Happy 13th Birthday, Jackson!

I wish I had days to scan photos but I don't so hopefully these pictures will suffice in the future printed album.  We were blessed 13 years ago with the miraculous gift of a baby and a beginning into the journey of parenthood.  Looking back through pictures, one thing was for sure....Jackson did a lot of smiling. He has always been spirited, daring and adventurous.  Every day is an adventure with him, most days are filled with laughter but of course there are days when we have to lean not on our own understanding;-)  He has taught us to lean on God for wisdom in all things, he's taught us that God created us all very different (no cookie cutter molds for this family), he's taught us that determination and will go a long way and he's taught us that many of the biggest blessing in this world take effort and work:-)  He is a loving brother and wonderful helper. He's athletic and creative and inquisitive about the things that he finds interesting.  He likes to see others happy.  He's fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image.   He is a blessing to this family and we give thanks for him often.  

Nurse Osa, who also helped take care of Sawyer

He was born a few days after 9/11 and only a few days early.  

There's no tired like "first baby" tired.  

  

This is the only thing that kept him happy while I took a very quick shower.
Even then, you hated sitting still Jackson:-)

I think this was his first time dressing up for Halloween

Sweetness!

Photo at  "Lala and Uncle Pher-Pher's" town home 

Christmas at Grandma and Papa's

At the ballpark watching Anderson play

Jackson and Andrew

He loved dressing up!  

At the beach with "Baby"

Birth of Bennett

Birthday party with his old Storm team- He still keeps in touch with Chase (left) and Sedrick (right)

And it all went by too fast.....we have a teenager now!  

                                           

Jackson's 13th Birthday, flag football party photos, 9/14/14:

Jackson with John Michael, who I started baby-sitting
when he was just a newborn 

Andrew was a great ref!

Halftime entertainment