Tycen & Shaylie,
Each year around your birthday, I like to do something special for you. On your first birthday, I wrote you each a special letter (you can find it in your baby book and also in your blog book). On your second birthday, I picked out some of my favorite Bible verses for each of you using your names for acronyms (you can find these in your blog book, too).
This year, I wanted to share some life lessons with you. These lessons are so very important. They are things that I've learned since I've known you. In fact, these are things that YOU have taught me. They are the ways in which you live your life. My hope is that you will reflect on these lessons when you grow to be an adult one day and you can learn something from yourself, when life was so much more simple.
Top 10 Things I've Learned from My 3-year-old Twins:
10. Learn. Be excited to learn something new every day. Never be afraid to ask questions. No matter how smart you think you might be, you can learn something new from every single person in your life. If you listen to them closely, you'll be amazed at what your little children will teach you daily.
9. Imagine. We are not limited by our abilities (or disabilities) but only by our lack of imagination. Believe you can be anything you want to be. Imagine it. Pretend it. Pray about it. Believe it. (Just remember that Got may have a plan that is even bigger than our own, as His imagination is beyond our comprehension...be open to what He has planned for you, you may not have extended your imagination beyond its limit).
8. Enjoy Life. Be excited about each new day and the opportunities it will bring. Have fun. Even when you don't have anything special planned for the day, find a way to make the day special. When all else fails, be silly...that's always fun :)
7. Eat. Eat until you're full...then stop. Be more excited to play than eat.
6. Sleep. Get enough sleep each and every day. When you are tired, you simply don't act your 'best' self.
5. Be distractible. When you're feeling sad or mad, allow something simple that brings you joy to quickly distract you from your grief and never think twice about it again.
4. Get back up. If you fall down, get back up. Even if you've fallen too many times to count in one day, always bounce right back up and brush yourself off.
3. Strive. Always try to reach higher heights. Challenge yourself daily. Conquer the impossible. Nothing is truly 'out of reach'...you just have to figure out the best way to get there.
2. Laugh. Laugh wholeheartedly. Laugh loud. Laugh especially when you're tired. Laugh at yourself. Laugh often.
1. Love. Love your family with all your heart and look at them with eyes of joy. Forget about disputes and never hold a grudge. Get excited each and every time you see a loved one enter the room. Make the ones you love the most feel special every day.
17 years ago
