Dear Daniel

Hi my sweet boy. 

The day I found out I was having two boys I was overwhelmed with an instant joy. I remember being completely convinced before then that I was having a girl and a boy because you and Noah had two different heart rates my whole pregnancy. I thought that was a sign of two different genders. I had a girl and a boy name picked out. Noah and Olive. When the ultrasound tech said BabyB was also a boy, I looked at your daddy and said “What are we going to name him?” When we left the office that day, my mind swirled with ideas of what I wanted your name to be. I decided in that moment that I wanted you to have my initials. I asked your dad, and he agreed. DLY, those were going to be your initials. Now just like the three other kids, your name had to have meaning. It was always important to your dad and I that we were specific in choosing names. We understood that what we named you, is what we were speaking over you. As I searched through all the biblical names, I came across the name Daniel. I knew in that moment I loved that name and wanted it to be your name. Daniel in Hebrew means “God Is My Judge”. I then had to find your middle name, it needed to start with the letter L. I searched and searched for names, and eventually came across the name Levin. Levin in Russian means Lion. So just like Daniel in the bible, you are my Daniel and the lion’s den. And you get to share my initials. My sweet Daniel Levin Yelder.

Daniel, there are so many things I love about you. I love your heart to serve people. You are always willing to help no matter what. For example, there are so many times that you have helped me and told me “No mom, I got it. Let me do it”. Or there have been times that your teachers have mentioned to me that you like to help in class. Don’t stop being that way. This is how Jesus wants us to live. 

I love your sense of humor. I love how you can make a joke out of anything. And I especially love all you the silly faces you make with those jokes. Your light heartedness is definitely needed in this world.

I love your passion when you love something. I love how you dive all into whatever that thing is. For example, when you started to like Pokémon. You started collecting the toys, and the cards. You researched the different moves the Pokémon make. You started watching the movies and the shows. You even influenced your brother to like Pokémon. 

I love how you fight to have your voice heard. Because you are the youngest of the four kids, you often have to fight for your voice to be heard. And I know that you get so frustrated. Don’t ever stop fighting to have your voice heard. Your voice matters. YOU matter. 

Daniel, I want you to know that it is ok to share your feelings. The world will tell you that because you are a boy/man that it is not ok. That you have to be tough and not show how you feel. That is wrong. God gave us emotions. Feel them. Live them. Embrace them. It is what makes us human. Don’t sin because of them. But definitely do not hide them.

I want you to know that you have a beautiful soul. And you are a gift to this world. I am truly so excited to see what God has in store for you. And I am so grateful that I get to be a part of YOUR story. 

I love you son.