One Week. . .

I decided to take a week off of blogging. One entire week. No sitting down to the computer to pen thoughts or edit pictures or read comments. I realized that it was time to put my family and our holidays first. Time to get some shopping and shipping, some baking and taking, some laughing and tickling done and not see my life in "blogworthy" moments, but to just experience it in all its true joy and glory.

And today, well today is all about this fine boy here. Today he is eleven. And so to him I give these words as a gift:

Sweet Chris with your inventive mind, goofy sense of humor and sensitive spirit, for eleven straight years you have held my heart with such strength that I have wondered how it could be possible from such tiny hands. And all of the sudden when I looked, they weren't tiny any more. Those little hands I used to hold and kiss are big and calloused. They work and play hard. They make music and write stories. You are growing and changing and becoming such a fantastic young man right before my eyes. I love you and hope the very best this world has to offer you. You will always be my first baby, who fit on my lap and looked up at me with sparkly eyes and a wide grin. You will always, always hold my heart. Happy Birthday Buddy.