Ben is Now A Teenager

I can't believe that on Valentine's Day 2012 my baby became a teenager!!!  Ben's birthday celebration.....this year Ben wanted to invite several friends to have dinner for his birthday.  So, we let him invite five friends from school for dinner and cake at Cici's Pizza.  I think he had a great time!



Ben's BIG Birthday Month Gets Started!

Ben's big birthday is coming up on Valentine's Day....he turns 13!  This means that my baby will officially be a teenager.  We'll be celebrating with him that night but because of trips, schedules, and planning for Clay to be in town, we got together this past Friday with Glenn's dad, Belinda, his grandmother, Clay and his girlfriend, Chloe to celebrate.  Due to his grandmother and the fact that the food at Still Hopes rivals the best restaurants in Columbia we chose to do dinner there and then have cake (and cards/gifts) back at her apartment.

Ben's Witness Moment

WMUMC Youth Sunday

Our church combines with another small Methodist church for weekly youth group on Sunday evenings. Ben loves it! They have been planning for today's Youth Sunday as a whole group at our church. Ben was responsible for the Witness Moment (which I videotaped and Glenn didn't take any pictures of so I'm going to try to post the video in a separate post as it was VERY sweet and heartfelt) and the Benediction. All of these students did a fabulous job leading the service and we were, of course, extremely proud of Ben.

practicing before the service
Ben doing the Benediction

the whole group leading worship (I also videotaped this and will attempt to post separately)

Camp is Over

On Friday I drove back up to Cleveland, where it was raining, to pick Ben up from camp. After a brief parent meeting, we were treated to a mini worship service like the campers had experienced all week. It was good to see Ben and he was super excited to tell me all about the things he did during the week....services, friends, zip lining, swimming, creek walks, sleeping under the stars and more.....he is already looking forward to going back next year!

Off To Camp!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, we had to leave Hendersonville for Cleveland, SC to drop Ben off at Asbury Hills UMC Summer Camp. This week he will: swim, hike, climb, zip line, Bible study, worship service, concerts and so much more!! Thankfully, they have an online photo site for parents to see what they are doing. I'm hoping to see some shots of him having fun.

Ben is in the "Palmetto" cabin which he was told at check in was the best one because of its view of Table Rock. Can you tell he does not want me taking a picture of him? He was so funny, he kept telling us "bye" and hurrying us out of the cabin! I guess he is growing up!

Ben's BIG News

On the last day of Ben's school year I received a phone call at work from his school. A few weeks earlier he had submitted an application and interview for the district's ROSETA (Richland One Student Experience To Africa) program. Each middle school in his district allows sixth graders to apply and they choose 2 per school from the applicant pool. Then, after a year of classes, fundraising, research and study those students travel to AFRICA the June after 7th grade for two weeks. There they visit Ghana and Morocco where they study culture, history, education, arts, etc.

Well......... Ben was selected as one of the two students to GO TO AFRICA in June 2012 from his school!!!!!!!! We are so excited for him!!! And, he absolutely can't wait to go!!

A Very Special Easter

This Easter was particularly special as Ben was finishing up his year long Confirmation. The Confirmation took place during the Easter Sunday service and Ben was blessed to have not only me and Glenn there, but also the Wrights (all the way from Texas via NC), Clay and my parents and Mrs. Matthews. It was a sweet service and we were, yet again, very proud of him! After service we all headed to Momo's Bistro for brunch on the patio. It was a very special Easter Sunday!

The boys on Easter morning

with my parents

with the Wrights

Ben's Confirmation

celebrating with family after the service

Mrs. Matthews and Ben

wearing the stole he made at Confirmation Camp during Brunch

silly boys wearing Clay's "dork" glasses

Good Friday

Wesley Memorial UMC held a Good Friday service that included a dramatic reading of the Easter story from John. Ben was asked to read the part of Pontius Pilate and again did a FABULOUS job!

"It's All Greek To Me"

Last Thursday, one set of my in laws arrived in time to attend Ben's 6th grade drama production of "It's All Greek To Me" with us after a yummy sushi dinner at Saky. The play was terrific and Ben did a FABULOUS job as Posiedon. He is so dramatic and such a little actor! We were, of course, very proud of him!

The Wrights were here for the play!

Glenn high fiving the HAND hand! :)

More Ben's Birthday Pictures

Last week Mr. Rick gave Ben an album and CD of photos from his birthday dinner at Dianne's. He enjoyed looking back at the evening, but isn't at the age where he appreciates this type of gift just yet. Mom, on the other hand, loved it!