…my Ash is ten.

So this morning I told Ash that part of the manhood ritual of turning 10 was a name change and we were changing his name to Ishbosheth. We will call him Ish instead of Ash from now on. He wasn’t buying it. He ducked his head, hair falling over his eyes, and smiled a half smile and shook his head at me.

Wait a minute.

Ten?

TEN?

Ten years ago I held my firstborn in my arms and wept. Brian held him and looked at him closely, “He looks like an Asher, doesn’t he?” Oh, yes, he is definitely an Asher.  Read more... (906 words, 4 images, estimated 3:37 mins reading time)

Tomorrow we are having Bear’s birthday party. He’s having a joint party with a friend who is 11 days younger than him, and it has been one of the primary topics of discussion for the week. Even now, as the boys head up to their room to get ready for bed they are scheming.

I love listening to them. Their boyish chatter as they plan and talk and prepare. My Ash is just as excited for the party as Bear is, and their camaraderie abounds today. I watched them work together today as they bought football cards and divided them between them, then work together on Wii Clone Wars to beat the level.  Read more... (232 words, 1 image, estimated 56 secs reading time)

The sticky notes are all different colors–royal blue, goldenrod, bright orange–but they all say the same thing.

I love you, Mom, so so so so so so much.

They appear on my pillow, my mirror, my computer, and sometimes he just walks right up to me and sticks one on my shirt.

My Bear.

His gentle and peaceful ways touch my soul, and especially when my life and heart feel so chaotic these days, his tenderness is a much needed balm. He has no idea how he reaches me, and every time I see those dimples, my heart just about explodes.  Read more... (549 words, 1 image, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)