twelve

We made it home (with only a few minor glitches).  I'll be posting pictures of our trip soon, but today, I want to celebrate this boy who is truly growing into a young man of God.  Happy Birthday, Adam!  We love you!

 

If

by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies.

Or being hated don't give way to hating.

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master

If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave you life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your long turn after they are gone.

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings--nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run

Yours is the Earth and everythng that's in it.

And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

Adam, these past twelve years have been an absolute delight.  I couldn't be prouder of the young man that you are becoming. Your love for Jesus and for everyone that you encounter is a gift to us all.  I love to see your genuine kindness towards others, I love to watch you worship the Lord with such enthusiasm, I love to hear you shout out "Praise the Lord!" every morning when you get your contacts in, I love to have you tell me all about what you're learning in school and I love the way that you take the humble road, never seeking attention, but always giving grace and life to those around you.  Happy Birthday, my son.  You are a treasure.