My Tanner

I have shared with you all that surrounded Tanner's infancy. I want to share who he is now.

He is a "middle child", he shares that "middle child" position with his brother Landon, but he is also in the middle of the three boys. I don't know if you believe in the "birth order" stuff, but I can see him exhibiting some of the "middle child" symptoms. I think some of this is unwarranted but he still thinks it.

Tanner is my compassionate child. He "feels" for his brothers and his sister when they are hurt or sick. He is so willing to give up things so his brothers and especially his sister can have some too, and if it helps them (her) to quit crying all the better. He hates to hear them cry especially if it's because they're hurt or they got in trouble.

He is very protective of Kaylie. He makes sure that she doesn't get left behind while all the other kids are running to the next thing. He will also make sure his brothers don't get left behind too, that just doesn't happen as often.

Tanner is very athletic. He loves baseball and basketball. He loves playing catch with the football. He taught himself how to ride a bike without training wheels when he was four. He loves to skate and to skateboard. He was also the first one to teach himself how to swim. When others were scared to go under the water, he was under there kicking away.

Tanner is the one in our family who can figure out "technical" things. He is very good at figuring games out on the PS2. There are many times when Preston, his older brother, asks Tanner to help him get through a game. He loves taking pictures and taking video. I have no doubt if he was sat in front of a computer he would pick up on it very quickly and would soon follow in his Uncle Matt's footsteps of being a "computer nerd"! ;o)

Tanner has also been OK with playing by himself. He has been that way since he was little. He doesn't have to "follow" the crowd (which is usually his brothers). He is OK doing things without others. I definitely see this as a positive! If he can stand strong against peer pressure now, I'm hoping he can as he gets older.

Some of the struggles I see in Tanner is his fear, some anger issues, and some self-pity. I don't know how much of these are intertwined but we are praying against them and trying to help him work through them.

My prayer for you Tanner, is that you will be "bold and courageous"! God says He didn't create us with a spirit of fear, so I know as a new creation in Christ you can become bold in all you do and that you can have much Courage, even in what scares you.

I am also praying that your heart is softened and that the anger can be let go. Life is no fun when there are "angry eyebrows" glued to your face. I also pray that as you grow you become confident in who you are in Christ. When you understand The Sacrifice given for you, your perspective will change and it will change how you view yourself and others.

I LOVE You!!!! I thank God for blessing me with you and that He chose to place you in our family! It will be exciting to the see the plans God has for you and how He will prosper you! May God BLESS you in this 9th year of your life!

Tanner having fun in the neighbors pool.

Tanner riding his bike at the "jumping hills".

Tanner "acting like" brothers with Preston and Landon.

Tanner and his friend Clayton playing "catch" with a football the way they learned from their dads!

Tanner while he was being sang "Happy Birthday" to, on the day he was baptized.