people make us smile and rejoice.
  We are amazed at the goodness of God over these past three years and have seen you go from a baby to toddler to full fledged boy. We love that you love to read, especially the Jesus Storybook Bible, love to act out David and Goliath, love to smile and laugh.

  We pray that you see your dad and mom joyously serious about their pursuit of the Lord Jesus Christ and magnifying Him in every way and centering their lives upon Him. We have no greater prayer and desire that you would grow to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. May your life be lived in light of eternity and may our home be a place for you to see your parents centered upon the most important reality of all of life - loving & living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I hope this birthday is a bit different than last year...seeing that you bit a kid. Oops. We'll laugh about it in about 15 years.

Ezra loves his bath time (2007)

Christmas 2008

August 2010

Ezra and Olivia