My Big Boy Turned 8

In the middle of all this, right on Thanksgiving Day, my big boy turned 8 years old.  Amazing!

My sweet and gentle Ben.  Just like his Dad, he is a bringer of joy.  He loves fun and he loves friends.  In the course of the last year, Legos have really peaked his interest, and all he can think of is how to make $150 for the Lego set he wants.  He has also begun to find a joy in reading, much to this mama's delight.  Many a night he lays in bed enthralled in a story.  

Being an extremely social child he is still highly influenced by his sisters and their opinions.  He will find himself, I know.  It was no accident that he'd be sandwiched between sisters, and it is something that God will use to his benefit and for His glory.

His body stretches, as bodies do at this age, in random ways and places and so, a pair of big and thick feet carry the body of a child sometimes awkwardly into the doings of an 8 year old.  Bicycle riding, tree climbing, brownie baking, all get accomplished in the awkward dexterity characteristic of a growing body.

At the same time, that small and growing body carry a full size heart and soul full of life size emotions that need to be tempered and it's oh so challenging!  But then I think of the amazing man his father is and how he has nowhere else to go but greater and better because this life in Jesus is meant to be lived as a relay.  He will go further than we ever will.  This is sobering and humbling to me.

We celebrated him earlier in the week so that his friends could come -what with his birthday being on Thanksgiving and all. 

One-minute games, the classic "Pin the "---" on the "---"" game that Elena traditionally sets up for them, and a piñata brought all the way from Guatemala were the highlights of this friend gathering to welcome my buddy into 8 year-old-hood. 

We are so thankful for this disarmingly generous boy and the years he has filled our life with his joyful personality!