Good morning, Dear Siestas! We are still under reconstruction but it is taking longer than we hoped so we’re reopening comments until we get the heads-up that the switch really is about to take place. Thank you for your patience! I especially want those of you who have just now gotten your books and read your first three segments to be able to comment. Look back at last Thursday’s post and jump in there with us. Also expect your second week’s assignment tomorrow.
I wonder if I may beg your indulgence to be shamefully focused on one little person today. After all, I entered one of the happiest seasons of my life four years ago today. I’ve got a letter stirring in my heart that the recipient is way too young to read and probably won’t even see when he’s grown. We’ll have bigger fish to fry then. And if his Paw Paw has anything to do with it, those bigger fish really will have scales, slime, and fins. Still, a letter, because I can get some big feelings off my chest all the same. So, with your patience…
Dear Jackson Curtis Jones,
Today is your four year-old birthday! Yahoo! This is one of my favorite of all days! I have a few things I want to say to you, young man. Things you should be glad that I’m saying in print instead of in person since I’d probably bawl my head off and you’d find that pretty confusing. It will be a long time until you understand happy cries and, as the man you’ll surely one day be, you’ll probably never like them. All the same, you’ll have to put up with them to have women in your life. And, boy, do you have some women in your life. Mommy, Annabeth, Nana, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Lindsay, and me for family starters. Goodness knows, there’ll be more. Your mommy told me not long ago that she thought ahead about you getting your heart broken by a girl one day and got mad at her without even having a clue who she was or what she looked like. Woe be unto her. That’s all I can say. All six of us will be on her like mad, scratching cats.
But, back to today. Thank you, Jackson, for bringing a baby back into the life of someone drunk on babies. Thank you for reciprocating the happy love I felt for you by reaching your plump little hands out toward me by the time you were four months old. Thank you for a wild enthusiasm for life that has awakened every soul in your company. For things like pumping your fist in the air after we said “Amen” to grace over burgers. Jesus loves that. I’d also like to thank you for naming me Bibby. I just love it. Who would ever have thought of such a name but you? Thank you for saying it so many times. Thank you for being the reason why I found an old purse in the closet the other day that had a pull-up in it. (A clean one, thank goodness.) It sure has been a while since you needed a pull-up, hasn’t it? Mommy is so happy about that.
Thank you for bringing me a world of Hot Wheels and for teaching me how to race and how to make sounds like motors. Thank you for the love you’ve engendered in my heart for your lizard named Bernie. Thank you for bringing “Fruit by the Foot” back into my cupboard. For innumerable rounds of hide and seek and for the memory of the first time you really did count to ten before you said, “Ready or not! Here I come!” Thank you for giggling so loud wherever you hid that I always knew where not to look so we could make the game go a good, long time. Thank you for loving to be at Pappaw Keith’s and Bibby’s house here in Houston and at Nana and Pappaw Steve’s house in Missouri. You are a boy who has loved his grandparents and we are all four so much the better for it.
Thank you for the carseat in the back of my SUV and for crawling into it so often. Thank you for loving music and telling me to “turn it up, Bibby!” and for specially requesting David Crowder. Thank you for all the theological insights I’ve gained from your interpretations of the Bible stories your dad tells you. Thank you for wanting to grow up to be just like him and for actually putting it to words. He is a giant in your eyes…and in ours. Thank you for being firstborn to my firstborn. For making expressions that look just like her when she was your age. Thank you for thinking she’s so beautiful. I do, too. Thank you for helping her discover that she was really wonderful at something she’d never aspired to as a girl growing up. She actually planned to take care of animals. Not children. I will always find great amusement in the fact that yours was the first diaper she ever changed. To say you have changed her life in return is the biggest understatement we could make today.
Thank you for being the best big brother ever and to what is sure to become the next in a line of consummate drama queens. She adores you. She’s tougher than she would have been without you. And that’s a good thing.
Thank you, Jackson, for four of the most exciting, love-flooded years of my life. You, like your Mommy, your Aunt Melissa, your Sister and your Pappaw, have shoved your way into my every conscious thought.
We have waited all our lives for you, little Man-child. You were worth every second of it.
Happy Birthday, Jackson Jones. I’m playing hooky from work to play with you today. Let’s go buy a swing set!
I love you,
Bibby
Carol 
Amen! (with fist in air) and Happy Birthday Jackson. God bless you and all your family!
Happy Birthday, Jackson!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
He will treasure this letter always <3 Great job, Bibby 🙂
Happy Birthday Jackson:)
What a proud Bibby! (From a grandma of a kingdom of princesses…my only son calls himself the "court jester of his girl nation!") Happy Birthday to a great little man…have the best of days with your Bibby. (Who but Jackson would have ever thought of such a clever name for a Grandma? He's a genius – for sure!) God bless you all~
Hugs,
Pam H.
