My little Joshie getting all grown up......the big 15!

July 10, 2011

WARNING: Stay off the roads....Josh is now acquiring his Learner's Permit and no one is safe :) Okay it's really not that bad, he is learning well and has managed not to put me into cardiac arrest yet.....but that doesn't mean I'm not just a tiny bit freaked out!! I've only just let him drive around the neighborhood, eventually I'll have to put on a helmet and venture into downtown..EEK!!!

Josh was pretty excited for his birthday this year. There's just something about turning 15 that's cool.....not sure if it's because now it's only a year until dating and official driving, maybe because 15 sounds more like an adult than 14.....in any case it catches me off guard every time someone asks me how old is my oldest. When I reply "15", I just kinda catch my breath a little and can't believe it. He's such a good kid and has really grown up a lot this last year. He's a good worker and has worked hard helping me around the house this summer. He's such a good brother too (most of the time). The little boys adore him and look up to him so much. When he goes to EFY or scout camp, they really miss him and can't wait for him to come back. He just always knows the right thing to do to have fun. For example, they turned our entire yard into a golf course, made little flags for each hole, etc. They had a great time and I loved watching it all. I've watched Nick the last little while and it's pretty sweet, he just wants to hang out with Josh all the time and be just like him.

Josh ADORES Meili and that is no secret. He can barely leave her alone when he's home....sometimes to the point of aggravation. But the feelings are mutual. The other day we went to a movie and someone wanted to hold her hand and she took off running and said "no, Joshie's hand." It totally made his day.

It's been fun to see Josh and Abi this last year or so. They have become closer and I think Josh has realized that Abi knows quite a bit about what looks good, what girls like, etc. It's fun to see him confiding in her and asking for advice. When they were little, they were very close, shared a room, played together, etc. Then as the years went by, they did their own thing, friends came into the picture and so on. It's especially fun to see them regaining that camaraderie again. I know that will continue over the next few years and even after his mission...especially when he gets home and realizes he wants to date all of her friends :)

Josh has done a lot of great things this summer. He has worked hard, played extra hard, finished up his eagle scout requirements, and lived at the golf course. We are so proud of him that he made the final push to get everything done for his eagle. He did his project over a year ago but still had a couple merit badges that he had to get done and he finally made it. Yay! Court of Honor in September or October and he will be official. He has played golf almost every day in preparation for trying out for the team again this year. He's excited and very nervous. Apparently a lot of kids from the football team, etc. have decided to try out for golf this year instead of doing their other sport so the pressure is on. But Josh is a great golfer and has a beautiful swing. In Arizona when he and Russel were golfing, there was a man that was golfing with them and he was so nice to Josh. He kept telling him how great he was and that someday he'd be reading about him. It was a great self confidence booster for Josh (we can tell him all day long how good he is but it's different coming from a stranger). Anyway, he had the same thing happen just the other day. So next Monday are the tryouts and he's trying to get in every bit of golf he can before then. Not only is he a good golfer but the pros at the golf course really like him and tell us what a good kid he is.  UPDATE (since it's taken me so long to get this  post ready):  Josh made the team!!  He has a lot of great friends on the team with him along with his cousin, Ryan, which he was thrilled about.

Josh has so many great characteristics. He's got a great personality and is actually pretty dang funny. He loves to get a rise out of me. The other day I took him and his friend for a slurpee after golf. After they got their slurpee, they got in the car and Josh subtly says to his friend, after taking a sip, "did we get the coffee kind?" I immediately slug him because he will try anything to get me to freak out. Grandpa and Grandma have mentioned several times how polite he is.....always thanking them for everything etc. Schwoo!! At least he knows how to act in public right? Just teasing, he really is a very polite kid and shows respect to others. He's also a very hard worker....once you get him started. Sometimes it takes some motivation to get him moving but once he does, he works hard. I remember more than a few times when he just a little kid....maybe 18 months or so.....we'd be packing up a moving van or working in the yard and it was hilarious to watch him. He would work his little head off carrying things back and forth, mimicking whatever we were doing.

Josh also knows where his priorities should be. He has a strong testimony of the gospel and tries very hard to live the standards he knows to be right. He has had many experiences when his prayers have been answered but one time in particular is when we were moving from Kansas City to Arizona. It was the night before we were leaving, moving van was packed, everything was cleaned, and we were just doing a few last minute things when Russel realized we did not have the keys to the moving van, nor did we have the keys to the lock on the back of the moving van. We looked everywhere and just couldn't imagine what happened to them. We didn't know if they'd be accidentally packed in something and now in the moving van that we couldn't even open. We were frantic and decided to kneel down and have a prayer. Josh knelt down with us (he was almost 3 at the time). After the prayer, Josh almost immediately got up, went over to a backpack and pulled the keys out. We know the Lord helped him to know where to go to find them. Josh has been a leader in his young men's group at church and has been a good example and tried to watch out for those boys feeling lost or left out. He honors his priesthood.

It's crazy to me to think that he is getting so grown up. It seems like it was yesterday when he was coloring up the driveway with sidewalk chalk. It's exciting to see him grow and experience the many things of life but the years are speeding by and I know these next four years will come and go as if I'm standing still. He wants to serve a mission and I know he can accomplish this goal but it will come all way too fast for me. He's my baby....he always will be. I tell my kids that I don't care how old they get, they will always be my babies.

Josh officially starts high school this year. He just found out his locker is in the most coveted part of the school (thanks to his locker partner's mother who has connections).....not to mention it's right next to the Vistauns. You should've seen his face when I told him that. Maybe I should be worried?? He's really looking forward to going to Sky View and hopefully he'll remember how hard he needs to work at the school work part of it too.

Josh had a good birthday this year. It wasn't a big party year but he managed to milk it anyway. Russel and I took Josh to lunch on the Friday before his birthday and he invited his cousin, Ryan, along. He chose his favorite place, "The Italian Place." The next day he invited a few friends and went golfing and afterwards Russel picked them up and took them to lunch. Later that night he had a bunch of friends over for treats and hanging out. Sunday, his official birthday, we had a family party with cake and ice cream.

We love you Josh. Always stay true to who you are and continue to be an example of a righteous son of God. Your influence on others can impact them greatly so keep your standards high and "live like you believe." We are so grateful you are part of our family.