Charlie Turns Thirteen

Look at this kid....

I have had the indescribable privilege of being this kid's mama for thirteen years. Thirteen y'all!

It's hard to believe that this curly headed toddler with his scratchy voice and creative, soulful spirit is now a teenager. Overnight.

Having a birthday within days of Christmas has always made party planning a bit tricky, but this year even more so in the middle of a move and a pandemic.  Charlie really just wanted to celebrate with friends in Knoxville. We kept it low key, but had a fun night at Painting with a Twist with the Bhaktas.

Many artists in the making here, I have no doubt.

 

But back to this kid...

His smile can seriously make my heart skip a beat.

Charlie has this connection... this love for animals that is palpable. It's almost like a spiritual connection - and he has had it since he was little.  We would go to someone's house... everyone would be outside hanging out and Charlie would come up missing...  we'd find him inside lying on the floor hanging out with his new best furry friend..

When he was six or seven, he was letting a honeybee crawl all over his arm and decided to affectionately pet it, thinking they'd become trusted friends. And, of course, the bee stung him... leaving Charlie feeling broken hearted and betrayed (and stung and swollen!)

There's no doubt though who his true soul mutt is...  Charlie had wanted a dog for years, and has truly invested himself in teaching, training, and loving our girl Sara.  She sleeps in his room, protects him, follows him, and feels that same connection to him that Charlie so naturally creates with all little, furry friends.

Charlie with his largest and smallest catch during our recent trip to the Florida Keys.  A goliath grouper and a hermit crab. 

Pure Love.

He's even started his own pet sitting business, which he has loved and has been so amazing at 😊

As I watch Charlie now, I can see him walking through that pivotal journey of teenaged, middle school life, trying to figure out who he is, where he fits in, and how to bring those two things together.   

I relate to Charlie in a thousand different ways - but this one is probably the most prominent. In my mind, Charlie is an introvert looking for connection and confidence in a very extroverted world. He is creative and passionate and is figuring out who he is and how to be himself in a whole new world of people. 

Charlie was born 15 months after Sam - their relationship is unbreakable... as close to twins as two people can get without actually being twins.  They have been best friends for as long as either of them can remember. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen them fight. They have walked through life side-by-side and have an infinite number of shared thoughts, memories, and experiences...  inside jokes, laughs, friends, conversations, competitions...  I do believe this relationship has been one of greatest gifts in both of their lives. I hope and pray they keep this same bond as they navigate their teenage years and become adults.

With Sam being the oldest, Charlie has had the benefit of riding along side him in so many ways - and as I observe him now, I think that is one of the things he is trying to navigate. He wants to create his own group of friends, his own hobbies, his own identity... He's working through it, trying different things, and figuring it out... As we all have had to do (and some of us 👩 are still doing)

Yet, when it comes down to it... I can't tell you how I often you still find these two side-by-side...  Just walking through life together.

And, once in a while, Luke even gets to sneak in there...

I've seen Charlie start to come to life as he has started to find his people at Page Middle School.  This is his buddy, Huntley, one of his closest new friends.

He has also been playing in some golf leagues where he has made a few other friends... but, most importantly, gets to have some one on one time with his dad. 

One on one time for Charlie is like gold...

Obviously, the words on this screen are the reflection of life as I see it... and we all have our own little versions of reality... so, shame on me for putting all this stuff on Charlie...

But, these next few pictures are how I see Charlie in my mind... 

Searching, connecting, reflecting, dreaming, pondering...

And, without a doubt, those big thoughts and dreams will be his life's guide and will allow him to create a life grander and more connected than we can even imagine.

Thirteen years with this guy...  one my life's greatest gifts 💕