Brennen's Birthday

We didn't have our typical all-day out-and-about celebration for Brennen's birthday this year, because he forgot to take the day off work :) Blogger thought the pictures should be in reverse order (which also happens to not be typical), so you can see what a good evening he had from the start--which is actually the end--of the pictures . . . he wanted chocolate cake and didn't mind if Costco baked it for him. We sang the birthday song and he blew out every not-pink candle we have in the house!

And he opened gifts--an amazing Thorin Oakenshield sword from Germany that Chase and Gabby ordered him (plus scabbard--we realized you have to have reallllly long arms to actually pull a sword from a scabbard when it's on your back--somehow they can do it in the movies, though)!

He enjoyed his cards from distant lands :)

Buck and I gave him a study Bible, since he's been attending different Bible-related activities basically five out of seven days each week. His other Bible is good for carrying with him, and this one will help him dig into the text and understand and make connections with the rest of Scripture. I told him it was better than a million dollars, when he saw the golden wrapping paper and wondered if that was what was inside. He agreed that the Bible has more value :)

The boys had not yet tried the new Italian restaurant in town, so when we were scrambling to choose a location open late enough for reservations after Brennen, Chase, and Gabby finished up work on a Friday night--this was the perfect fit. Brennen wasn't so sure about the decor, but agreed the food was good :) This is at least the third, if not fourth, restaurant we've tried in the same location. The new owners seem locked in (Buck says mobsters, he thinks everyone is mobsters :) to the business, so hopefully they will be successful. It's nice to have new small businesses to support, especially when we celebrate special occasions--like the last birthday of Brennen's teens, whoa.

After opening gifts and eating cake with ice cream at our house, Brennen stayed the night at the guys house, as did his brother. They continued their early Saturday morning breakfast tradition, and gathered the Boyz (plus Gabby :) to celebrate Brennen's birthday the next day, since he didn't work the weekend. It's been a couple of weeks, but I think that is the day they took all the ammo and such and did some target practice at the farm. Or maybe that was the next weekend . . . but he for sure spent the day with friends.

I'm glad Brennen had a good birthday. He's grown and matured a lot in the last year. It's been fun to get to know him as a young adult and see how God is working in his heart and spirit to develop him into a compassionate young man who wants his friends to know and feel connected to Christ. Happy birthday to our dear Brenny!