You are 9, and life is speeding quickly by. You are a climber, a runner, a soccer player, a jokester, and a friend. You are both serious and wildly funny. You are a hard worker - extremely diligent when you set your mind to tasks before you. You love working in the garden and checking on the crops. When we come home from a trip, you can't wait to take a walk in the yard and inspect the plants.
This Spring we had the opportunity to go on migratory bird walks with the Audubon society, and your knowledge of birds doubled. I loved watching you identify new species and enjoy learning more birds by sight and sound.
You have been playing Homeschool soccer for several seasons now and are thoroughly enjoying it. This Summer the World Cup was taking place in Russia, and we were able to watch a lot of the games from home. You were quickly able to learn the major players' names and distinguish between teams - learning the country flags and understanding the official rules of the game. It was so much fun to watch alongside you. When the games were over you would rush back out to the yard and practice dribbling and shooting some more. We decided to sign you all up for a British soccer camp for a week, and I've never seen you so exhausted before. But you loved it!
Speaking of camp - you went to camp Westminster this Summer with sister for the first time. Although you enjoyed the camp, you said you were homesick and couldn't wait to get back to the house. Maybe you were missing the yard and the plants in particular? Either way, we missed you, too!
The Sunday after camp, you were baptized and joined the church. It was such a beautiful thing to witness this growth in your life, and to hear you articulate a desire to share your faith with the church, and to participate in the life of the church more fully - starting with communion. One of the most beautiful things about it was that it was done in community. This Spring during small group the parents were praying for you boys - that you would grow in knowledge and insight as well as in grace and love. Your friend, Daniel was baptized before you, and then you stood up alongside William and Miller to all 4 become communing members together. I hope you will be encouraged by their friendship and community for years to come, and that when you "remember your baptism" you will see it in this broader context. It is a gift.
This Summer Kara assigned you your first jig on the violin. You learned it in one day and couldn't wait to share it with others. I think it has inspired you, and I can't wait to see what will come of it. You have moved into a 3/4 size violin, and the sound from the instrument is so much clearer and sweeter than your old violin. Some days I just sit and listen and am amazed.
You love listening to The Green Ember series, and just finished reading your first novel - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm. You went from that to Beowulf, and I can't wait to see what you pick up next!
I love who you are and can't wait to see who you become.
Love,
Mama
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| Holding the sloth with joy |
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| Trying to get Cuatro to participate in a first-day-of-school picture |
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| The Boggs and Fire Making |
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| Booth Western Art Museum |
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| Thanksgiving hike |
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| Fall Violin Recital |
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| The big snow! (14 inches in Kennesaw) |
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| Caddie Woodlawn party with Writing Co-Op |
