family

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Dear Holly: Like an Only Child Now?

8 years, 6 months.

Dear Holly,

It appears that your brother is at the age now where he is too cool for some of the childhood activities he used to love doing.

For example, he expressed no interest in pumpkins this year.

So that meant more pumpkins for you!

You spent some time painting a couple of pumpkins pink, to decorate our house.

And though it used to be your brother’s job, this year Mommy and I shared the responsibility of actually carving the Jack-O’-Lantern for you.

Similar to the way your brother spent the first 5 and a half years of his life as an only child, it’s like you are getting a sense of what it’s like to be an only “child”… now that your brother is a full-on teenager instead.

You’re still into childhood activities, while your brother has mostly outgrown them.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Went to the County Fair Here in Alabama

8 and a half years old.

Dear Holly,

Saturday morning, I received a message from Aunt Dana giving me a rundown of the expenses of the County Fair she had experienced the night before. Originally, our whole family was going to make a day out of it. But after her message, it quickly turned into, “Thank you for taking Holly to the fair so I don’t have to go!”

Lucky for you, you have an aunt you lives a few houses down from us who is faithful to assume the role of “Saturday morning hero” and take you to the fair with your cousins.

I am so happy for you that you had such a great time there! And I am almost just as happy that I didn’t have to go.

The pictures look like you had plenty of fun for the both of us though.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

 

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Dear Jack: Your Final Football Game of Your 8th Grade Year

13 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

This week was the end of an era, as you played in your final game of your first season of football.

Our whole family was there, even Grandma and Joe even flew out from California to see you.

Fortunately, the season was a success! I define this by you not getting any injuries, and…

Because you tried something new and you put your heart into it.

(I still love the fact that you were recruited by your friends to play during your first week at your new school.)

Now the question becomes… what’s next?

You have consistently experimented with so many activities throughout your life.

It’s as if you’re the “jack of all trades”…

 

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: The Importance of Traditions

13 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

I have recently noted the extreme value you place on “tradition” in your life. As we have transitioned to our new norms here in Alabama, I have recognized your silent struggle with the fact we haven’t yet established our own new traditions; compared to when we lived in Tennessee.

So that’s how our “Sunday Night S’mores” ritual was born a few weeks ago.

But by the 2nd week, it was too wet outside from the recent rain, so we maintained our new tradition by making s’mores in our oven in the kitchen instead.

There is certainly something comforting about routine. And as it relates to our family, it helps give life meaning and it helps create beautiful experiences.

Now I need to keep thinking of new ideas for traditions for us to start…

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: 10 Years Later, You’re Now in the Photo

8 years, 5 months.

Dear Holly,

This past weekend as I took updated versions of our family photos from exactly a decade ago, it took me a moment to grasp the concept:

“Oh, right! Holly wasn’t even born 10 years ago when this first photo was made!”

For everyone else in the “same ages” photo update, I simply added 10 years. But for you, as well as your cousin Darla, you showed up on the new photo as an 8 year-old.

Isn’t it strange to think you haven’t just always been here with the rest of us this whole time? You don’t remember there ever not being you.

But I do.

And I’m definitely glad you’re here now!

Love,

Daddy