The Cooper Family: Brayden's Almost Four!

First of all, I can't believe that you are almost four! Second of all, you are the sweetest, smartest, silliest, most lovable, kind, energetic, handsome four year old I know!! So for a birthday present, Dan found a John Deere Gator on Craigslist for an unbeatable price! We immediately snatched it up and Dan traveled about an hour to Maryland to pick it up. Both grandparents of course decided that they wanted to split it and give it to Brayden, which was fine with us! As long as Brayden loved it, we did not care!

When Dan went to pick up the Gator, the nice Dad selling it also gave Dan this big boy bike for free. It needed a new back tire (hence the white), but Dan picked one up the next day at Walmart for minimal cost and tired to teach Brayden how to change it. It is amazing how things work out. The night before Dan traveled to pick up the Gator, we had just been contemplating whether or not we should spend the additional money to buy a new bike for Brayden's birthday. We were struggling with the idea of spending the extra money on a new bike, but Brayden's bike was getting pretty small for him and he was having trouble peddling.

Of course Lil Miss could not be left out!

All ready to go try out the big boy bike!

We gave Brayden the bike right away (since it was included for no cost) and told Brayden about the other dad's kind actions and how Brayden needed a new bike. I think that these are wonderful ways to teach Brayden how much the kindness of (and to) others matters.

Ironically enough, that Sunday at church, Dan was randomly picked to give away a bike to an underprivileged child in our neighborhood. Our church has been doing a Live to Give series. The first Sunday, eight bikes were purchased and randomly given to church members to then give to others in the community. Then last Sunday, $10 bills were randomly given to eight church members to then give to others in the community. These are random kind actions, and I can only hope and pray that Brayden received the message that God intended for him through this all. First being on the receiving end of a kind gift, and second giving a kind gift away.

Now we get to the Gator. None of us could wait any longer, so this past Sunday after church (one week early), we have Brayden his John Deere Gator! To say it was a hit is an understatement! :)