Happy Birthday, Bantam16!

Oh, my, these birthdays. They come around far too often.

I can't believe that half our kids are now old enough to drive.  B16 just got his learner's permit about a month ago.  He'll be eligible to get his license in early October, so he should be able to drive himself to school next year.  With Blondechick18 gone to college, that will be a tremendous help! He's going to be a good driver.

This young man has had a good year.  He played JV soccer last fall and added cross country when he realized he could do both; next year he'll probably just do cross country. He has always loved running alone or with his dad, and this year he added some home weight-lifting, push-ups, pull-ups and more to his workout.  He took choir as an elective this year and added show choir as well--at the persistent urging of his sister--and ended up enjoying both.  He's also had a good year in an advanced art class. This spring, he's been rehearsing with B12 and Chicklet8 in his role as Little John in our theater group's musical production of Robin Hood (coming up May 20-22!).

But his first love is guitar! He's been teaching himself chords and strumming patterns, and he's even tried his hand at writing a few songs.  He's in a band with friends--he's the lead singer--and has a couple of "side bands" as well--friends that he plays guitar with and they've written a few songs together.  None of these groups really play anywhere yet besides at each other's houses, but they are learning so much together.  Recently, he's also become more involved in singing at church, and he's about to start playing guitar with our little worship team, unplugged at first, just to learn.  He's also thinking about taking the worship team class and playing in chapel next year at his school.  (So many electives, so little time....)

This summer, he'll be spending a month at Honey Rock, the same camp he went to last year for two weeks.  Even though it's going to be a big chunk out of his summer, he's excited to go back.  He grew so much spiritually at camp last summer, and this school year has been a chance to work out some of those lessons in real life, sometimes the hard way. But he's making a lot of good choices, and he's trying hard to pursue God and follow His leadings.  We can't ask for more than that! 

So proud of you, son. 

Blessed is the man
   who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
   or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and who meditates on his law day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers. 

~Psalm 1:1-3