Hi friends,
As you can see, my blog site has been under construction. I've been working with a lovely woman, Jana, to redesign my digs. It was time for an update and I love the new look. This is part of the reason for my absence over the last month. Another factor was my fast from social media for the Lenten season. The Catholic in me always resurfaces during this time of year and I find it very cleansing to take 40 days away from something of which I regularly indulge.
My main motivation for this was the realization that Facebook had become such a time waster for me. I could find myself scrolling through my newsfeed many times a day: while on the bus, waiting to pick up one of the boys and when procrastinating on my homework. And depending on what kind of day I was having, it wasn't the best place to fix my gaze--or my soul. There were several other factors contributing to suspending my page: First, I began noticing that I'd be in a conversation with someone and it seemed like every time I shared something, the other party's response was: "I know. I saw that on Facebook." There were no surprises and left my interactions with others flat. Second, I was always second guessing every post I felt tempted to write. I never felt like I could share that I was traveling somewhere without worrying someone who lived there would see it and I'd soon be confronted about not letting them know I was in their town. (even though 9 times out of 10 they had never been to my town.) Or a friend or family member might hear from another Facebook friend about some family news and they would be hurt that they didn't hear it from me directly. (It felt like I was always doing damage control there.) Third, and the saddest reason of all is the perception others have of the depth of their relationship with me simply because they're privvy to my status updates or can view my photos. These reasons took the fun out of what could be a great way to keep in touch with those who I don't see on a regular basis--or check up on my kids. So, in a nutshell, it was time for a reset and a break from the pressure while I try to figure out how to bridge that gap between this social media outlet, time management and reality. It has been so refreshing and though I'll probably return, it will be definitely be a modified version of my previous self.
Although I don't see my personal blog as much of a social media outlet for myself, just decreasing my time in front of electronics has been a natural progression from suspending my Facebook profile page.
And since Lent isn't officially over, I better sign off. I'll be back.
My Social Media Fast
Friday, March 15, 2013
It's been a long time coming
Monday, February 18, 2013
If you have known me, or read my blog for some time, then you are intimately familiar with the frustration I've felt in having three boys who love "being boys" but have been constantly told that their behavior is not acceptable. Unfortunately, for the past 10 years, we have lived in neighborhoods where there has always been at least one, or 10, neighbors who complained every time one of the boys did anything that they considered risky or with the potential to disturb their quiet surroundings or, even worse, the environment. This really took its toll on me and my kids. It got to the point where they never wanted to go outside for fear of a tongue lashing over something as simple as skateboarding. (I'm really not kidding.)
This past weekend, I sat with such satisfaction and watched all four of my boys embrace their love of big machines,being outdoors, working with their hands and bodies and accomplish a great task together. And no one came knocking on the door or walking down the driveway to express their concern that "he might get hurt" or "do you have a permit for that equipment?" In fact, our neighbor across the street did come over and express how much he enjoyed watching our boys enjoy the property during the last few months since we took up occupancy. This was definitely a first! Another neighbor came over and told us how professional our work looked and wondered if we had done this before. I thought to myself: now this has been a long time coming. I can't explain the pure joy on my sons' faces as they watched the dump truck spread two loads of gravel. Or when their dad said "sure you can drive the excavator." Or when they helped get an enormous boulder onto the front loader.
This morning, our driveway is smooth and beautiful. No more potholes. No mud puddles. The front yard is free of 6 big boulders and ready for Ben's team to start spring practice here. The back yard is no longer full of piles of branches, logs and rocks and will soon look like a real yard. It's been a long time coming.
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Do I really want to go back?
Sunday, February 17, 2013
During the course of the last 3 years, I have easily lamented a good 50 times that I want to go back to toddlers and babies. Parenting teenagers has made me regularly long for "the good old days." The days when my children napped every day, required nothing more than food, diapers and baths, and it never occurred to them that I was nothing short of the smartest, most beautiful woman on the planet. Well, last week I had the opportunity to return to "a day in the life" of my 30-something self. Was it really as romantic and perfect as my memory continues to tell me?
