14 Years???

How in the world did my baby get to be 14 so quickly?  

Seriously, it is so heartbreaking to find that your children grow up in a flash!  

It's especially difficult when you absolutely LOVE everything about your kids & watching them discover and learn about themselves, life, & God.

Yes, Zachary Joseph turned 14 this week (on the 2nd, actually - he is my little groundhog).  As I was praying for him, this week, I was remembering some of the things that make him so dear to my heart.....As a baby, he was the most content of the three and LOVED to be snuggled up close and rocked - I think the Lord gave him that ability just for me.  Being my last one, God knew I would need a snuggler!......As a toddler, he so loved to be read to.  This fueled his imagination, I think.  He was always very imaginative and boy, did he love his superheroes!  From Bibleman to Batman & Robin - he knew just how to play the part of each one!....As a gradeschooler, he was quick to learn and SO SMART!  He still loved to play, though - and he could play with the silliest little thing and keep himself contentedly occupied for hours.  From paper clips to rocks to rubber bands or even a pinecone & a stick.  It always astounded me the kind of imaginative play he could create!....He was always the 'King of one-liners'  & still is to this day.  He regularly cracks us all up with his sharp, witty little quips about everything.....As a young adolescent, now, I see him narrowing his fields of interest a little bit.  He absolutely loves adventure!  I think he would be content to be a backpacker/mountain climber/kayaker, etc. for the duration of his life.  Sports is still a huge component, though - and he's got great natural talent when it comes to sports.  Hopefully he can find a career in between all that, somehow.  

I see him gaining such strides as a child of God - his faith is deep and well-rooted (ptl).  He's always been a deep thinker and often brings up questions or thoughts that I often need to take a second to think about.

So that, in a nutshell, is my precious little Zach-man.  I love him to pieces and pray that God will continue to grow him up strong in his faith, and he will seek the Lord all the days of his life.