8!?!?

Ohhhhhh our little preemie, how can you be 8 today?!

Just looking through all these pictures....

made me tear up at how fast 8 years have gone.

And yet find so much joy...

in the smart, strong, sweet, stubborn, tender boy...

you've become.

It's hard to believe my baby, the beautiful boy that made me a mother, is 8 today.

But he is.

And we rejoice.

Happy Birthday Samuel Tate!

*****

Birthday Interview

Samuel Tate: Age 8

1. What is your favorite color? Red
2. What is your favorite toy? I'm going to have to say my toy gun and army suit
3. What is your favorite fruit? Pears
4. What is your favorite tv show? 'Looney Tunes' 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Fried Chicken {Um, for lunch?}
6. What is your favorite shirt? My red shirt with a basketball on it, that Michael gave to me.
7. What is your favorite game? Basketball
8. What is your favorite snack? Cheezits 
9. What is your favorite animal?  Wilder beast {?, Not sure they're native here.}
10. What is your favorite song? "Don't waste your life" by Lecrae 
11. What is your favorite book? Oh that's easy, "The Chronicles of Narnia."
12. Who is your best friend? Mike, but I really like my other friends. A lot.
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Building clubhouses, feeding the animals, being with my friends, and doing things with my brothers.
15. What is your favorite drink? Ohhh so easy, Dr. Pepper, for sure.
16. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving, because I get to get together with my family. And, well, Christmas.
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Rascal, my stuffed cheetah. 
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Ham, eggs, pancakes and bacon {my good little farm boy}
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Breakfast night with eggs, bacon and pancakes...and that's it. {That's it?!} 
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? An archaeologist, because they find cool things like buried bones and  mummies, 

Anything else to add?
I love people. I also like to do school, I mean some days.  I love to be with my family. Most of all, I just want people to love me. {And they do buddy.....ohhhhh.....how they do}

*******

I never pulled over the car just to stare at horses, I never was willing to give someone my last bite, I never planned on handling someone else's boogers, I never listened to a song 50 times in a row, I never found rocks in my dryer, I never had the power to heal a wound with my kiss.... 

.....until you.