Happy 13th Birthday, Ethan!

It seems like a lifetime ago now, the day you were born. I can remember so well the nights before you were born when your Dad and I would lay and watch my stomach move and roll. We'd laugh out loud as we recognized a hand or a foot move across my stomach. We knew God had created life inside of me, yet we know not whether you'd be 'Hannah Lucille' or 'Ethan Matthew.' We'd never had an ultrasound, so we had no image of what you looked like, only what we could imagine. the day you were born was a long, hard day for me...but as soon as that nurse put you into my arms the days events were forgotten and my heart was yours. You came to me and snuggled close, your crying stopped, and Ethan Matthew McClain became part of our family.

You bring us great joy, Ethan. You have always been a laid back 'tranquilo' little guy. You have always played independently and have used your imagination to create masterpieces. Yet, you have always loved to cuddle, hold hands, and just be close to us.

 

You've been a loving big brother since the moment you knew that God was giving us a 'little sissy.'

 

 

 

 

 

The ways you bless us are beyond what I can write in a letter, because they are so many. You bring us laughter and you remind us not to stress. You serve our family in so many ways that mean so much like cleaning, laundry, and mostly the way you listen and take the time to make sure we are all ok. You have made huge sacrifices in your life that most boys your age do not have to make like leaving your best friends and your pets, giving away favorite toys, and moving a lot! And you've made them all without complaining.

 

 

 

 

Yet all of these sacrifices have made you who you are today- an amazing young man that your dad and I are so very proud to call our son. You have grown up so much over the last few years...and especially the past year. As difficult as some of our moves have been, moving from Costa Rica was so hard for you. You so wanted a friend, and God gave you some really great friends like, Joel and Julian...and then we told you that we were moving...

 

 

But, even still, you rarely complained. You have taken on every turn and every change in plan like a mighty man of valor.

 

And Ethan, we love you for it!

 

You've have thrived here in Montana. We have loved seeing God grow you in your relationship with him, with us, with your sisters, and with other young men who love Jesus and want to live for him. We love you and are so thankful for you! I thank God for you, daily, Ethan!

 

As I see your love for Jesus grow, as you pray and lift your hands to Him, I treasure these things in my heart, just as Mary must have treasure what she saw in Jesus as He grew in the ways of His Father...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know you see your dad and I fail many times, but we hope that you see us go back to Jesus time and time again...and we pray that from that, you, too will seek Jesus in all you do and you will always go to Him, over and over and over. As much as we love you, Ethan, Jesus loves you more.

 

We love you, Bud!

 

Happy 13th Birthday!

 

 

Love,

Mom and Dad

 

May 2013 Prayer Letter

April 2013 Prayer Letter

Exciting news for our family! Please read this months prayer letter in its entirity!

Praise Jesus for His amazing plan for our lives!

 

 

 

We love hearing from you! Please leave us a comment, question, or encouragement!

Happy 11th Birthday, Isabelle!

Yesterday we celebrated 11 years of the life of our precious Isabelle.

Born three weeks early, you were a tiny, bundle of joy wrapped up in pink and delivered just in time for my 24th birthday. You were adored by everyone who met you, especially your big brother, Ethan. He would sing to you, talk to you, bring you toys to play with, and was constantly touching your head, hands, or feet.

Here you are precious girl, just a few weeks old. This is the outfit your brother came home from the hospital in. You are swimming in it, but you still look cute as a button!

Here you are with your Great Grandpa McClain, Ponca. He loved you so much, Isabelle.

And here you are at two months old with your big brother. This is how we often found him...curled up next to you. You were the best of friends.

 



As you grew, we realized that you were fiercly independant, determined, and tough enough to hold your own.

You still loved your big brother and he loved you...

 

You love spending time with all of your family,

Trip to Nicaragua with Mimi

Carving pumpkins with Pappy and Mimi

 

Fifth birthday party with Samantha

 

Early Thanksgiving get together 2009 with McCarty family and Uncle Sam and Samantha

 

 

You love riding the tractor with Pappy,

and doing things with your hands like playing Legos with Ethan or doing crafts...



 

Once your little sister came along, you loved her right away...

 

there were some tough times for you trying to figure out who your best buddy was...

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems to have all worked out and you all three love each other to pieces...

 

 

 

You are a friend to all, wherever you go...

 

from Costa Rica...

 

to Montana...

 

 

 

Jesus in you shines through...

 



We love you so much, Izzy. There is no one else like you and you are perfect for our family...

 

 

We hope and pray your day was super special...because you are super special to us. We love you and are so thankful God gave you to us. You are still very determined, strong-willed, and independant. And we see God growing you and using those characteristics to bring Him glory. We see your kind heart, your compassion, and your love for others, and it spurs us on to be more like that. We see that you are often the peacemaker amongst your friends. We see that you often sacrifice your desires to please the group. We see that and we know that all off that is because you have Jesus living inside of you and HE guides your actions. we love you for that. You struggle with different things, you get overwhelmed, and sometimes you act out in anger or break down in tears...and don't know why. We understand that, because it happens to us too. We are all learning together how to be more like Jesus, but you, Isabelle Adair, bring great joy to us and keep us pressing on.

 

We love you so much!

 

Happy birthday!