We celebrated my oldest son’s birthday earlier this week and as usual this summer, I am running behind. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to post. The problem is I can’t believe I have a twelve year old, and I feel like he is slipping into his man-skin which will eventually take him away from us. We only have five summers left before he will graduate from high school. *sob*

Plus, I hate that we are always in transition or vacation during his birthday. He has only had one or two birthday parties with friends, and for some reason I feel that I have somehow failed him in that arena. Despite my unrealistic expectations and our transition time, he had a great party here with family including dinner at P.F. Chang’s, dessert at the Yogurt Ranch, and enough money to buy Minecraft, an online building game that will likely take over his life soon (he had already exhausted the free version).

When he was born, I didn’t expect it to be easy, but I had no idea how being a parent would turn me inside out and press me closer to Christ. Ransom will always be the first to bear the brunt of our mistakes, and he will always be the first to introduce us to the joys of each new stage. His name means “Son of the Shield.” I pray that he will always stand behind the shield of Christ. Happy 12^th birthday, Ransom. (and please stop growing out of your shoes at the rate of one size per month…really.)

Ransom at the Museum of Musical Instruments (AKA gong heaven)