Joseph's Party

In keeping with tradition, Joseph requested a football party for his birthday this year.  I had pangs of sadness as I planned this party, knowing it would be his last birthday celebrated in NC with all of his buddies.  So, I put no limit on the amount of guests.  When I looked out at the yard full of boys playing football and having fun, I couldn't help but marvel at the blessing of friendships that the Lord has given Joseph here.  When we moved here from PA in October of 2005, he and I cried and cried at the thought of leaving our little school, Open Door Christian Academy.  We couldn't imagine making friends as special as those we had at that school.  Teachers too...oh, how I cried leaving his sweet teachers there.  But never in a thousand years did I imagine what joy we would find here at Jones Dairy Elementary.  God has blessed us abundantly, in ways that are immeasurable.  Joseph's list of friends extends well beyond those at school.  It knows no bounds.  There were boys there from church, school and sports.  As we both shed tears from time to time thinking about saying goodbye to these precious ones, I remind him that the Lord will be faithful to add to his precious collection of friends, but bringing new ones into his life in PA.

Here he is with his peeps.

Seated in front:  Miles (Marc's lil bro), Mikayla (Mitchell girl "family from PA"), Jake (Grafton's lil bro), Joseph, Elijah (Homemade friend), Titus (Homemade friend), Mackenzie (another Mitchell girl), Marc (Sports)

Kneeling:  Tanner (School), Grafton (Church), Cade (Cole's lil bro), Cole (Sports), Ernest (School), Nick (School), Deonte (School)

Standing:  Grace (Church) who is holding Madelynn (another Mitchell girl), Vito (Sports), Alex (Neighborhood), Caleb (School), Blake (School), Luke (Church), Ryan (School)

Pretty amazing bunch, huh?

Shawn prayed for him, thanking God for his life and the blessing that he is to us.