I remember as Noah's first birthday approached, Brian shared that his mother always made him a special, decorated cake. I wanted to be a good mother, so I embarked on the journey of learning how to make these special birthday cakes (Great big thanks to my mother-in-law for the hours of cake baking and decorating that have ensued). Had I know then that I was going to have 5 children and, therefore, was going to need to make 50 cakes, I may have passed on this opportunity to be a good mother.
Forward 10 years, 10 cakes, and 10,000 gray hairs.....
Noah's 1st Birthday...
Noah's 2nd Birthday....
Noah's 3rd Birthday...
Noah's 4th Birthday...
Noah's 5th Birthday...
Noah's 6th Birthday...
Noah's 7th Birthday...
Noah's 8th Birthday...
Noah's 9th Birthday...
and I am making my last specially designed cake for Noah. I have told each child that when they turn 10, they will have their last cake. (Now, don't get me wrong, I will still make my children a birthday cake; however, I will no longer carve and decorate a cake for hours.) So, I thought I would approach this day with glee. I mean these cakes create hours of stress for me...searching the Internet for ideas, baking and freezing the cake days in advance, then hours cutting and decorating.
But, as I prepared this last cake, I felt an overwhelming sadness. My baby is no longer a little boy. The decade where he physically needed me the most is over. I thought about all the mistakes I have made in raising him...the times I was too busy to play, the times I lost my temper, the times I stressed about him instead of praying for him, and the times I criticized instead of praised him! I just can't believe 10 years have passed!
So, I spent the hours (and I mean hours!) it took me to decorate his cake, praying that God would help my many mistakes over the past 10 years not ruin him. That he would become a good, honest, kind man, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a sold out follower of Jesus Christ.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
