Oh, how helpful!

"Where's Zoja?" I ask the kids. "Upstairs," comes the reply. But there's no answer when I call up to her. That's always suspicious.  So I climb the stairs and find her in the bathroom. She's got a toothbrush in her hand and she's carefully cleaning every crevice of the toilet with it. "Zo?" I ask. "What are you doing?" "My job," she says. "I cleaning the toyet!" So proud of herself. "I think the toilet is clean now. Thank you very much." "You wecom," she says as she turns to leave. "Um, Zoja? Did you use this toothbrush too?" I ask, pointing to another brush perched precariously on the edge of the counter. "YES!" she replies. "I hepping!" Yes, so very helpful. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the store to buy 2 new toothbrushes...

13!

This guy is 13 today, if you can believe it.

Which I can't. Because I still see this little boy when I look at him...

...and this little boy

...and this one.

And he still is this little boy. Full of questions and overflowing with exciting stories and wild imaginings...

And he's still this little boy, eager to engage with the world around him.

 

And that little boy who liked to build things and pretend things? He's grown into a bigger boy who likes to build things and pretend things...

And a young man who loves his family and God...

A young man who makes me proud to be his mama, proud to be witnessing the unfolding of his life. Happy 13 Ziven! I'm sure your teenage years will hold plenty of exciting new adventures and I can't wait to see where the next few years take you. But even though you are growing into such a young man, you know you'll always be my little boy, too!