Joshua!

HELLO!

Did you miss me?!

I took a long break, as you can see.  I was trying to decide whether or not to keep writing my blog.  I spend quite a bit of time reading blogs and writing mine.  Sometimes I'm not sure whether it's always a great use of my time, you know?  Anyway, I took a hiatus, and now I am back...at least for today. : ) 

And today is an important day because..........it's my Joshua's birthday!!!

And he turned 10, which as everyone knows, is a very important milestone indeed.  Double digits!  How can it be so??  I'm so not old enough to have these very big kids running around here.  Anyway...

So, today's post is dedicated to Joshua.  And let me tell you, that boy totally deserves a post completely dedicated to him.  All of my children are awesome and special, and that is the truth.  But I can honestly say that Josh is a really unique kid.  I don't think I have ever met another child like him.  I know God has something out of the ordinary in store for him in his plan for his life.  Something really, really cool!

From the time Josh was a little tyke, he had this incredible smile.  I mean, when he smiled, it took over his entire face!  And his eyes just twinkled like little stars that had something mischievous up their sleeves.  He was a cuddler, and from those early, early days, that boy was happiest if he was WRESTLING.  Picture the smile as big as his face, those twinkling eyes, and these chubby little legs running at you as fast as they could, trying to knock you down.  That was Josh.  And he is still happiest today if he is in contact with you in some way.  Be it wrestling or hugging, or trying to show me how strong he is by showing how he can pick me up, he is not bothered by personal space issues. 

Josh is our most driven child.  By that I mean, if he gets a goal in his head, he will accomplish that goal.  The boy loves sweets more than life itself, but not long ago, he set the goal for himself that he would not eat more than two sweets a week, and he would not break that goal.  He even took carrots to a class where he knew they would have cookies.  He amazes me.  Right now the boys are all in a summer reading program.  He wasn't my most eager reader, but now that there is a goal to be reached, he is far, far ahead of everyone else.  I am always surprised by his willpower.  He has a very strong will, and he knows how to use that will for good.  (And sometimes not so good, but that is for a different post.)  ; )

Josh also loves him some good, hard work.  He is happiest when he is doing man's work.  You know--dishes and vacuuming are not his favorites.  He wants to be outside mowing the lawn, chopping wood, whacking weeds...whatever Dad typically does.  He loves to help his grandpa work up at camp.  Whatever needs to be done, Josh will do it, and do it heartily.  His dream is to spend summers up there working with Grandpa and Uncle Jimmy, and he hopes ten years old is old enough.  : )  He is also an amazing organizer!  He will spend hours cleaning and organizing his room.  Once, he had to stay home from the park because he had had a bad attitude.  When I got home, I thought he would be sad or angry.  Instead, he greeted me with, "Mom, close your eyes, and don't open them until I tell you."  His room was spotless, and everything was in its place, including the closet, desk and shelves, everything.  He spent hours cleaning and scrubbing the bathroom not long ago just because he wanted to do a great job.  I'm not sure he's actually my biological son...

Josh is also my entrepreneur-in-the-making.  He loves lemonade stands, garage sales... any kind of money making venture.  Not long ago I had to spend the day at a homeschool used book sale, selling my old stuff.  Josh wanted to come.  I explained that I would have to be there all day, there would likely not be lots of customers at this particular sale, and that it would be BORING.  He insisted on coming.  So, he came and was a huge help.  He helped carry boxes, helped set up, and sat, sat, sat there with me, even though the sale was largely a dud.  And when we left hours later, he said, "That was fun."

Does he like to play?  Yes.  But he typically doesn't like to play with cars and trains, Star Wars and Legos as much as the other boys and most of the friends do who come to call.  Josh would rather be building a fort, or stringing up a high ropes course on the swingset, or fashioning a parade float out of things he finds in the garage. He loves to shoot guns and whittle with knives, but  he also  loves to put on magic shows for his friends, and create shows on the trampoline or on skates in the driveway.  He just got a great puppet for his birthday.  I have an idea what will be brewing in that boy's mind in the coming days.

He collects rocks.  He loves his little sister so very much.  He wants to play the violin and the guitar.  He loves to sing, and especially loves singing southern gospel harmony with our family. How many boys do you know who love to wear ties?  And better yet, a suit and a tie?   On the flip side, he has very little fear, including when it comes to catching all kinds of critters and frogs... and snakes--snakes that bite and even draw blood.  It doesn't faze him. He loves it! 

He loves to spend time with you.  Spend the afternoon playing a board game with him or hanging out at the mall, and it will make his day.

He gets really, really excited over little things.  Those eyes still light up like mischievous little stars on a regular basis. 

And he is goofy and downright silly. 

He is one of a kind.  He is our own JOSHUA! 

Happy birthday, wonderful boy!!  We love you so much, and are so very proud of you!!!

p.s.. I want to post pictures on here, but I ran out of time tonight. Check back tomorrow, and I will add them.  : )