Happy Birthday Collin!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe it, but my son, my oldest son is turning 14 years old in just two  hours.  He was born just about an hour shy of his Grandma Diana's birthday.  If only he was more excited to greet the world, they would have shared the same birthday :)

But alas, he is turning 14 and I can't help but be  so thrilled with who he has come and is becoming still.  He is generous, kind hearted, tender hearted, sensitive, sweet, and yes, even at 14 years, he still cuddles and kisses his momma.  Oh my heart!  That makes me melt.

He is shy, but he has more than enough words when he settles in and gets comfortable with someone.  He is mellow but can run around and get silly with the best of them.  Camoflauge and SWAT teams are in his future (or so he thinks) and yet the sweetest of puppies capture his heart and turn him into a gentle giant.

I don't know what the Lord has in store for him.  I do know the Lord  has used this past year to mold, strengthen, shape, and refine him.  And I am so thankful for that.  Thankful that the same God who guides, loves, protects, provides for, and treasures me feels the same way about my son.  Secretly I hope the Lord has even greater plans for him.  That would just about make life for me.

Seeing your children walk in the way of  the Lord, committed in steadfast love and surrender to Him.  Nothing could be sweeter......not even birthday cake!

Oh and speaking of birthday cake, we spent one evening with some friends celebrating his birthday kind of early.  I have been so inundated with China homestudy and dossier paperwork and appts, that I didn't even schedule a celebration.  Good friends put it altogether for us so I didn't have to do a thing :)  Here are some pics of us celebrating with camo cake and playing "Quelf," a truly wonderfully silly and fun game to play.

Enjoying the time playing games!

Jimmy doing exactly what a card told him to do.  Lick and stick the paper to his forehead. 

We busted up laughing!

Presenting his camo cake made by Beth just for him.

After the candles were blown....yum!

Don't mind all that junk food!  It was game night right?  Hee hee!

Joe playing a song out his nose.  That was what his card said to do.  So we support him......

.....by laughing at him!!!!!!!!!!

I had to pretend to be Shakespeare and say some lovely "Thou art" words to Beth.  

Truly thankful for a wonderful son and his birthday...even though it means I am getting old(er)!