The Big Twelve

A few months ago, I wrote about an empty bird’s nest we found in our yard. I was struck by the timing of this find, since I felt that my own nest was becoming more empty with the departure of my son Danny for his mission.

Then last week, my son Adam found another empty nest in our yard. This one was sloppier, and contained more dirt and mud in its structure.

Again, I found the timing notable, because Adam found this the day after his twelfth birthday.

Of course, turning twelve doesn't mean Adam will be leaving us soon. But it does signal some significant changes, especially since Adam is our youngest.

Several years ago, seven members of our family — Wes and I and five of our children — were in Primary, the children's organization of our church. Now that Adam is twelve, there is no one left in Primary. Soon, Adam will be ordained a Deacon, and participate in Young Mens activities. And because Adam recently started middle school, it brings other changes for our family. We're done with elementary school: no more Wellsville Mile, no more school Halloween parades, no more Geography Bowls, no more Civil War reenactments for our children. All our kids leave for school at the same time now, on the same bus. So this twelfth birthday seemed like a significant one.

Adam at the Wellsville Mile (annual school race)

Adam at the fifth-grade Civil War Reenactment (aka water balloon fight)

We always try to make birthdays special, so I poked around the internet until I found a this fun idea: a candy-filled birthday cake we labeled Big Candy Mountain. 

Adam’s eyes lit up when he saw it.

 And when we cut into it, the candy I had hidden in the center spilled out.

We all enjoyed eating the cake.

So, my youngest child is on his way to becoming a teenager. I can be okay with that.

Probably.