twelve is swell

 Our Calvinator. Wow. Where do I begin? I could write books of all we've gone through together over the years--from the rocky road of toddlerhood to the head-scratching chapters of growing-up years. You are always communicating, asking questions, and ravenously absorbing knowledge about the world around you. You hold the parenting puzzlement crown, and I've been shaking my head a lot lately over what comes out of your mouth. You excel--to superhuman degree--in antagonizing your sisters, and occasionally your brother. We'll blame that on your over-developed sense of humor. 

But your ever-expanding leadership skills are coming out more all the time. And this is a good thing in a soon-to-be man.

You seem to possess a head for business and have a drive to work and earn money already, with mowing the neighbors' lawns. You kids have created an economic game with the neighbor kids in which you trade "lavenders" (spicy-scented tree buds) as currency for handmade clay pots, and you were upsetting everyone by getting rich too quickly. You like to be busy, and currently have me looking around for extra chores, because you have a NEED to be occupied.

On the activities front, you've amazed us at stepping up your basketball skills. You love to cook, and have recently been developing your videography skills and, combining these two passions, you've created several cooking show episodes with narration and creative camera angles included.

You're still learning piano, a little on the drum set, and have improved your vocal music skills dramatically this year. You don't especially enjoy school, but you've grown in self-discipline and getting those LONG math assignments done at a reasonable time. You prefer to read books containing random and amazing facts over chapter books, and enjoy caring for the parakeets in your free time, being sure to play music on the radio for them so they can sing and exercise their vocal chords.

In the meantime, you're exercising your vocal chords daily. And I love that you communicate about everything. It's a joy to hear the things that go on in that analytical brain of yours.

And I think you are understanding more spiritual truths too...God has communicated to us the most important things we need to know in His word. And our prayer is that you would use your mind to understand these important things--gain this most valuable knowledge, and acquire the wisdom to put godly living into action.

We love you, Bud!

Proverbs 1:7-9

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
            Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
            And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
            And ornaments about your neck.