Having Samuel turn 10 feels almost as bad as when I turned 30. Double digits? Really?! Next come the teens!! How in the world do I have a 10 year old. Okay….this is not a post about me (so the moaning is done).
We are celebrating the life of Samuel today! It really does feel like it was yesterday when I was counting wet diapers, trying to get him to eat every 2 hours, and watching his chest rise and fall….just to make sure. Yes, yes I was that type of new mom. I guess I have grown up a lot in the past 10 years as well.
I no longer keep tract of the little things. How can I? At times I feel like I am chasing a fast moving train – trying to keep up with something. When I post about his 20th birthday, I am sure I will have grown up even more and learned to let go of my boy. But for now, I am shocked by how much he is growing up and trying to figure out when to let go and when to hold on a bit tighter.
His friends have become a greater influence. He likes to play video games and we see his knowledge slowly easing into the “I know it all” phase. Don’t even get me going on his new love of BB guns and his plans to build a life for himself in the woods. 4th grade has already been a year where I have seen him put away the stuffed animals and pull out the i-pod. He sings along with his ear phones tucked in, oblivious to the rest of the household. (kinda cute! He would die if he knew I was posting that….well maybe more about the stuffed animal part. The boy has always loved his stuffed animals.)
Not all the changes are scary, bad and things I want to hold back. I am proud of the way he is growing up. He has made a goal to read through the bible this year. Has specifically chosen not to read books that his friends are crazy about because he doesn’t “think they are good for my heart.” Even this morning with a new i-tunes card in hand, he downloaded an episode of “NiHao Kilan” his sisters’ favorite show. “Just to share some of my birthday fun.” Such a sweet boy.
When I think of it this way I am excited to see what the next 10 years hold. Watching him grow up is scary, but exciting. What a blessing to be given the task to aid him in the process.
Okay, bring on the teen years!
Happy Birthday, Sam.
Casting A Stone 