12 Years of Happiness

He's going into 6th grade.  Middle School.  People say middle school is/was a tough time, and I suppose it is.  But how can you NOT have some fun with this age?  You can talk and joke with them, use sarcasm with them, strangle hug them, laugh with them, cry with them, pray with them, pray for them.  Today is his birthday and all week he's been saying "12 years of happiness, Mom."  Now here's a guy that has a passion for life!

Speaking of passion....that is something he and I definitely have in common.  When we like things, we really, REALLY like them.  When we dislike things, we really, REALLY dislike them.  We laugh hard.  We cry hard.  We love to create.  We go full-speed ahead sometimes, trusting that everything will turn out alright...and it usually does, thank God.  But sometimes, things don't go our way.  We make lots of messy mistakes.  We get hurt.  This picture does not show you the birthday gift he gave himself yesterday:  7 stitches on his forehead.  That's what you get when you & your friends are tickling each other in the wee hours of a sleepover in a very dark basement.  (Should have left a night light on!)  Ah, but it was worth it.  The fun, the friendship.  No going slow for this guy.  It's been that way ever since he was born.  (This is the 4th time he's cut his head open.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CYRUS JAMES!!  We love you and are so proud of you!! (But please, God, help us to keep him safe and sound in our care for many, many more dozens of years!!)

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."--Psalm 91:14-16