Dear Josh...

Dear Josh,

This past weekend, you turned 12. We had a great time - I brought Jack-in-the-Box to school and ate lunch with you on Friday (just me and you!), you shared cupcakes with all your friends, and you even brought the last two home to your sisters! When I left you at school, I expected my nearly 12 year old to be "too cool" to kiss his mom...I had prepared myself for it. So, I quickly kissed your forehead and got ready to go. You turned right around, looked me in the face and puckered up - it took everything I had not to bear hug you right there in the cafeteria...but surely that would have embarrassed you, so I refrained. ;-)

Grammy stayed with us for the entire weekend, which you loved. I love seeing you with your family - you love so fiercely and you enjoyed spending almost all of your time with Grammy. You even worked on a puzzle on Saturday morning for (literally) several hours. Kinda funny seeing Grammy working on a "Pirates of the Caribbean" puzzle featuring Johnny Depp, but neither of you cared - it was just fun to be together.

Josh and Grammy working on a puzzle

Saturday night we went to dinner - you chose Hard 8 Barbecue (what else?!). We met the whole family there - all of us, Grammy, Aunt Jackie, BUJ, Cooper & Arden, Honey & Pops, Granma, Pop-Pop & Nana. Everyone enjoyed their dinner, then we headed back home to have cupcakes and open presents - you requested devil's food cupcakes, so I made homemade cupcakes with chocolate fudge filling and cream cheese icing. YUM. :) I was reminded at present time how old you are getting - you did not get a lot to open - rather, you got money (which of course is one of the best presents a 12-year-old boy can get!!), some legos (those are ALWAYS fun!) and a certificate to spend the weekend with Pop-Pop and Nana (without your little sisters around to bug you, which is ALSO one of the best presents a 12-year-old boy with two little sisters can get!).

Josh Michael Mobley, 12 years old
March 10, 2012

Opening presents....forgive the dark photo...I had the wrong setting on and didn't figure that out until later...love his face in this though!

The birthday boy :)

Me and my boys...love this picture!

Josh giving us a performance!

Josh and his cheering section - Cooper, Zoe, Arden :)

We got you an electric scooter for your big present from us, and we gave it to you Friday night. It rained for just about the entire weekend, and you were SO patient and didn't complain about getting a present that you couldn't use! You were rewarded on Sunday afternoon when the sun came out and we all went outside together to watch you ride (and I admit, Daddy and I rode a bit too - that thing is fun!).

Riding the scooter for the first time - had to wait from Friday night ALL the way until Sunday afternoon!

caught the mailbox in this one, still a good shot though :)

Had to add those annoying little sisters...they look WAY to sweet here to be annoying! ;-)

Over the past few weeks in particular, I've watched you begin to change - there is less and less little boy in you, and more and more young adult. It feels normal for me to have said a hundred times that I see less and less baby - all three of my kids are growing too fast and even the baby is not much of a baby anymore. But it feels completely foreign for me to be entering a phase of life (rather, watching you enter a phase of yours) where the KID is less and less visible - right before my very eyes you are growing up!

You are an amazing kid - you are goofy, funny, adorable (ahem, handsome), loving, patient, kind, tender-hearted - the list goes on. My heart is filled with such love for you - you are my first born and for a short season, you and me were it! I was (am) so blessed to have been chosen to be your mom. We are so blessed to have Daddy in our lives too - what an incredible and powerful thought it is to know that while most parents don't get to choose their kids, he did. And he chose you. He never hesitated for a second and has always been your dad...even before you told the judge that you DIDN'T want him to adopt you. ;-) We can't imagine our lives without you - just as you are.

Like most other moms (I'd imagine) I wish you'd slow down and stop growing up so fast, but at the same time, it is incredible watching you turn into a mini-adult. I am so anxious to see what God has in store for you - you have so much talent and such a sweet heart that the possibilities for how He will use you seem endless. Our prayer for you is that you always choose to live a life for Him - He created you, He formed you in your mother's womb, and He has a perfect plan for you.

Happy Birthday my son. I love you so much Josh - you are my sunshine. :)

Love,
Mom