Look Who Is Turning 5 Years Old???

Have you ever been given a gift that you didn't understand the value of it when you received it?  I remember at our wedding, we got this set of hot pads that you would put on the table and then put your hot pots on.  I thought it was such a weird gift.  Yet, it is the one thing that I use all the time.  They are old, the picture on them is faded and they aren't even straight anymore, yet, they are proved to be a useful gift.

Josh.  My sixth child.  Lord knew we didn't need anymore kids.  We had our hands full with 5 busy boys.  Yet, me, being me, I needed another baby.  I wanted another baby.  (OK, I wanted to try for a girl, one last time).  My husband never says no to my heart's desires.

March 27, 2005, Easter Sunday, Joshua Daniel was born.  He took a LONG time to come out.  After 5 babies, Zach, who only took 2 hours to slide out, the doctors were sure Josh was going to be fast, maybe even scary fast.

Who know he had other ideas.  He took 12 hours to get out.  I was not impressed.  I should have realized it was a warning.  He was going to be a babe that did things his way.  He was going to be a leader and not a follower.  I was so mad at him.  Really?  12 hours?  That was so not necessary.    He was 6'12 even though he came 3 weeks early.

Baby number 6... we didn't get off to a great start.  He needed me so much and I needed space.  He didn't let me have it.  He made me love him.  He didn't care that I was sad I didn't get my girl.  He didn't care that I had 5 other sons that needed loving.  He just made sure that it was all about him.  He did in such a way that everyone fell in love with him.  His brothers adore him.  He leads them.  He knows how to do it in such a way that they don't even know that they are being taken!  He has his dad wrapped around not just his finger but his whole heart!

Another boy.  Yet he, just like his brothers, is not just another boy.  Josh is so special.  He is the kind of gift that I didn't realize the "value"of when I first saw him.  Yet he was not going to settle for being lumped into  the category of another boy.  

Funny how many people do that every day.  Yesterday I heard someone say, "Well at least my daughter got a girl in the mix of those boys."  THOSE BOYS?

Back to Josh, though.  Josh is just delicious!  Josh is sparkly.  Josh is like the firework show that comes on Independence Day.  Josh is sure the whole world loves him.  He is sure that life stops just for him.  He really thinks that blinking at him will make him have a dream about you.  He is sure that toys in the stores are just waiting for him to come and bring them home.  He believes that shooting someone with a gun is showing affection.  He loves to snuggle and be told that "I am so glad that Jesus gave you to me."

My Josh is turning 5 tomorrow.  5 years ago this little gift came into my life.  I have the pleasure of finding out every single day what a wonderful gift I have been given full of surprises that make me want to cry with thankfulness that I was blessed with this little but not so little bundle of love.

Joshua Daniel... Happy Birthday, my sweet blessing from God.  I am SO glad that Jesus gave you to me!  I love you with all my heart and then some.  You are loved and cherished! 

Thank you God, for knowing how much I needed Josh in my life.  Thank you for giving him to me.  What a delightful gift!  What a yummy treat!  What a privilege to be called Mommy to this dear boy!

Amen.

Big One and Little One...

Today was Josh's trip to the sugarbush.  I was planning on going with him.


Sammy made the Junior Team for hockey in high school.  Today was the big tournament for them.


Last night Sammy asked me if I could come to his game.


Here's the thing about teens.   They are growing up.  They are seeking independence.  Yet they still are in need of their parents.  I am so glad he asked.


Josh was not impressed.  He still isn't impressed.  Yet he will get over it.  If you look up baby in the dictionary, you will likely see Josh's picture!  Life is really all about him.  His brothers cater to him.  We forget he is going to be 5 years old (tomorrow) and continue to take his lead as baby of the family.


Going to Sammy's game was quite an experience for me.  It was a whole new world.  Our boys play on the  city teams.  Well, the church teams.  Sammy is a very talented athlete.  He just excels in the world of sports.  He is a great player.


Yesterday, when I walked into the arena, the game had just started.  I found myself holding my breathe the whole game!  (Quite a talent, I know)!  The boys on the teams were huge!  Not only were they bigger than big but they were rough!!!  Wow.  I was scared.  My Sammy was one of the smaller players.  I found myself praying that God would keep him safe.   Intense.  Rough.  Hockey. Yikes.


All was well and Sammy was exhausted.  I am proud that he was able to hold his own.  I am not sure I want him to try out for the high levels.  At least not until he puts on a 100 more pounds and grows a few feet!


This was the day of my biggest and littlest.  How so alike and different they are!  They are like the book ends of our family!

Don't Talk to Strangers...

I grew up listening to Christian radio.  Many song from the 70s and 80s that cause my peers to start wiggling hips and belt out lyrics with fondness leave me clueless.  As I grew older, I have learned groups and songs from this era but they do not fill me with memories as they do for many others.


Having teenagers in the vehicles, I am forever hearing, "Can you turn up the radio?"  Sammy loves to DJ from one station to the next.  My younger ones have grown up hearing songs that my older ones never would have known.


Josh has a great memory for songs and lyrics.    So often he surprises me and sings along to a pop song that I can't even understand the words.  (I sound old, don't I)?  lol


As we were driving somewhere this weekend, just the two of us, I hear his little high pitch voice singing along... except I am understanding his words.... which almost caused me to make an accident.
My four year old was singing"
"Hey pretty lady it's crazy
You're almost twice my age
I wanna dance on your body
The way I shake it on stage...

Don't talk to strangers..."

(Song sung by Hedley)

Hearing this out of my four year old's mouth was very disturbing (kind of funny, since he was singing with all his heart) and yet very disturbing.

Um... I think it is time to go back to Christian radio.

While on the topic, another Josh story... Josh loves me.  He doesn't like to think that there is anyone else loving me.  So more often then not, he competes with Sanj.  Last night as I was putting him to bed, he was questioning the Date that he knew Sanj and I were going on.  He wanted to go.  I told him we were just going to be in our room.  "Is that why you have candles?" he asked.  

"Yes"  I replied.

He begrudging went to bed.  This morning when I came into my room, I noticed the candles were gone.  I thought maybe Sanj put them away but was doubtful.  As we were laying in bed watching the Olympics, Josh said, "Is your date over?"  

"Yes," I replied.  

"OK... I put the candles away," said Josh.

He was so bothered by the Date.

Funny boy!

Instant Birth Control!

I have written many a blog about my youngest, my sweet Joshua.

I love him to pieces.  He is a special gift to me.  I just know that God has huge plans for him.

Here's the thing... I am 41 years old.

I am not as full of energy as I was in my 20s.

I am busier than I ever was.

I have a lot of things that run through my head all day.

Yet as I love this little shadow of mine... (he is literally every where I am)...

He is exhausting.  He never shuts up.  Never!  He talks constantly.  He never runs out of things to say.

I can't think with him around.  He asks me questions I many times have no answers for.

He starts as soon as he sees light outside... "Mommy, can you open your eyes now?  It's morning time."

"Mommy, is there lava under the ground?"

"Mommy, I don't have to wipe my penis like moms do."

How come Washington D.C. has all the snow?

"Can I have a toy?"

"I don't have to pee, I am just dancing."

"Do I have cavities today?

He exhausts me.  He is instant birth control.  If I ever had a moment of pining for a little baby, it is quickly gone as I hear Josh's voice.  I am too old for a 4 year old.  I am too old for a 4 year old that never shuts off.

Never!

People that are considering having a babe should really borrow Josh for half a day  (that will be plenty)... so they can see that they may get a Josh.  He is the Energizer bunny.  He never stops.

Instant Birth Control.

I Love Him!