Josiah turns 12 years old

on a muggy August night in 1995, I spent 6.5 hours bringing him forth. That was the hardest work this child has ever required of me. He was an "easy" baby, sleeping and nursing without any of the problems his young and nervous parents had been warned about. He grinned a full month before the books said he should, and was even an obedient, cheerful toddler. So smart too! He could recite his numbers, colors, letters and more by 3 years, and was able to read simple books by 4. Pity his "normal" brothers, following in his footsteps! They helped to prove what we had started to suspect... that Josiah's positive traits, though encouraged by us, came wrapped up inside him, a gift from God. Now he is entering the stage of life everyone warns you about-puberty, adolescence, teenage years, whatever you like to call it (my preference is young adulthood) I watch him for the tell-tale signs of impending doom-is my sweet boy going to change overnight? To suddenly morph into a person I can't stand (or worse yet, who can't stand me?!) I see evidence of hormones at work...deodorant and stridex have been added to the toothbrush routines each day. He sometimes gets a little weepy when frustrated, now. He guards his privacy. He listens closely to all adult conversations, watching us and wondering out loud what it will be like to drive, to drink coffee, to have a job? But he is the same 'Siah. Cheerful, responsible, obedient, SWEET. The night before his birthday he asked his Dad and I for advice. It was so neat to see his heart, how he longs to please us, and God.

He asked "Is there any areas I need to work on" "No, son, not that I see." "Am I being kind enough to my brothers?" "Yes, mostly" "Have I been selfish or irresponsible in anyway?" "No, and don't worry, we will tell you if we see that." "Mom, you know when I rolled my eyes at you and said I was just kidding?" "Yes?" "I wasn't, I was mad, and I am sorry." "Forgiven, right then, but thank you for repenting."

What a kid, huh? As I left his room I noticed his childish scrawl on a note, pinned to his bulletin board "do Bible study!" and this, these signs of him making his daily journey with God on his own, reassure me that he will be more than okay in this next stage of life. Nothing for me to fear, but to pray and love and enjoy this period of his growing and changing. The same way we enjoyed the new teeth poking through, changing his smile. The chubby legs walking, and independence sought. Here we go again.

(above: we blindfolded and then presented him with a new red Schwinn to ride-his legs had grown so long he had been borrowing my bike-"Now we can ride together!" and his blackberry pie dessert, sans candles.)