When Noah turned FiFtEeN!

Why does fifteen feel so much more official of a teenager than fourteen?  It really does to me!  I can't believe I have a fifteen year old.  Look at this beautiful boymanchildteenager!

 

He didn't want a cake this year; he wanted the chocolate pie we always get on Thanksgivings.  I love that!  Chocolate pie it was!  He also didn't want candles.  I vetoed that. Glad I did!

Birthday gift that made the day was a set of airsoft rifles finally!  Other goodies included some Minecraft novels he is really enjoying, a reacher/grabber tool, a new phone case, a hockey stick, a new hockey goal and some moolah from grandparents, and then buddies surprised him with gifts cards for xBox, pizza, Amazon, and Gamestop.  We also gave him the promise to start teaching him to drive this summer. Cannot believe he is old enough for a permit!!  We will go real slow into that adventure though.

Instead of a party for this milestone birthday, he picked going to a Preds game with a handful of friends and we loved that idea for him.  It was a great night with Barret, Bryson, and Colman!

 

 

I remember lamenting a smidge the last couple years of middle school boy stages - temper and mood and habits and foolishness and such.  They held some relational challenges for us all, growing up with him.  I can truly tell you now that I see those things melting away right on cue here at 15 and my son is settling into a new maturity little by little that I adore to see coming on.  We talk more.  He impresses me in new moments where I used to have to intervene and lecture or correct.  His work ethic is skyrocketing.  He shows new initiative and it blesses all of us around him.  He asks thoughtful questions.  He keeps displaying such responsibility and self control.  We talk about future career paths for him.  He is protecting our growing trust.  And, bless it, he is trying hard to not get into spats with Lasa by learning to hold his tongue around her when extra commentary is just not needed. Important life skill!! Truth.

I feel so intimidated by being a parent to a teenager. But we are taking careful slow steps forward every day together.  I know he will turn out so great.  I just feel the burden of doing what's best for him and also not doing the doing FOR him.  I feel the pull of pushing him to grow up and the opposite pull to hold him close to home and protect his innocence as long as I can.  What a gift that Noah continues to be such a mild and gentle soul as we go.  For his birthday, would you pray God's blessings in his life and that the Lord would grip his heart this year especially and grow his love of His Word in a new, gripping way? Thank you!!

Happy birthday, my beautiful Noah! You are such a great kidteenyoungman.  We are proud of who you are.  So proud. Fifteen is gonna be a big year! Excited to share it with you.

~Mom