Happy 4th Birthday, My Little Man

To my little guy- Happy Birthday! You are so precious to me. You stole my heart the moment you were given to me by God. I am so glad you are here and that I get to see the world through your eyes. I love you.

WHAT IS A BOY?

A little boy is like the sun.

The warmth of his smile lights up your day.

He rises in the morning, foggy from sleep,

And as the sun's rays become stronger,

So your day becomes brighter with his presence.

He is like the last ray of sun in the evening,

Reaching out to grasp the day and hold onto it.

Bedtime comes too soon for little boys.

A little boy is like the rain.

His love is showered upon you in so many ways.

A bouquet of crushed Dandylions is presented to you like precious Roses.

A shiny rock becomes a jewel in your eyes because a little boy says,

"Isn't it beautiful Mommy?"

And two small arms encircling your neck

And a small voice whispering, "I love you",

Becomes a highlight in your day.

A little boy is like the earth.

Sometimes soft as the sugar sand at the beach.

Sometimes hard as soil untilled, belligerent

And bossy with a mind of his own.

A little boy is like the wind.

Boisterous and full of mischief as the wind before the rain.

Gentle, as the soft breath of a spring breeze.

Soft and warm as the wind wafted in summer

And tough and blustery as the stormy winds of winter.

Roll sun, wind, earth, and rain into one form and that form will be a boy.

A gift from God.

-Carol Bouche' Ottlinger (for her son in 1971)