Happy 12th Birthday Younger Boy!!

I am so sorry I missed your actual birthday.  I can't tell you how proud I was of you for letting me be away on your big day.  I love that you understood my love of camp for foster kids.

Younger Boy...I met you for the first time in the summer of 2008.  Little did I know then the way that you would change my life.  Why I remember details about you from that first year of camp...I never understood.  Then God chose me to be your mommy.  Now I get it.

You make me smile...every day.  There are so many amazing things about you.

1. You love God.  You sit in the car and read your Bible while we are driving.  You dance to the worship songs at church.  You raise your hands in praise and don't care what anyone thinks.  You just love God.
2. You are a good little brother to Middle Boy.  You ask him for advice and you listen to what he has to say.  You don't get mad even when he is being bossy.  You look up to him and you love him.
3. You are inquisitive.  You will ask questions about things you don't understand.  You will take things apart to figure out how they work.  I love that about you.
4. You are sensitive.  You care about how others feel and don't like anyone to be sad.  You will stand up for the underdog even if it means other people might not like you.
5. You are smart.  Super smart.  Sometimes maybe you don't use you intelligence in ways that are completely appropriate, but you are smart.
6. Your willingness to help out.  It is really rare when you won't step in and help out if you see someone in need.  You will help others even without them having to ask.
7. Your athleticism.  I love how sports come pretty naturally to you.  You love sports and you love being a part of a team.  You are so much fun to watch when you are in your element.
8. Your amazing ability to figure out electronics.  If I didn't know you were only 12 I would think maybe you designed electronics from the speed in which you can figure out how things work from websites, to DVD players, to video games. 
9. Your smile.  It lights up a room.  I wish I could see it more often.
10. You are a survivor.

Buddy...I hope your birthday was amazing.

I love you...

Mom