Tag Archives: guitar

March 22, 2026 · 6:00 am

Our Baby Is Sixteen.

This guy.

Our little Captain America. The literal hero of our hearts.

We love you so much, Jett Takle. You are the joy of our lives.

I love every single thing about you. I even love how you come out to the truck and forget your backpack. It drives me crazy. But I still love that you are so unbothered by life that you come out without a worry in the world.

Unbothered.

That is you. I always say you are the most unbothered human I know.

We can tell you no and you simply say, “okay.” Colossians 3:2 says to set your mind on your things above. This is exactly what you do without even knowing it. You set it. Like a thermostat. Kind of like when we set our thermostat on 70 and it won’t move no matter what the outside conditions are. You do the same in life. You set your mind on how things are going to affect you. Jett, you have internalized something so huge in life that most people never do. You will be able to say like Paul did that you’ve learned in EVERY situation to be content.

You have the secret to life. You really do. You will be the happiest and most content of all of us because you get it.

I’m so proud of who you are. I LOVE who you are. I love that you still love Legos and aren’t ashamed that you have a Lego room. You have a freaking Lego room. And a music room where you can play drums. And guitar. And then you ask for a garage so you can work on project cars. Then, you ask for project cars. Working on that one, bud.

But you make it so easy to want to create space for your dreams. You are so genuine and passionate and curious and GOOD. Please, never stop being you. The real you. Because, the real you is so amazing.

I love how you always ask questions about scripture. I love how you seek God and want to know Him. I love how you always want to know and do what’s right.

Here’s what I want you to know most right now. You don’t have to worry about your future. You don’t have to worry about what is next for you. In the words of Big Mama, “If it’s not from God, you don’t want it. If it is, you can’t stop it.” You can’t stop what God has for you. And, you can trust that it is good.

Thank you for being the most incredible son and brother and friend.

Thank you for being kind and funny and unbothered.

Thank you for being YOU.

You’re the best travel partner, carpool buddy, music listening, big dreaming, cosmos explaining, car loving, big idea unpacking, best friend and person I know.

Happy 16th, Birthday.

We love you, Jett. We love you so very much.

Love,

Mom

I Don’t Know How We Got Here So Fast.

Fourteen years old. You should still be FOUR. When you were 4, I couldn’t imagine little Jett being teenage Jett. You were my BABY for crying out loud. We were going to watch you put together puzzles (with them turned upside down), build legos and explore space forever! Okay, so we do still watch you build legos and explore space. But, this past year, you became so teenage-ry and started looking so grown. You became aware that friendship requires effort and figuring out where you fit means learning to be yourself first. You’ve been navigating it so well, and I’m so proud of you for always being willing to talk through all of the things.

You aren’t afraid to talk about anything. I love this about you so much. You think deeply and you want to figure the world and people out. But mostly, you want to figure YOU out. Don’t stop learning YOU. Because, YOU have so much untapped goodness and creativity in you that you’ve yet to see. How amazing to think that there’s even more to you when what we see now is already so incredible.

I love how fearless you are to learn something new. If there is a how to YouTube video, you’ve got in the bag. I love how you brave you are to put yourself out there even when it’s uncomfortable. I heard someone say recently, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” You’ve been doing this for a long time. Do you know what that tells me? You are going to accomplish and enjoy so much in life, Jett Takle.

I love your passion for playing and learning guitar. You are soooo talented.

I also love how you’re not afraid to ask for ANOTHER guitar, because you can never have too many of these, apparently.

I love your love for music. I love how you asked for Stevie Ray Vaughan, Greta Van Fleet, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Tyler Childers on vinyl for your birthday. I would say this mix hardly make sense, but it’s you. Of course, it makes sense.

I love how you think asking, “Can we go to Universal next weekend?” isn’t a big ask. You’re not afraid to dream big or ask big. You definitely get this one from your father.

