Birthdays Begin Again!

NOTE: I just realized that this is the second post on this birthday. That's what happens when you get behind in blogging. However, I feel to leave this post as well, for it truly speaks of the upright character of my son.

With the beginning of a new year comes a new cycle of birthdays! I love birthdays. They provide me as a mother an opportunity to honor my children individually as I try to make the day memorable for them. I don't always put as much effort forth as I would like - life gets busy, but my children are my highest priority, and I LOVE to help them feel special and loved!

This year started with Myles birthday! What a special boy he is. He is so clever and has been working on so many of his talents and skills. He has become so handy. He knows his way around tools and a fair bit of equipment such as lawn mowers, rototillers, chain saws and all that sort of stuff. He is confident with power tools as well and works well as a great blessing to his father when they work together. 

For his birthday meal, Myles requested pizza. We made 4 homemade pizza's in our favorite themes - Hawaiian and a meat pizza. Myles, in his usual helpful manner, helped to cut the pizza as we gathered for the meal.

Pizza is a favorite family meal. I love the tradition of eating together as a family. As you can see, we get a little bit of silliness going on (at the end of the table) which often provides the nutrients in building strong family bonds. Of course family meals also provide the physical nutrition that comes from good food. What a blessing it is to have children that also value family meals.

Myles even helped to light his own candles on the cake - of course, he likes to light candles, so it is natural that he would light the candles on his own cake.

Myles is a very handy person, so for his birthday we gave him a very handy set of gadgets. These hand held tools have all sorts of uses and applications that I know Myles will discover as he does different little projects.

 I am so thankful to have a son who honors his sisters and his parents. Myles is a blessing in our home, and while he struggles with some of the same things that many teenagers struggle with like getting along in off moments, Myles is a great support to his family. Myles loves to do things with his sisters. He often plays ball with Melodee and he helped her to get the after school job that she has. Together they go to work and then they often come home together as well. Myles is a very dependable person, and the neighbors love his willingness to help them out. When they need someone, they seem to instinctively know that Myles is always ready and willing to assist.

I can't help but feel blessed when I consider the goodness of my son. It is a joy and a delight to work with him, for he helps me often without complaint. He is always up for a family activity, faithfully fulfills his home teaching responsibility with his dad, and his priesthood duties at church. He is a good example and a blessing in our home. Myles, it is a definite JOY to call you my son.