Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Big Day!



Will is TWELVE years old today!

And yes, that would be a cell phone he's holding. That was his big gift from us. He was thrilled. We let him open his gifts last night. Poor thing leaves for school at 7am and the girls are usually still in bed. I decided it would be torture to make him wait until this evening when John got home from work. 

The celebrating actually began last weekend with a guys getaway

He has requested roast beef and mashed potatoes for dinner tonight with four-layer delight for dessert. 

This weekend, he'll get together with his best little buds for some "guy" stuff and by then I think we will have successfully celebrated Will.

One gift that John hasn't given him yet (after dinner tonight) is a collection of letters from many of men in Will's life--family, friends of ours, our pastor, ministry leaders, etc. They each wrote some thoughts for Will on entering manhood--what that means to them and what that might hold for him. I read them last night and cried. 

I'm so thankful today for my son and for his life. I love him more than words can express, and I'm also thankful for the presence of strong men in his life that will accompany him on his journey into manhood. I'm especially thankful for John. Watching those two interact together is one of the greatest joys in my life. 

Happy Birthday, Will! 

29 comments:

Megan L Hutchings said...

What a sweet post:)! I really like the letter idea and hope to remember it one day with my little guys!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Will! You are blessed to have some awesome parents...I know you think they don't know EVERYTHING...but listen, they have some wise words to share.

Meredith, That is an awesome idea about the letters! Love it!

Cathy said...

What a great idea! I got chills just reading about it:) I, too, am so thankful that my sons will have strong, God-fearing men in their lives to teach and lead by example.

Trish said...

Happy Birthday to Will!!!

12 is so big. My biggest will be 9 on Saturday.

I love the idea of the letters. I'm going to tell Dave about that idea!

Hope you had a great blog break.

Trish said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lauren said...

Hope Will has a wonderful birthday :o) Have a GREAT day!!!!

Elizabeth said...

Happy Birthday Will! Enjoy that awesome cell phone, I know you wanted it really bad:)

*carrie* said...

What wonderful ways to celebrate!

Jackie said...

What a priceless gift those letters are! I love that idea.

And he picked one of my favorite meals ever for his birthday dinner...mashed potatoes...that's the magic word for me. :)

You have an amazing young man, Meredith...Happy Birthday, Will!

Gretchen said...

So dang cute! Okay, sorry Will. I know you probably don't like the cute word.

At any rate, I lurve the idea of letters. My friend solicited them from many of us when her son turned 13. Maybe I'll get a jump on that idea for David. Don't even want to think that he's headed toward 13!

That dessert sounds delightful. And how cool was that dad/son weekend.

Tiffani said...

I'm getting teary just THINKING about those letters....especially being the Mom to a boy, as well.

We call that dessert "chocolate delight" down here in GA...sounds like a wonderful celebration!

Happy Birthday, Will!

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

I can't believe you have a 12 year old! I would have also read those letters and cried.

(When did I turn into such a sap?)

Can I come over for dinner?

And, finally, you are the coolest parents around, giving Will that phone he wanted. LOL.

(PS- I think I'm content for now down here with diapers. Can't handle cell phones just yet.)

Michelle@Life with Three said...

Happy Birthday, Will!

Meredith -- what a great idea of giving him the letters. I can't even imagine what a treasure those will be to him in years to come. Somehow, I need to file that away for when my son turns 12, but that's 8 years from now...

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

What a great day he's having!

Love the idea of the letters, I'll have to tuck that away to use for my kids at that age.

Brenda said...

Happy, Happy Day to your son, and tell him to be responsible with the phone and make is mama proud!

Jennifer said...

Happy Birthday to Will!

I love the letter idea. I think I am going to borrow it for my oldest for his birthday this year. What a great reflection!

Hope you had a great week of blog relaxation!

Fran said...

First of all....He is the cutest thing EVER!!! Darling. Don't tell him I said he was darling. :)

And, we have that same phone. Love it.

And, the well wishes and letters from the men in his life are absolutely the best idea I have ever heard. AWESOME!!!!

Happy Birthday stud!

Amber said...

Happy Birthday, Will!

Wow. Big step. I'm sure Will will pleasantly surprise you guys at how responsible and grown-up he will be with his phone.

And I love the idea of the letters. That is such a great keepsake and center for advice. I'd have cried, too!

Can it be that he is 12? Unbelievable.

Jacquie said...

Happy 12th Birthday, Will!! What an awesome way to celebrate. I especially liked the idea of the letters.

Mollie said...

Happy Birthday Will!!
Seems like yesterday when he was running through the pews and chasing Sarah through the church!
What a great idea about the letters! That is one to remember for my two!!Thanks for the idea!

Melissa Stover said...

i will have a 12 year old in august too and it's just so hard to believe!

His Girl said...

Happy Happy Birthday to your adorable boy!!!

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

Great picture and happy birthday to your tween

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

Great picture and happy birthday to your tween

Michele said...

I love the letter idea! That is so very sweet. Happy Birthday Will!

Megan O. said...

I love the letter idea. That will mean so much to him. He's lucky to have such a legacy surrounding him. Happy Birthday!

Kecia said...

Happy Birthday to Will!
And aren't we funny--you're jealous of my flowers and I'm still jealous of your snow. :) (But deep down we're both really happy where we are. God is good.)

leigh said...

Happy Birthday to Will. I love the idea of the letters and hope to remember that for my girls.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Will!!

Mer,
That gift from Joahn is precious...makes me weepy thinking about it.