I love how you love explaining to me science things that I can barely understand. I mean, I don’t necessarily love learning it, but I love that you love telling me about it.

I love how you hug Pax and tell him goodbye every single morning before you leave for school.

I love how you tell all of us you love us every single day.

I love how you love John and Anna and ask when they are coming home often. I’m so thankful for your relationship with them. You’re a good brother, Jett man.

I love how thankful you are for every single thing. You say thank you when we do something for you and then tell us thank you AGAIN later in the day. I hope you know you deserve every good thing done for you and every good gift given.

I love how you care about other people’s feelings. It matters to you when someone is hurt, and you always want to fix it.

I love how much you love your friends and time with them. Don’t stop investing time into the people in your life. Relationships matter more than anything else.

I love every day with you, Jett. I have always loved every day with you. You have taught me so much about being present and noticing the world around me. You keep me awed by all that life gives us. You keep me so thankful for everything.

And, I am constantly thankful for YOU.

May this new year be the year you grasp how wonderful and amazing and talented you are. May this be the year you KNOW that you are God’s masterpiece. His poetic statement. You are my precious, loved, and adored, Jett Man.

Happy 14th Birthday, bud. I love you more than I could ever express in a birthday blog.

Love,

Mom

Almost A Teenager.

My gratitude for this kid cannot be measured. He has been nothing but pure joy his entire life. Today, he is 12, and I am so very thankful he is here and well and healthy and back to his talkative and expressive self. When he had his head injury last July, he kept telling us he was sorry. We would hold him and tell him it was okay. I remember the day he was able to leave the hospital, he grabbed me and just sobbed tears of gratitude and relief. I tell this story to show that Jett has never been afraid to express his feelings or share his heart. I tell this story, because Jett has always been the most grateful person I know. And, for sure one of the funniest….

It took almost 6 months for Jett’s full recovery. For so long, he didn’t talk a lot and wasn’t nearly as engaging and expressive. Then one day, it all came back. And, I mean REALLY came back. He started talking and telling us about all of the things, seemingly determined to catch up. And, he took his humor to another level with some little splashes of profanity from time to time. This past Christmas, we were with a few friends and going around the room sharing things we were grateful for that year. Jett says, “I’m thankful I survived my head injury and that people paused their life for mine. And, I know I could really be an asshole sometimes, so thank you, guys.”

We lost it. And, basically decided we were so thankful to have our boy back that “asshole” was now acceptable for 11 year olds to say. It’s a third kid thing. And, don’t even get John Henry started on all the things a third kid gets away with.

Jett Takle, we are so proud of who you are.

I love how passionate you are about whatever it is you’re into.

I love how you will research and learn every single thing about that thing.

I love how when you commit to something, you really commit to it.

I love how you appreciate what makes your friends different from you.

I love how you are an encourager and help people.

I love how you want EVERYONE to succeed.

I love how you get excited when you learn a new song on guitar and can’t wait to show John Henry.

I love how you look up to John and think he’s the coolest.

I love how you go to Anna of advice.

I love how you think she’s the wisest and listen to her even when she tries to momma you too much.

I love how you know every single thing about Harry Potter and want the rest of us to know every single thing about Harry Potter.

I love how artistic and creative you are.

I love how you don’t try to be anyone else but YOU.

I love how you are not afraid to try new things.

I love how you love your family and friends.

And, I love how you love sweet Paxy!

You make all of our lives so so good, Jett. You make this world such a better place. Keep staying true to who YOU are. Follow YOUR dreams and chase after the things that matter most to you. Because those very dreams are the ones God put inside of you. Who you are is exactly who He made you to be. And, man, am I ever so thankful.

Happy 12th Birthday, Jett Man. I can’t wait to see what God has for you this year. It’s going to be so good.

I love you so very much,

Mom

Tag Archives: guitar

Our Baby Is Sixteen.

I Don’t Know How We Got Here So Fast.

Almost A Teenager.

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