ten

10 years old.

Sigh.

I feel sure he skipped a couple of years.  And I'm almost positive that the next 10 will go by even faster.  It is such a challenge to balance the strong temptation to hold on to our children for dear life, while slowly giving them more and more independence.  To love and nurture with intentionality without helicopter-parenting.  I'm so thankful for the God-grace that meets us here :)

Our buddy continues to be such a great combination of easy-going, fun, careful, God-fearing, smart, happy, dependable, constant and kind.  He loves sports, most recently adding golf to his list of favorites, along with baseball and football. And still loves art and drawing too, combining those things by drawing sports figures and logos.  His other current art obsession centers around his geography and history interest and he will spend hours on maps and historical military drawings.  I've so loved learning about American history with him the last two years...and am hopeful that he will remember great lessons from it and lead well in the next generation.  Our conversations about it all challenge us both :).

As a typical firstborn, he enjoys a schedule and knowing the plan for our days or activities. And, he's honest about his struggle with disappointment if things don't go his way or the way he expected them to.  As he gets older, we are watching him work through the hard process of making his own choices to do the right thing, while learning how to put others before himself.  Although there have been a few hard moments, I'm so grateful to have so much time home with him to talk and pray through it all.  And thankful too for the precedent that B has set to have weekly breakfast time for the two of them.  There is no better man for Gehr to learn from when it comes to selflessness and work ethic... and there's nothing better in Gehrig's eyes than time with his Daddy. As they've started working in neighbors' yards together, he's also getting to see the fruits of good hard labor...and starting his first money-earning too.  It feels so big and growny :/

He is the sweetest friend and is blessed with great buddies and so many fun activities...and literally counts down to every social outing with buds.  He is tender-hearted and loves younger kids and is amazingly patient and fun with his sisters.  His love for the Word and transition into his own daily quiet time has continually filled my heart to overflowing.  I love to hear his prayers and have my favorite heart-conversations with him after he has done or thought or said something that he is convicted about.  To watch his heart grow in grace and righteousness is the greatest mama joy I've known.  He shares and talks about things (including lots and lots of details sometimes!) so much more than he used to...and B and I trade hopeful looks that we can continue to encourage such openness as he enters these next several years of growing up.

There are days that I feel like he is another grownup here and am so thankful for his help around the house and with the girls.  But I'm so thankful that he still isn't too big to climb into my lap or hug me tightly every morning when he gets up.  He loves his family well and thanks God for us sincerely and I truly love his company...and having him and his buddies around the house too :).  Praying for wisdom as we head closer to those teen years, girl stuff, peer-pressure and real-life questions.  And really just cherishing the incredible gift of being his mom.

Happy 10th birthday, Gehrig!  Words can't describe how much we love you :))