Laike is 4 going on 14!

I love both of my kids so much. It is so neat seeing them grow up and develop their personalities and traits.

For instance, River is my artsy boy. He is always drawing, and looking for more things to draw. He pays close attention to detail, and takes much pride in his finished work. He would be totally content sitting in his room drawing all night.

Laike on the other hand, well she is a party waiting to happen. She loves music! She owned her first cd player at the age of 3; which she calls her "Music Box". Anything that has to do with music she loves. She will sit and listen to each song carefully, studying it and learning the words. She will then sing at the top of her lungs.

When out at a restuarant, River will be sitting drawing anything and everything he sees, while Laike is up on the stage dancing and singing to the music. This worries us...haha.

This is where the 4 going on 14 comes into play. Her current favorite songs are anything Taylor Swift. Whenever I am flipping channel's in the car and she hears her voice she yells "This one Mom!" and then smiles and listens to the words, and sings along. Her favorite Taylor Swift song is "You Belong With Me".

 

Now what 14 year old doesn't like Justin Bieber, since Laikey is 4 going on 14 she loooves Justin Bieber. When did this happen? I don't listen to Justin Bieber, how did she come across this? Who knows.

While in the store the other day, I was looking at new purses, she was in the cart and said "MOM! that is the boy that sings, baby baby oh!"  I turned and looked at her to see her pointing near the backpacks, I leaned over to look and lo and behold, there was a backpack with Justin Bieber on it. haha. I asked her how she knew that was him and her answer was...."Because he is cute and he likes purple like me!" Oh boy! 

Can I handle a 14 year old? eeek

Also while we were at Sam's Club, I took her to look at the birthday cake catalog to pick out which birthday cake she wanted. We flipped through the pages and saw cute elmo ones, dora ones...etc. We came to the page with Hannah Montana and Laike said, "Wait Mom, go back. Does she sing my song?" I told her that she didn't and she was like ok nevermind, I don't want her.

There were moments throughout the day where I forgot how old my daughter was really turning, until she saw the princess cake. I was reminded that I have a cute, innocent, little soon to be 4 year old that still loves Disney Princesses...this put a smile on my face. :)

My heart is in your hands!

It is 2011 and I can officially say that I am starting to have with drawls.
My last time was the beginning of August 2010. I have been doing "OK" since. Sometimes I have my ups and downs.
I am glad for the new path the Lord took me down, but wish I could have packed up a few things in our uhual to take with us that I was not able to.

I have not had personal one on one interaction with a teenager since August 8th, 2010

The Lord knows the passions of my heart and He knows my heartbeat. I love teenagers! I love the way they look, I love the way they eat, I love the way they talk, I love the way they passionately show emotion, I love the way they laugh, I love them!

I have had many teens come in and out of my life, and I am thankful for each and everyone of them. I have made memories with them, and have spent nights laughing till it hurts in a tent, having sleepovers, toilet papering the other youth leaders house where the boys were spending the night, laughing, crying, doing hair, piercing ears, talking about boys, going to the movies, climbing sand dunes, driving in my jeep, riding roller coasters together, being able to baptize them, etc...

"spent nights laughing till it hurts"

I can't hold onto them forever though. I have seen teens get married and now have their own families, I have seen teens who went astray and brought tears to my heart, I have seen teens reach for their dreams and succeed.

I always enjoy when we bump into kids that use to be in our youth group, who are now young adults...it brings joy to my heart.

Tomorrow night we will be having a "teen" come and stay with us. While he was in youth group he always said he wanted to be a cop, and we encouraged him to go for it. It was often a prayer request that was shared during class time. He will be coming to Winston Salem to live, because he will be employed by the Forsyth County Police Department right here in Winston Salem.

We look forward to spending time with him, and rejoicing in his success.

The Lord sends encouraging things our way when we need it the most.
I look forward to being able to meet up with all our "teens" again one day. One day at their wedding, or being able to hold their babies, or seeing them graduate from college, or become a doctor, or a baseball star.

We love each and everyone of you!!