Having a Hallelujah Good Time

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY!!!








Nathanael Andrew.
My first baby. My risk taker. My first joy of parenting. My first son, my first teen. We have told you that you are not going to be a teen. Nothing will change this year and that we won't tolerate "teen" behavior." Yet there is no denying that you have been alive for 13 years. That is a fact. A black and white, numeric fact. Teen is in there. Yet we can see the man that you are becoming and are so proud of who that is.

You are so many things.

You are gentle. You are such a good big brother and do well by your younger siblings. Remarkably well. I dont know how you can follow a toddler around all day and not be annoyed. But, you can.

You are genreous and thoughtful. Beyond belief.

You are strong. You have shown such character in relationships. You forgive so easily and don't hold a grudge. I admire your ability to extend Grace. You are a great friend always willing to extend a hand.

You are impulsive and we are constantly on you for it. But with that you are spontaneous and always up for anything including hard work. A mom once told me that if you can have one friend over, you want it to be Nate because then it is an instant party.

You are discerning about people but so quick to offer Grace and not judgement.

We tease you about being over dramatic. You are, BUT, man if I had to choose one person to be on my cheering side. It'd be you. I KNOW you'd be heard from a far and mean it from teh bottom of your heart. And one person to cry with me. You'd gladly cry your eyes out. Because you care like that.

We tell you often that you overdo things. And you do. BUT what fun you can make out of nothing. You don't just paint in art, you cover yourself too. You can't just feed the ducks at Waller park. Somehow you end up in the water. The smelly dirty water. You enjoy life. You don't sit by and let it come to you, you run at life and attack it.