Micah Turns 12!

Four days have passed since my oldest turned 12.  Every year I feel the same... how can it be that my baby is this old?!  My brother was so wonderful to point out that when his baby turns 12, my baby will be 24!!  I am feeling older by the minute!  This is also my last year of not having a teenager until all my children are grown.

Knowing Micah is growing older, is more than a date on the calendar or a marking of time.  I see it in the way he conducts himself.  I see it in the way he is starting to test the waters of making his opinions known.  It is in the way that he has taken on responsibilities without being asked too.  It is in the way he is starting to assert himself in different situations  or even how he has tried out "grown up words" that he has heard uttered (and then he discovers he is still a child able to be disciplined for infractions).  All the signs are pointing to a boy turning into a young man.  It makes my heart happy and sad all at the same time.

I have found that all my children are very responsible, but Micah feels the weight of responsibility the most.  Whether it is responsibilities that we have given him or ones he has given himself, he is always mindful of making sure he is meeting them all.  He is also the first to step up to the plate when something needs to be accomplished.  He comes to me and asks if anything else needs to be done before he goes off on his own.

Micah is my black and white kid.  There isn't much grey area for him.  It is either the truth or a lie, it is either right or wrong, it is up or down.  There isn't much middle ground for him.  Because of this trait I trust him completely.  Even if he feels as if he might have done something wrong he will tell me.  He is amazingly honest, I love that about him.

As I look at my children I know they all have a piece of their emotional Mommy alive and well within them.  When Micah gets deeply disappointed he will often show it through huge tears that collect in his eyes.  His face gets very red and he starts breathing harder.  His excitement will make is stomach sick or give him a sleepless night (Christmas Eve, birthdays, exciting plans, and vacations are brutal nights for him).

Micah is fiercely loyal.  If he calls you friend, then he has your back.  He will go to very uncomfortable places to stand next to or stand up for a friend in need.  He loves people and being with people (he got that from his Daddy Mommy!), the more people over, the better.  The more play dates, the better.  He would keep our social calendar busy every day if I let him!!

Although his love language is not touch, he will be the first person to give you a hug when you walk in the door and the first one to hug you when you leave.  I have funny little story about someone trying to hug Micah when he didn't want to be hugged.

Saturday, on his birthday, he tested for his brown belt (one belt away from black).  There is a section of testing where you have a partner and spar, which basically means you put on all your gear and get to try out all kicks, strikes, and blocks on your partner.  Micah and his friend Dad sparred for 2 min.  At the end of their time Dan walked over and gave Micah a hug... In less than a blink of an eye, Dan found himself flat on his back staring at the ceiling (Uncle Timmy would've been proud).  I had taken video of the whole 2 min sparing time and had JUST turned the camera off when Micah flipped him! UGH!!!  The boys started laughing along with everyone else who just had witnessed the exchange (including the instructor).  Word of advice, let Micah initiate the hugs!  He said that that moment was his favorite part of his test that day!

I could keep on going about Micah and all that I see in him, all the pieces that make up this wonderful boy that I get to call my son.  But all of what he is and what he could be is nothing without the most important part of him.

He was a little boy getting ready to go to sleep in his Grandfathers cottage, the windows were open and we were listening to the waves break on the shore, when he asked Jesus into his heart.  It was a beautiful night.

As a parent you always want the best for your children.  You work hard to make sure they are exposed to all the "right" things.  Feeding them the right foods at the right time, making sure they have the safest car seat, as they grow you make sure they get the best education.  You allow them to try a sport or music, or do art, or karate...  You spend money left and right making all this happen and you do it gladly because you love them so much... It's a kind of love only realized when you have a child of your own.  Micah was the child that taught me first about this special love.  He was the child that opened my eyes to how much God really loves me, all of us, that he would give his only son, so that my son could have eternal life.  I know that in trying to get "it all right" I got so much more wrong.  But the most important thing we got right, was introducing our son to Jesus.

 Micah, God has given you a yearning to be with people, it will be interesting to see how He uses that in the years to come.  Your gentle heart is open for all to see, especially those who take the time to really see it.  I love your openness and your honesty.  I love the look on  you face when you are unsure of yourself, its a look of meekness.  I love how you giggle at night when your brother is cracking jokes and how you can't fall asleep without a million blankets on you and your radio playing.  I love how quickly you can fall asleep (that was especially wonderful when you were a baby) and I love how you get up early everyday.  I love your passion for reading, and your willingness to always help me when I need it most.  I love how you take time to play with and spend time with your little cousins, making them feel loved and special.  You have the most wonderful mix of strength and gentleness that are essential in a good leader, husband, and father.  Micah, as you continue to test your growing wings, never forget who made the wind currents that you are flying on.  As your faith gets tested, which it will, hold tight to the One who formed you, who created you within me, the One who gave you life.

We Love you Micah!!!  Happy 12th Birthday!!!