who’s a teenager?

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Why can’t my children just stay children until they are grown up enough to leave home?  Maybe they do, in some ways.  That would be nice.  I really don’t mind having older children, they are my friends in ways that a toddler just can’t be.  But.  There’s just something different about being or having a TEENAGER.  It’s exciting and …..different somehow.  A new stage of growth.

Where did the time go?  How many times do mothers ask themselves that question?

I have so many memories and thoughts running through my mind, I have for days.  Little stories of my firstborn….how much I wanted to be a MOM, how it felt to be pregnant for the first time, my first labor and delivery and hospital stay, getting to know my son, being so proud, being surprised at the love I had in my heart for another person.  Thirteen years worth of memories of my Jacob.  I’ve always been so happy and proud of him, of all my children.

And now I am the mother of someone who is 13.  Today is a milestone day for me.  I’m a mother of a teenager.  And not just any teenager, either…..perhaps the nicest and bestest teenager in the whole wide world. 

 

Happy Birthday, Jacob!

 

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35 thoughts on “who’s a teenager?”

  1. wow! I’m right behind ya, Shanda… mother of teenagers? no way! let’s lock em in a box or something. 😉 a little short box so they can’t grow anymore!! hee hee~happy birthday Jacob~ you’ve got quite the job as first born.. but it’s a role I think you carry off very well. may you always have a heart that seeks to please God above anyone else.how COOL to be born on the last day of the year!!! 🙂

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  2. Aww I love the last picture so much! Happy birthday to him!! ;)I didn’t know I had my speakers turned on and I heard the Star Wars song and I was like WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM?? I am at work and I work with a LOT of Star Wars fans so I assumed it was someone’s ring tone or something haha!

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  10. I got my boys those very same swords for Christmas!  I was just telling Jim (my oldest) that we would go to see you all when we visit grandpa this summer.  I was telling him about your oldest boys and how I really wanted them to meet each other because they have the same interests.  Then I see your guys fighting with those marvelous swords!  We had a battle in our back yard in the snow!  The boys were quite happy with them, since they are always constructing swords out of PVC pipe.  I also got them the William Wallace swords.  I will have to take and post pictures of my boys for your boys to see.  Oh, Happy Birthday Jacob!

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  12. Happy Happy Birthday to Jacob!! Very Epic last picture. My 16 year old sighted those swords in the last post right off. Keep up the good work Mama of so many boys. Good news from my experience…they keep loving you and they stay “boys” well into being men…meaning Jacob will continue to be fun and play even as he amazes you as he becomes a wise young man.

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  18. Happy B-day to a great first born son~ blessings on his 13th year – may he be a young man who glorifies the Lord ! Shanda, I’ve a a little bit still before entering any teen years, but I’m sure it will come faster than I expect. You’ll have to give me some tips.

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  20. Happy Birthday to your son, such a fine young man he looks to be. that last picture is awesome…somehow speaks of a boy still enjoying and clinging to the pleasures of youthfulness and I love that. Time goes too fast doesn’t it? Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  23. happy birthday, jacob!!  what a great way to end each year, celebrating such a special son.
    that last photo is stunning.  my youngest boy came up to me as i was reading your post, saw the picture, and said, “wow, who’s that?!”  apparently he liked it, too!
    blessings to you and your wonderful family in 2010.

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  24. Happy Birthday, Jacob! May the Lord bless you and keep you, guide you and lead you in your journey toward adulthood! Shanda, your pictures touch me so. The emotions they evoke run the gamut, and often bring tears to my eyes. The one of the two boys on the hill took my breath away. It just seems so….magical. I love the ones of the boys lined up…and that is the first picture I can remember you posting of a sad Seth. 😦 I think it’s neat that Jacob loves to play and take care of Seth. :)Hope today is a blessed day for all you.~Kara~

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  25. It makes me nostalgic whenever I think of the first days with my firstborn.  Then I think about how excited I am for the new relationship we get to have together.  My husband has such a terrific relationship with his mom – I look forward to the day when I’m at that place with my boys.  Though, I still enjoy our time right now, at least most days. 🙂

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  26. Embrace the moment:).  The time seems to just fly by.  Your son looks like he is a great example to his younger siblings.  I think the relationship you start with them as toddlers just grows with them as they get older, but it is different interacting with another human with thoughts/ideas that they are trying to develop and test.  God bless you as you enter this next “phase” of increased independence.    

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  28. Seth is not too pleased in the group shot, is he? Happy birthday to Jacob and congratulations to you, too. May you have all the wisdom and discernment you need to bring all of your children through the years ahead. My kids were jewels, and I was often warned that they would rebel when they hit their teens. HA! This was not to be. They continued to be jewels shining with love in their hearts for the Lord. They still are at ages 31 and 26! Even now, I can remember when they were born and what a wonder it was. Children are a blessing!

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  30. My older two will be 12 and 15 in the soon coming months.   I often wish I could go back to their baby days.  Oh how much more I would enjoy them.   But, we cant and maybe thats a good thing. lol.  Thats why I love having a bigger family.  I get a chance at being a better mom with each one.

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  32. The last picture!!! WOW!!!  AMAZING!I can’t believe it either, seems like just yesterday we were comparing engagement thoughts, I agree he is so sweet and kind!Did you get the swords from the reformation catalog?

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  33. Wow! Sword fight on snowy peak is fabulous!!!! Teens are fun times. You’ve laid a proper foundation. But there will be times when they express their growing desire for independence rather indelicately. Remember that they are transitioning to direction from God directly. That’s OK, even good. They still have a calling to honor Father and Mother, but the first commandment precedes it and under girds it.

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  34. Wow! 13!! I missed this post.  I hope Jacob had a wonderful birthday, and that this 13 year be blessed in so many ways.  My oldest is 11, and it is flying by so fast.  When I look at the 6 kiddos God had trusted me with, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love.  May God bless you all this year as you await another blessing.  Cherish every minute, as it seems you do.  Before we know it our babies will be the ages of our firstborns.  Doesn’t it seem like yesterday that Jacob was crawling around? I know for me it does!  When I look at Nick, I cannot believe over half my time raising him here in our home is over.  In just a few years he will be going off to college.  :((  However, I do enjoy seeing the wonderful man he is becoming, and the nice discussions we are able to have now.  Each stage along the journey is good in it’s own way.  Many blessings to you all!  ~ Deborah

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  35. That Picture of I presume Jacob and Ethan sword fighting on the hill….EPIC i mean Just EPIC!!! Like it came out of a movie or something…

    BTW Be prepared to find random comments throughout the history of this awesome Blog… 🙂

    Michael T Payne

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