Just before Christmas, my cousin, Natalie--who is more like a sister--had her second baby: a sweet little girl. After giving her some time to get settled into her new routine and let the holidays pass, I finally got to catch up and hear all about life with a toddler and a newborn. Seems her firstborn was really struggling with the addition of his little sister and I could tell in her voice that she needed her mama. The only problem is her mother disappeared from her life when she was 14 and her stepmother.........well, I'll refrain from commenting. The other problem is that she lives 1500 miles away in Colorado. After we ended our conversation, I told Trey, "I want to see that baby." I instantly could picture her daily life and all the memories came flooding back. Like her, I didn't live near any family when my kids were young. I didn't have a mother, or mother-in-law in town who would just stop by to give me a break. Like her, my husband was at a point in his career that required long working days. Like her, I knew very few stay-at-home moms in my neighborhood so the days were often long and lonely. When I was living out that season that felt like it would last forever, I promised myself that when my kids were older, I would do do for young moms what I wish someone had done for me. Little did I know that the young mom I would get to help would be my own family.
Three weeks into this quarter, I knew I needed to get out of dodge. My class schedule was beyond challenging, I was struggling with burn out and my heart was running on empty. One Friday night, I got a wild hare and jumped online to peruse tickets to Denver. The fares were too good to be true. Even though it was the middle of the night, I decided to go for it and book a flight for two weeks later. I sent Natalie an email that she would find in the morning (I learned that she actually saw it during her daughter's 3 a.m. feeding.) I figured if it didn't work for them, there were other friends I could stay with and help her out during the day. I didn't want to assume they wanted company while they were still in the newborn phase. When I woke up, there was her response begging me to stay longer than 3 days. Two weeks later, I was in her living room with the baby in my arms and the toddler at my feet. It was just what the doctor ordered--for both of us.
That night, at their insistence, we went to a neighborhood pub for happy hour. Boy was I out of practice. I had forgotten how much stuff you need to pack in that diaper bag in order to leave for a quick meal. The kids were great while we munched on appetizers and enjoyed a cold one but toward the meal's end, poor little Ty spilled water all over himself. Check please.
The next morning, I meandered up the stairs at 8:00 to find everyone in the kitchen having breakfast. Poor mama hadn't even had a chance to consider a shower. I watched with awe as she fed Ty, changed Phoebe, cleaned up the kitchen, fed the dog, nursed the baby, etc. I had also forgotten how your life is not your own and there is NO downtime. After the baby went down, I insisted she go to the grocery store by herself. I saw that spring in her step as she headed to the garage and smiled to myself. Such simple pleasures. Ty and I played with everything in the basement family room at least 10 different times in 90 minutes. My memory purged the fact that toddlers have no attention span whatsoever. Natalie came back gushing about her solo supermarket experience. After Ty's one hour nap, I grabbed him and the dog and off we went to the park so Mommy could get a short nap between feedings. My goal was to keep him occupied for a good hour. After 30 minutes, he was pointing back the house and saying, "mom, mom, mom." By the time we walked back in, she had been sleeping since we left but the stinkin dog ran in her room and woke her up. Ugh! After Todd got home from work, we ate dinner, had a little dance party in the living room and Ty went down for the night. Mommy & Daddy had a date night while I tried to console a very hungry baby. I told her I would not be calling her parents and she calmed down. There was no way I was going to interrupt their precious couple time. Two hours later, they walked in looking tired but relaxed. Natalie said, "the time went so fast." Now that I DO remember.
The next morning, Todd had to go pick up a bike in Breckenridge and would be gone for most of the day. I planned to stay until lunch and then head to my friend's in Littleton for the next 3 days of my visit. Natalie asked me to hang with the kids while she took a shower. I felt awful that I didn't suggest it. She must have stayed in there for a half hour until her terrible babysitter turned around and Ty was running into her bathroom. As we were saying goodbye, she broke down and expressed how much it meant to have support from family. I could hardly bear to leave.
Those three days took me right back to a place I thought I wanted to time warp back to. As much as I loved taking care of little ones, I see how I have romanticized that season. It is constant. You are overworked and under appreciated. The hours feel like years and you wonder if you will ever be your own person again. There is a reason why 45-year-olds have teenagers and not babies. And it usually takes going back to the past to appreciate where you are in the present. I have to laugh when I think about the difference a decade makes. I used to cry "please leave me alone" and since coming back home I wonder "did anyone notice I was gone?"
Are these two precious or what??
