We have another teenager! Now there’s 6. When the kids were little we knew this day would come ‘someday’ – well here we are and I LOVE it!! Have I mentioned how much fun teenagers are? I haven’t laughed this much since college. 
Well, that’s for another post …
Our son Joel is 13! Isn’t it peculiar that when a child has a monumental birthday – a mother’s life seems to pass before her? {or is that just me?}
I think of Joel as the child who almost didn’t make it here. Oh, the birth was fine. {I said ‘fine’ not ‘easy’, but I don’t bore him with those details} Before Joel was conceived, I was in my late 30′s with 8 healthy children and a full life. Our 8th was born by semi-emergency {prolapsed chord} cesarean and recovery was a tough one. Seemed to me, I had every right to call it quits! Anyone would have agreed with me too. BUT GOD wouldn’t leave me alone about it. I felt in my spirit He was wanting to take me somewhere I hadn’t been before. It was as if He was asking, “Will you go with Me?”
The struggle was so personal, I kept it mostly to myself. At church, a praying friend told me, the devil tried to give me a spirit of fear so I would not have any more children. She had no idea… Anyway, I was nursing exclusively and figured I had time to consider my options.
14 short months later – Joel was born – a brown haired boy in a family of blondes. He favored my side of the family (finally) and it was as if I’d always known him when I first saw him.
Now he’s 13, a young man and the delight of his father. An avid learner and logical thinker. He never spoke ‘baby talk’, sang at an early age and handles maps like a pro. Mostly, he’s a delight. The strong, quiet type. A young man now. He’ll get a ring to signify this ‘rights of passage’ into early manhood. Once his Dad’s recovery time is over – we’re headed to a nice, I mean nice, restaurant for dinner outside and a night to remember.
I find it interesting that ‘Joel’ means – ‘Jehovah is the Lord’.
“For high have the heavens been above the earth, So high have been My ways above your ways, And My thoughts above your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:9
This Sweet Shot was taken by our daughter, Priscilla – with a little help from her Nikon.
Subscribe to Above & Beyond by e-mail or in a reader.
Related posts:
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely beautiful! I agree that teenagers are so much fun.
Hi Debi,
So nice to meet you. Your son is so handsome, and I love his name. Yes, I have a Joel too. He reminds me of yours. Mine is 19, my baby.
I briefly looked at your twitter about your husband. I don’t tweet. Anyhow, I pray he is recovering well.
My son is a brain tumor survivor, and it sounds like his tumor is in the same place your husband’s?
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. ( This is my 24 year old named Jordan).
Anyhow, your blog is lovely, I enjoyed my visit.
Blessings to you♥
I LOVE to read your posts about your children. It is so beautiful to see how much you cherish every one of them in unique ways- you even remember little details about them even though there are so many!
It makes me excited to have more to know that I will love ALL of them just as much as I do Asher.
Oh my, I have one of these!!! Well, he’s not quite 13, but I recognize the look of him in this photo. Halfway between mature and boyish… Thanks for sharing. Do you do Passport to Purity? Saw your reading list and have enjoyed a couple of the titles myself… particularly Calm my Anxious Heart.
I can’t believe you’ve only been blogging 6 months… you look like a pro to me. I will come back to look around more:)
Happy Birthday to your Joel!
As a mother of one, soon to be two teenagers, I can tell you that I am loving it.
Blessings to you!
Rachel
(found you via the blog frog)
Oh, he’s so handsome! You KNOW I love boys!
What’s not to love, right?
I have been following your blog for a while now. I don’t often leave comments because I usually read while nursing the baby and I’m not good at one handed typing!
I just wanted to let you know how encouraging it is to hear you say that you love having teenagers. My husband and I have four children. Our oldest is 5 years old. The youngest three are boys. I am constantly hearing comments about how I am “in for it” when all four are teenagers. It’s so encouraging to hear from Moms who love mothering teens!
I’m glad to give a glimpse of what life can hold in the ‘dreaded’ teen years. I remember having children 5 and under – those are the busy days!
Happy Birthday to you Mr. Joel!
Hi Debi! He is so precious! I’ve never heard anyone (or at least I cannot recall) say that teenagers were fun! Oh, this gives me hope
What a blessing the God-ordained family unit is! Enjoy your newest teenager!
Love,
Traci
I’m so encouraged to hear about how this looks down the road.. since our 4th is about to be here just 13 SHORT months after his brother. I so appreciate moms like you who have gone in front to show that it can be done and God has this all under control!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!
Tarrah Z.
BTW, I was nursing exclusively too… what’s the deal with that?? =)
BTW, what a handsome young man!
Joel is such a handsome young man! Happy Birthday! My Isaiah’s birthday is one day before Joel’s! I can’t help but be fascinated by your sweet family and I loved getting to know more about your boy. Praying for a super quick recovery for your honey so you all can go out!
happy birthday to your son! glad that you’re having fun with your teens! i’m enjoying my teens as well, however, there are moments where my hubby and i think are we gonna make it through these years? lol! following you on twitter!
How refreshing to hear you say that you enjoy the teenage years! My oldest is only 4, but I look forward to them too. I was a youth counselor for 8 yrs and I think that age is so wonderful.
P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Debi,
Thank you for sharing your journey. We each must face that decision at some point. Isn’t it great to know that we have a loving God that we can trust with our futures?! So many times we fight with God against some of His biggest blessings. I’m so thankful He has trusted me with so many children, and I am also thankful I gave up fighting Him and decided to trust Him concerning our family size. I would have missed out big time!! God is good! Keep posting!
T
My oldest will be thirteen this November. I understand what you described: “BUT GOD wouldn’t leave me alone about it. I felt in my spirit He was wanting to take me somewhere I hadn’t been before. It was as if He was asking, “Will you go with Me?”
We have seven children 12 and under, and I have felt this way, too. Especially the last three pregnancies.
Thank you for your honesty and encouraging words. You have a beautiful blog!
In Him, Linda
i just found this blog through kendra. it warms my heart when i hear stories of letting God be in control of our families. blessings to you and your family, lisa
{ 2 trackbacks }