Well, I'm bawling at this…can't help it. I'm very pregnant with blessing #3, and have a 6 yr-old son that I would say the very same things to, not to mention my own 3 yr-old princess who loves to wear tu-tus. Thanks so much for sharing- and for inspiring me to write my own birthday letters to my babies! Needless to say- the emotions are raw this morning- I know that these hormones have something to do with it!
Happy 4th Birthday Jackson~!!! Hope you got a cool swing set… Have a fun filled day with your Bibby!!
Happy Birthday, Jackson! And, Beth, aren't grandchildren GRAND? What a joy they are and I truly believe sometimes that God gives us a "do-over" with them! Have a wonderful day with your little guy!
Thank you for loving my boy so much. To say he adores you is an understatement. Thank you for starting the tradition of the birthday letter. I've always loved reading mine and I know he will too! I can't wait for everything we have planned today.
Oh my…I'm crying just reading those precious words! Happy Birthday Jackson. Have fun with Bibby and swingset shopping!
Dana
First of I would like to wish Jackson a very Happy Birthday. Now after reading the post I had tears in my eyes that post was so moving.
Amen (with your fist in the air)
Thank you Bibby for writing that it was awesome this letter will mean everything to him.
Love you to pieces have a good day with Jackson and have fun swinging with him after you go get the swing set.
Carol
I am in tears as I finish reading this. What a blessing for Jackson to have his Bibby close by and able to celebrate the day with him!! I too am a grandma and my heart resonates with this letter. Happy Birthday Jackson!
How is it that a letter to your grandson can make me cry? And I'm not even pregnant (Like tmcculloughrn), so that can't be my excuse! LOL This is so stinking precious! Thank you for sharing your love for Jackson with us.
And a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Jackson! You are one darling little man. Loved the pictures of him and his bike, btw. Looked like tons of fun.
Blessings to you all!
Anna
God is so good to us by giving us these special days in the year to celebrate our loved ones. Just imagine how Jesus celebrates us! Happy Birthday Jackson!
Hope you all have a wonderful day! Loved the letter…
Adrienne
What I envision Jackson answering if he understood – Dear Bibby, thank you for making a safe, secure world for me to grow up in. Thank you for presenting God as an awesome loving entity and not someone scary who wants to punish me. Oh and I giggle on purpose 'cause I want to spend more time with you. Love, Jackson.
Happy Birthday Jackson!
I am so thankful you were born! : )
(Precious letter Bibby! Made my heart smile!)
Precious!!! That slide will be great for racing cars!
Beautiful. I just spewed tea all over my keyboard from crying, but absolutely beautiful.
It will never cease to amaze me that God does His greatest work and refining in us through little children. Breathtaking.
Happy Birthday Jackson! We'll think of you today when we pump up the David Crowder 🙂
You are an awesome Bibby!
Happy Birthday sweet Jackson…though we don't "know" you, us Siestas think you are pretty cute and love Jackson stories! Praying you have a fun filled day! 🙂
Joining you in the happy tears, though yes, they drive the men in our life crazy, don't they. 🙂
Happy Birthday Jackson!
Happy Birthday, Jackson! I loved getting to spend some time with you in person last month. You are everything your Bibby says you are. I still can't get over your magnetic, sparkling personality. (and those to-die-for eyes and lips) People are going to be drawn to you your entire life, sweet kiddo. Praying for you as I pray for my girls–that you'll point them straight to Jesus!
Can't wait to see pictures of your SWING SET!!
Thanks for sharing this! I am due any day to have our second child, but our first boy. I feel like I'm facing such a mysterious journey in raising a boy, I have no idea what to expect. I know how to be a girl, but I've spent most of my life puzzled by boys. I just want him to be a man after God's own heart and to love the Lord with everything in him. Thanks for giving me some insight into the fun of boys. I can't wait for the journey to begin!
Happy Birthday number 4 Mr. Jackson Jones!!!!! I pray that you have a wonderful day with your Bibby, Mommy and family. And enjoy that swing set little guy!!!
Beth, your letter is precious. Wonderful way to tell a child just how precious they are because we know that there come moments in life when we feel less than precious so it is a good reminder. I think that I might start that with my neice and nephews. First one to turn 4 is Cole in March.
Happy Birthday Jackson! Praying that one day God will come into your heart and you will be like David, "A Man After God's Own Heart.". Have an awesome day with Bibby!
Beth, this is such an amazing post. It made me smile all the way through!
We simply can't celebrate our children enough!
Ah, Beth, enjoy your day with your sweet Jackson! Happy Birthday, Jackson!!
Oh I just feel all teary reading this. To be LOVED is the greatest gift…
Though, I'm sure, a swing set will run a close second!