Saturday, January 26, 2013
I see it's been 3 weeks since my last post. Every time I've thought about sitting at the computer to write, all I think about is "if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything." Winter is a hard season for me, and many of us who dwell in the Pacific Northwest. Having so little daylight and hardly any sunshine makes me crabby. To add insult to injury, once again, my class schedule is filled with classes that start at 8:00, subjects that, in my opinion, will not make me a better teacher of English, and instructors with world views so radically different from mine. I dread leaving for campus every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I sit in class oftentimes with my stomach in knots as I listen to opinions spouted while implying that "everyone feels this way." It's such a lonely place.
Enough of "Debbie Downer!" This last week I had a bright spot that so encouraged me & left me in awe of what a personal God we have. I received an email from a friend whose husband is a faculty member on my campus--in the college of education. Seems there's a small group of professors and staff who have started forming "pockets of prayer" around campus. These "pockets" are simply those believers opening up their offices for a 30 minute period one day a week where students and staff can come and pray for themselves and others. The email gave a little background but was also an invitation to come hear a local prayer warrior encourage us and then to eat dinner together on campus. As exhausted as I was and as much as my warm house and sweet husband were calling me to settle in for the night, I rallied and returned to campus for what felt like an "underground meeting." I was a little nervous like I had been thrust into the role of a CIA operative. When you are in the middle of academia and a population that is so hostile to believers, it's very natural to want to hide where you stand. In fact, I often hesitate to even share my true self on heresometimes for fear that I will be misunderstood or targeted.
It turned out, as I had hoped, to be the most encouraging 3 hours I've had all week. To be with like minded men and women who have a heart for the students and faculty whom I spend a lot of my days with, was a bigger blessing than I could have imagined. My heart was parched for that fellowship and to be reminded I am not alone in this journey. What a perfect end to an exhausting week.
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Sweet 16
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Every year I truly look forward to writing posts on my boys' birthdays. I love reflecting on the past year, digging up baby pictures, and anticipating the future. I wish I could say I felt the same way this year.
My firstborn hits a major milestone today and while it's exciting on one hand, it also brings many feelings to the surface about how difficult our relationship has been for the better part of the last six months. We have butted heads more times than I care to count and it seems as if we start the day with tension more often than harmony. But I don't want to devote this post to wallowing in the negative--I just want to be honest.
Knowing the ebb and flow of mine and Quinn's relationship, my sweet mentor forwarded a weekly email she receives from a gentleman whose ministry focuses on raising teens. (Can I just say that I love that this woman is 65 and she spends her time keeping up on today's parenting even though her kids are in their 30's??) The title of the email was "Boys to Men" and the tagline under the photo was "Angry 15-year- old boy." The article went on to explain what happens in a young man during that crucial year from 15 to 16. It was so spot on and gave me a lot more understanding, compassion and tolerance--and the ability to see life from Quinn's perspective. I realized that I don't have a clue what it is like to be a teenage boy in today's high school environment. The amount of pressure he's under on a daily basis is something I can't relate to: sports, academics, social media, peers making life changing choices and feeling the temptation to do the same. He has to practice an immense amount of self control from the time he rises to when he turns in for the night.
Here's an excerpt from Mark Gregston at Heartlight Ministries:
"Parents do a wonderful job of teaching and encouraging a young son with uplifting words and rewards for participation in every activity. You tell him he’s great, brag on him in conversations and post his photo in your Christmas cards. Then he turns 15, and things begin to look a little different.
Life for a 15-year-old boy can be a tough time, and even more difficult when parents begin making greater demands that force him to begin taking more and more responsibility for himself.
Suddenly, it seems, he does have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Classes get harder. The pond he swims in just got bigger and he just got smaller. His social world gets divided and distributed. He’s too old to ride a bike and too young to drive a car. The lessons you taught him are harder to apply than first thought. Your son’s sporting accomplishments are dissipated into an overwhelming number of other 15-year-old boys who have accomplished the same, and perhaps more. Girlfriends move on to older guys.
You might begin to see that the pain of growing up makes your teenage son behave more selfishly. It might make him angry because he’s getting less of what he wanted in life, and more of what he didn’t want. He may take to “spewing” at you because there is no one else who’ll take it. He hurts because it’s harder than he thought. Sometimes boys retreat to a virtual world of games, hide in their room, or just crawl inside their own depression. They may associate with a new group of kids that look like “losers” because they find that those losers feel the same way.
