On June 10th, our oldest entered into teenage-hood.
This has felt so big for our family!
I didn't notice all the changes that have happened this year until I looked back on last years pictures. Our kid is really growing up (sniffle)!
Past birthdays:
We wanted to make this birthday a big milestone birthday, which feels a little tricky when you are living overseas. But, we tried our best!
I do love how our kids have grasped onto the simple parties.
Choosing their favorite meal, simple gifts, and some friends over and they will declare it
"the best day ever".
Z has been counting down the days until his birthday for awhile!
He picked his favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
He had his friends over for a water balloon war.
His grandparents and cousins had sent gifts with a visiting team, so he had several presents to open up through out the day.
We have two other families living here with us, two interns, and a visiting friend.
So, we had a full house for his party!
We had been filing away some ideas for his birthday from other families we admire and from books we have read. We wanted to make this milestone birthday about THREE things:
Privilege
Responsibility
Biblical Man-hood
Privilege in our family, where we live, means later bed times and some more movie options.
Responsibility at 13, looks like Zander having to wash his own clothes and also owning the lawn mowing in our back yard. We want to be intentional about preparing him for adult-hood and giving him more responsibilities to learn hard work and excellence. We are hoping to continue to add to the privilege and responsibility areas each year until he is ready to fly on his own after high school graduation.
The Biblical Man-hood piece was really fun! We contacted a couple hand-full of men that have been consistent in Zander's life. These men are guys that Zander looks up to and strive to chase after God. We asked these men to write letters to Zander for his birthday. The letters were so awesome! I teared up with each letter as they came in because they were EXACTLY what I was wanting for Zander. The notes were filled with encouragement and words of affirmation. They laid out what it looks like transitioning into man-hood, ways that Satan will try to trip him up, and even personal challenges that they faced when they were his age. David and I also added a letter to the mix! We are praying that these letters will be read over and over again as he encounters the blessings and challenges as he transitions into adult-hood.
Uncle Titus and Aunt Ashley gifted Zander with their telescope! Such a special gift!
All the Esther's House kids came over and we enjoyed lots of cake and playing!
This years' cake request was sugar cookie cake on top and bottom with funfetti cake in the middle (Thanks Tyler ;)
We're so thankful for all who helped make his day special!
I always enjoy taking pictures of my kids on their birthdays and Zander reluctantly allowed me to snap a few pics in the back yard.
Gosh, we love this kid so much!
I definitely feel like we are entering a new era of parenting and a new phase of beginning that "let- go" process as we give more privileges and responsibilities. I am praying that our relationship will continue to grow and morph and will come out stronger on the other side! Friends with kids in the stage ahead of us, we are watching you and grabbing on to any advice you can give us!
No comments :
Post a Comment