eleven...and hanging ten

Well, after about six weeks of living fairly simple lives as pre-missionaries, our family enjoyed a very special celebration for Joshua's 11th birthday.  Although he had a bit of difficulty deciding on what he might want to commemorate this milestone, when he finally decided to go for an experience rather than an object, he decided that our time in southern California provided the perfect opportunity to request...a surfing lesson!

And so as soon as we finished classes this afternoon, the five of us headed out to Manhattan Beach, just south of Santa Monica, and Joshua's wish was granted.  The weather could not have been more ideal--a lovely 74 degrees with a slight breeze as the sun began to dip in the sky.  Joshua met Heather, his warm and experienced instructor, then he suited up, and spent the first 45 minutes learning the ropes on the safety of the warm, dry sand.

Then it was time to head for the waves.  Not too surprisingly, it's difficult for me not to see this experience as a great lesson in perseverance and stick-to-itiveness.  Joshua is a strong swimmer who was so excited for this chance to learn a new skill, and he absolutely loves the water, but passion alone doesn't make for a natural surfer.  He spent almost as much time swimming out, falling down, and swimming out again, as he did catching some waves and finding that perfect balance on the board.

His instructor was a great mix of patient teacher and enthusiastic coach.

In the end, our sweet boy emerged happy, fulfilled, proud, exhausted, and utterly satisfied.

Afterwards, we celebrated with a delicious seafood dinner and a chance to soak in the very unique opportunities that this day provided.  Once again, our plans for mission service overseas put into rather clear perspective how very special each and every day can be.

And, of course, earlier toady, we enjoyed a little celebration with our enthusiastic and ever-supportive mission house buddies.

We thank God for the wonderfully mature, bright, precocious, curious, reverent, silly, questioning, challenging, goofy, gifted, loyal, absolutely beautiful soul that he has given us in our precious Joshua.

Happy birthday, sweet boy.  

 For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14