They might feel stuck, frustrated, and begin to lose motivation. They might begin to use words that you only see on public bathroom walls. They might express themselves in ways you would have never expected. It’s a tough time. But it’s the right time for you to help them through it so you aren’t left dealing with a prodigal at 18 or 25."
Reading this gives me hope that "this too shall pass." Many others have walked this path before me and have come out on the other end with wonderful relationships with their adult sons. I'm hoping it doesn't take 2 more years before I can say the same. But if it does, it still doesn't change how much I love this boy (young man) with all my heart and soul.
Happy Sweet Sixteen, Quinn!!! I look forward to spending today celebrating the gift of you.
Looking back on 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
It's time for my 20 Questions for 2012. It was a good year of growth, celebration and making memories. I love looking back and seeing how God has stretched me, provided for me and never stopped challenging me to trust, love and embrace this life he has blessed me with. Here's to 2013!!
1.) What did you do in 2012 that you had never done before?
Drove Hwy 101 through Northern California
2.) Did you keep any New Year's resolutions and will you
make more this year?
Yes, to let go of the past and focus on the future. For the coming year it is to
be kind to myself.
3.) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Emily Miley and her husband welcomed
Henri in February. I babysat Emily when
I was in high school and their family lived next door. We have stayed in touch all these years.
Also, my cousin Natalie and her husband Todd welcomed their daughter, Phoebe Lynn on December 15th.
4.) Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5.) What places did you visit?
Alta Lake, WA; Greenville, SC; Charlotte,
NC; Crescent City, Santa Rosa, Santa
Cruz & San Francisco, CA; Denver & Boulder, CO
6.) What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in
2011?
sleep
7.) What date from 2012 will remain etched in your memory
and why?
Two dates: August 1st-our 20th
anniversary & September 16th-moving day
8.) What was your biggest achievement this year and why?
Surviving spring quarter: 16 credits, 3 kids
in 3 schools in 3 sports and a traveling husband.
9.) Did you suffer illness or injury?
A little bout with stomach pain in August
that resulted in no diagnosis.
10.) What was the best thing you bought?
Our new old home.
Car repairs!
12.) What song will always remind you of 2011?
Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe
13.) What do you wish you would have done more of?
All of those ideas I posted on Pinterest.
14.) What do you wish you would have done less of?
Stewed over stupid stuff.
15.) What was your favorite TV program?
Dancing with the Stars
16.) What was the best book you read?
Loving by Karen Kingsbury
17.) What was your favorite film of the year?
Trouble with the Curve—Clint Eastwood &
Amy Adams. I love baseball movies.
18.) What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Had 8 of my wonderful girlfriends over who make me laugh and celebrated together
with food, drink and a super fun board game.
I turned 45.
19.) What national/world event stirred you the most?
Presidential election—and not in a good way.
20.) Who was the best new person you met?
Tracy Olney.
A football mom who I spent a lot of time with in the fall making team
dinners. I enjoyed her company immensely
and was impressed with her organization skills and passion and dedication to
our high school community.
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A Snowy Escape
Thursday, December 27, 2012
As December was closing in on us and the pressure of Christmas began ramping up, we decided that instead of checking off items on the never-ending "to do list", we would run away from it all with just 10 shopping days left. Our family was in desperate need of unplugging from the demands of the world and reconnect with each other and nature. Fortunately, we have some friends who were generous enough to let us escape to their cozy cabin in the mountains for 3 days. It was absolute heaven and just what the doctor ordered. Although their "cabin" was really a house--and one I would gladly live in.
We had no cell reception, no computers, no cable and no contact with the outside world: a mother's dream and a teenager's worst nightmare. After the teenagers pushed through their initial withdrawal, they realized that they really did enjoy spending time with each other after all. We played games, watched Christmas movies, took long naps, read books and magazines, sipped coffee and hot chocolate beside the fireplace and played in the snow. Every morning we woke to at least another foot of the white fluffy stuff on the ground. Because of the record snowfall, the day after we left, the highway was closed down for 3 days due to 100 fallen trees. We were kind of wishing we had been stranded up there in our own little paradise for 72 more hours. But the 72 hours we had were heavenly and gave us the extra energy we needed to power through the last week.