Happy birthday Jackson! Your Bibby has me in tears over your precious little life!
What a sweet, sweet post!
Happy Birthday Jackson and have fun on your new swing set. I bet your Bibby will be swinging with you today!
Sharing your joy over BOYS!
Aren't they neat?!? I have been blessed to be the mother of 5. There is a beauty in dirt, frogs, and bugs I never managed to see before.
Sometimes on this site I feel just a bit left out with all the "girly-girl" things and mother/daughter references. (Don't misunderstand, it's GOOD to be the QUEEN!) It's just my mom and I don't share much and I don't have a daughter, so the melancholy gets thick sometimes.
Happy Birthday Jackson. Go show those precious women in your life how high that swing can go!! (But do be careful.)
Happy Birthday Jackson!!! What a sweet letter, and he is just a precious little boy!!
Have a great (fist pump) birthday day with the little man!!
What did you say about happy cries? I'm having one now reading this priceless letter!
And too funny that it wasn't til halfway thru that 1st paragraph that I realized it was being penned by Bibby, not Mommy. As I read the first part, I thought to myself, "That Amanda is writing more and more like her momma everyday!" Duh!
Have a super fun, super blessed day!
Kelli
Happy Birthday Jackson!!
OMG..the tears are just rolling down my eyes…any grandmother can surely relate to those words Beth!!! Nicely said!
Have a wonderful day with Jackson..I am sure you will make it a day to remember for both of you!!
SOB! 🙂
Happy birthday, Jackson.
<3
These poor eyes of mine are never gonna recover after the good cryin'-session in bible study last night and now this. What a blessing they are. Is it weird that I can't wait to be a grandmother?! I mean I can because at this point, I CAN WAIT to be 30, but I look forward to the special relationship that grandchildren share with their grandparents. What a lucky boy that Jackson Jones is. And cute too!!! Enjoy y'alls special day.
That was an awesome letter Miss. Bibbs!! He is so blessed to be in such a wonderful family. Happy Birthday, Jackson.
okay….tears down my face! How precious! Happy Birthday Jackson!!!
I'm trying to keep myself from bawling my eyes out here at work! What a precious tribute your sweet Jackson. He is one blessed little fellow!
Happy Birthday Jackson!!!
Precious! Happy Birthday Jackson!
Oh Beth I have tears in my eyes reading this! I could write this even to my 13 yr old! At the end of letters my mom used to write to me…and still to this day says at the end of phone calls…"Let's go buy some ice cream!" How lucky we are!
Jackson, Wishing you the best birthday ever. I so enjoy watching you grow up from the pictures your precious Mommy has posted for all of us to enjoy. You are so blessed to have such wonderful parents and grandparents. I only wish my child had such a marvelous 'Bibby' like you. So enjoy your very special day!!!
Blessing to You and all your family,
Bobbie Lancaster
Oh, my goodness. That is just precious. Love, love, love it and can't wait to see pictures!
I am wishing the HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY to Mr. Jackson!
This makes me want to have grandchildren! What an absolute precious letter to your grandson Beth….he is indeed, a very special young fellow. This Siesta wishes Jackson a very happy 4th birthday too.
Blessings,
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES ~
JACKSON ~ HAPPY "4" BIRTHDAY
TO THE COOLEST LITTLE GUY!!
I absolutely LOVE your new wheels!
It looks like " YOU WIN " with that gift! 🙂
Beth,
Isn't it amazing how the LORD brings such precious little ones into our hearts and homes!!!
I don't have grandchildren yet,however, I do have a little nephew who knows how to control every single ounce of my heart.
William spent the 4 day weekend with me at the beach house WITHOUT mom and dad!! We had an absolute ball.
SO, take the day off with no guilt or insecurity, and enjoy the blessed gifts of your man-child grandson and woman-child granddaughter!!
Sounds like your Priority Tree is blooming!!!!
I love the family so much!
With "Heaven Bound" Blessings and a BIG (((((( BIRTHDAY HUG ))))))
TO JACKSON JONES!!!! WOOT WOOT
Auntie Kim & my "3" boys
Happy Birthday, Jackson!
I hope you & Bibby find the bestest swingset ever!
This letter will be a wonderful keepsake for his baby book. Don't ever lose it.
You are all precious.
Bibby,
I hope you are wearing your Spiderman costume today as you search Houston for swings. 😉
Much restorative health to you after a wonder bible study last night. Have a fabulous day.
love, Ann
What a precious letter. Happy Birthday Jackson!
Happy Birthday Jackson
Kim B. in AZ
Happy Birthday Jackson!!
You are an adorable boy and I'm sure will grow up to be a loving, fun, godly man. Just not too soon, right Amanda?
Praying that you all have a wonderful day overflowing with love and delights!