Lucky Number 13

Dear Weston~

Thirteen years ago you made me a boy mom. I had no idea how to fill that role, and frankly, I was a little terrified. Admittedly, sometimes I still feel that way. But, you have been a great teacher, and you have been very patient with me, and together, we are figuring it out. I am so incredibly proud of the young man you are becoming, and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow and mature during these thirteen years!

This year has been full of fun and adventure. You have continued to be very involved in Scouts and are still rising through the ranks. You are just on the brink of getting your Life rank, and I admire the hard work you've put in to making that happen. You have also become a great leader within the troop. Many of the other Scouts look up to you, and the adult leaders have great respect for you. You became the troop's librarian and immediately made some positive changes that were very beneficial to the troop. You also received a staff position for Brownsea and have worked hard to learn the material on fire building so you can teach it at the camp next week. Additionally, you have attended every monthly campout as well as special week-long camps in New Mexico this summer and Palo Duro a couple of weeks ago. Scouting lights you up and has given you confidence and purpose, and I'm so glad you are pouring yourself into it.

This was a year of new sports for you. You tired your hand at basketball, ping pong, and cross country. I love your willingness to try new things and to diligently search for those things that you truly enjoy rather than just sticking with what you already know. Each sport had its own lessons for you, and each experience helped you grow as a person. 

You wrapped up your time in CC last semester with a wonderful research paper on Thomas Jefferson, which you put your best effort into. And, this year, we started a new academic adventure by enrolling in Arrow. So far, you are really pleased we made the switch, and you are enjoying your classes, which include History, Guitar, P.E., Science, and Speech and Debate. This last class is your absolute favorite, and you even spend your free time working on speeches and preparing for debates. I think debate has become your new passion. You are looking for a team to join so you can become even more involved in the competitions. You were thrilled to receive a briefcase from Nana and Papa for your birthday so you can start putting your serious debater look together. 

We spent two months this summer traveling around South America, visiting places like Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, Easter Island, the Amazon, and the Andes. Your favorite activities were sandboarding in the Atacama Desert and snow skiing in the Andes. You were especially tickled to have the opportunity to ski in June since it is normally summer at that time, and it just felt so ironic. You also got to spend some time in Oklahoma City with Ruth and Nana, and you had so much fun exploring a new-to-you location. You love to travel, and you are always up for an adventure!

Weston, you are such a fun-loving, easy-going guy! You love to laugh and to make others laugh, and you fill our home with joy. You have a sweet heart, an analytical mind, a strong body, an adventurous spirit, and a bold presence in the world. You are growing in confidence and maturity every day, and I could not be more proud of you! You are my favorite thirteen-year-old! Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mom

Finally a teenager!