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| I never grew tired of this view. |
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| Love seeing my husband relaxed. He is reading a book on his phone not texting. |
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| The first morning. |
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| Getting ready to hit the mountain on our last day. |
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| So happy to be in the snow. |
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| Breathtaking. |
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| The road in. Thankful for our trusty old Landcruiser. |
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| The view from above was so inviting too. |
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| Wishing this "cabin" was ours. |
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| Last picture before we returned to reality. Don't we look relaxed? |
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The choice is theirs
Sunday, December 2, 2012
When writing my last post, I was in a place of disappointment and sadness over the choices made by my children that directly opposed what they have been taught. As I've had time to reflect and process, my emotions have gone from shock to sadness to anger to grief to acceptance. Although it isn't the path I had hoped to walk as part of my parenting days, I've realized it certainly isn't the end of the world. And I've also been convicted that, in many ways, I expected close to perfection from my children. I think that subconsciously I felt that if given all the right tools, they would stay on the straight and narrow and have a way better head start in life than I had at their age. They would be honor roll, law abiding, God-fearing, example setting individuals. This has proven to be not only a naive outlook but one filled with pride too. Obviously one can never have too much humility.
Last week I dug out a book I remember reading a couple years ago that addressed some of the issues I am facing right now: "5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son" by Vicki Courtney. The author gave a beautiful example of how to not live in condemnation over your kids' choices. "As mothers, we like to think there is a tried and true formula that if applied consistently will bear out a positive end result. The truth is, we can apply a formula or effective principles but in the end we can not control the outcome." This was good for me to hear/read. She goes on to say that no matter what path her sons choose, she will have fulfilled her assigned role."I have taken advantage of teachable moments when we sit at home, walk along the road, lie down, and get up. (Deut 6:7). Should they decide to forgo God's best in spite of my teaching and instruction, I will not shrug my shoulders and say, "Where did I go wrong?" I will rest knowing I did all I could and continue to pray that their hearts would be sensitive and ripe to God's teaching." Although there is always room for improvement, as an older and wiser mom once told me, "Don't be so quick to take credit for their accomplishments nor blame for their failures."
Another reality that God showed me when I was in a place of anger was that I have no idea what it is like to be an American high school teenage boy in today's world. And I happen to have one who is in "the pressure cooker" as I call it. The circle with the most influence but the one that rarely uses it the way you hope. The enormous amount of pressure these boys endure everyday to do the right thing requires an excessive amount of self-control. Everything that can cause them to take a wrong path is in front of them at every turn. Pondering this gave me an immense amount of compassion for all of my sons and the battles they are faced with in a typical day. My expectations are really unrealistic if viewed through this lens. And if we are honest with ourselves about our parenting culture, is it really any wonder our kids consider engaging in risky behavior? Not only are they living in the pressure cooker at school, they are living under the microscope everywhere else. Parents put their kids on pedestal and cater to their every whim. Their daily lives are so micromanaged and parents' lives revolve around their children to the point that life becomes all about the children. There is no balance. The kids instinctively can feel that they have the power to make or break their parents by their grades, their athletic performance and social skills. This is way too much power for any adolescent to carry and many of them snap to cope with the pressure. I'm not saying I haven't been guilty of this by any means just that it might do all of us well to take an inventory of this parenting trend that has now become a commonly accepted lifestyle. I know that I don't want to give my kids that power or that vibe and I'm re-evaluating how I have caved to the culture myself.
So the 3-week social restriction has been lifted and a new chapter begins. Praying that the lessons learned in this past chapter with serve all of us well in the new one.
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Choices
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Before I was a parent, I filed away all the advice and words of wisdom I had heard and read over the years. I took note of those who walked the path before me and decided what I would and wouldn't repeat when it was my turn. After this week, I have come to terms with the fact (again) that I have a strong legalistic bend and still believe there is a formula that will result in a life of ease and comfort. Even though this has proved itself wrong over and over again, I still lean toward these patterns. I have most recently been humbled by the judgmental attitude that exists in my heart toward others and their parenting styles. When I see kids make bad choices I always want to find a reason and the reason I find usually points back to the parents. I have thought to myself "Well, what do they expect when they ___________________ (fill in the blank)??" Then how to I fill in that blank when the tables are turned???
