Oh, Jett Takle. He steals my heart every single day. Really, he does. I don’t know another soul who loves life more….except maybe my dad. It amazes us all how much those two are alike.
They dance alike. They give the exact same silly faces. They believe every moment is a moment to celebrate.
He just LOVES life and celebrates every little thing. Anna asked him a couple of days ago, “Jett, what’s your favorite holiday?” He responded, “I LOVE ALL OF THEM!” It’s true. We’ve been marking off the holidays leading to his birthday and will continue to acknowledge the ones that follow. ALL OF THEM.
Kindergarten has been quite the year. His creativity got the best of him when he was given a red and blue crayon and asked to write the consonants in red and vowels in blue. His teacher peered onto his paper to see he had drawn Spider-Man instead. And, when he learned the author of his book was named Dr. Seuss, he exclaimed, “Whoa! He’s a doctor AND he writes books? Wow!” Mercy, I love him. He’s gotten the hang of it all now, and his teachers shout, “Amen.” A lot of his success this year is due to his pure excitement and joy over how amazing everything is. Oh, for us all to be wowed by all the things. To never lose our wonder for creation.
Jett Takle, you make everyone stop and celebrate life. When life gets busy and chaotic, and I’m rushing here and there and everywhere, you are my pause. You take my face and turn it towards yours, and you tell me something you think is so cool. You make me pull over on the side of the road, so you can pick daffodils. I will be sitting and thinking of a to-do list, and you will bring me the shiniest rock, and say, “Mom, is this rock special?” And, I will touch the earth, and pause.
The thought of you growing up nearly rips my heart out. I have loved every single second of your first five years. I know I will fall in love with you even more in the years to come. But, I will never forget your first five and how you have made me remember how amazing everything on this earth is. How amazing it is to celebrate every little thing. How amazing it is to stare at stars. How amazing it is….
to dance.
to turn an ordinary evening into a hilarious night.
to make up songs with a guitar by the lake on a Sunday night.
to get closer to the people you love and say, “I love you.”
to see beauty in a weed and call it a flower.
to run as fast you can through a field, because, you can.
to tell someone “you did a great job.”
to eat chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice-cream.
Thank you for teaching me that life is worth the pause. Thank you for teaching me to be an observer of life. Thank you for teaching me to celebrate every little thing.
Because, every little thing is worth celebrating.
YOU are worth celebrating.
You are forever my sunshine, forever my favorite super-hero, and forever my JOY.
Happy 6th Birthday, Jett Takle.
The best is yet to come. But, I’m pretty sure you already know that.
Love,
Mom
DustyTakle.com 
If only all of us can be like your Son and your dad 🙂
And to think you weren’t sure about having that third child! Lol! He is precious. A clone of his Dad! ❤️