What I have learned this week is that, as parents, we can give our kids all the right tools: setting boundaries and rules; knowing their friends and their friends' parents; keeping tabs on where they are and who they are with; training them in a spiritual faith and the knowledge of a Heavenly Father who loves them; praying for them daily; and keeping the lines of communication open. Yet, in spite of all this, there are no guarantees because ultimately they need to decide who they want to be. And even though the goal is independence and their faith and values have to become their own, it doesn't make it any less painful when they choose the opposite of what you have modeled.
One of the little tidbits I carried in the back of my mind was: "children who come from a broken home are twice as likely to engage in risky behavior." I naively thought that since our two parent family is intact, my child would have no desire to make stupid decisions. And yet he did. Immediately, I went to "where did we go wrong?" which is the most natural reaction, but I also needed to consider this crazy, mixed-up culture we are living in. Yes, we can always improve our parenting and it is in constant need for readjustment. But when our kids are bombarded with these messages: "You can have whatever you want." "You don't have to wait for anything." "There are no consequences." "You don't have to feel pain." These are pretty tough lies to compete with on a daily basis. We are fighting them ourselves and we have almost 30+ years on them.
I don't think there is a mom or dad out there who didn't start their parenting journey without wanting their child/children not to repeat their story--more specifically the painful chapters of it. It is certainly with good intentions but, as I have found with my own story, that one big thing I don't want to see repeated ends up becoming my biggest fear. And, in turn, I preach against it while I live in fear of it. And 9 times out of 10, it still happens. The war for our kids' hearts has definitely turned up a notch and it's time to re-evaluate our game plan.
We are definitely culpable in a lot of this current reality of ours and have acknowledged that to ourselves and to our son. Our natural reaction, like his, is to hide and shrink back. To live in denial and pretend that we don't have any issues. But, as we said to him when he begged us not to go to the friends' parents, "we don't hide in this family. We live in the truth and the light." As painful and embarrassing as it is, it's always better to be authentic than pretend. As he is seeing, there is a cost to that but one that ultimately will pay off in the future.
So you might be wondering why I'm not divulging details or identities if I am so committed to living in the light. Believe me, I have thought and prayed about that. But the details and identities don't matter because God knows what needs to be shared and with whom. Much of it is not our right or role to play but our son's. And we need to be wise in protecting our family's privacy while we regroup. One thing I hope this post does convey is that we are broken people living in a broken world in desperate need of a Savior. And it's always good to be reminded of that.
Eleven years of Ben
Sunday, October 28, 2012
I remember once sitting in my moms' prayer group when one of my friends said: "Aww, c'mon admit it: the baby is always our favorite." She was dead serious. Her youngest child is the one she is the most compatible with but it's part of the mom code that none of us ever utter the word "favorite." That's reserved for the children when they are fighting with each other or trying to manipulate their parents with guilt and shame. ("He's your favorite." "I always knew she was your favorite.")
As kids we always remember using those phrases but they took on a different meaning when I became a parent. I think I can speak for most mothers when I say that we love all our children equally but we have a different relationship and a separate affinity with each individual child. Being the middle child, I always thought my mom favored my younger sister because she gave in to her more often and the rules my parents were such sticklers about seemed to turn lax by the time the youngest was a teenager. I now fully understand that you're just too tired by the third time around the mountain. And you do react to situations differently because you know this child is your last. You want to savor and hold onto every last moment of parenting. I have definitely experienced this firsthand with Ben.
To his brothers, Ben has the most coveted position in the family. To Ben, it's the worst. Being the youngest of three boys means being picked on, teased and tortured while watching your competitive siblings experience every rite of passage as you wait on the sidelines for your turn. When your turn finally comes, it feels like forever has passed and your brothers respond with a "been there, done that." What Ben probably won't realize until he's a father is that, in addition to the above, he'll also get more patient, mature and easy going parents. He'll have three years of being the only child with more resources to go around. After watching his big brothers make their mistakes, he'll have the benefit of learning from his observations causing himself and his parents less heartache. I'd say he won the lottery in the birth order gamble even though there may not be as many pictures of him in the scrapbook.
Aside from all the "favorite" talk, Ben is a pretty special guy and I'm so glad we get to celebrate 11 years of him being in our family. He is conscientious, considerate, affectionate and kind. I truly can't imagine life without his sweet disposition and giving heart.
You are a blessing to so many, Benjamin Davis and on October 28th you are definitely everyone's favorite birthday boy! Especially mine. P.S.: Don't tell your brothers.
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