It is official - I am the Mom of a teenager - post THIRTEEN!!!

My oldest son, Avery, turned 13 on December 13th. I am in the midst of 13 memories of him…I know it is a silly Mom thing…but, it is therapeutic for this silly Mom!

I have enjoyed this journey of 13 blogs about my oldest son. It has taken me back to many moments that I hold close to my heart! I have been thinking about how I want to conclude this “motherly therapy session,” but there are so many things to say that I have had trouble choosing just one. There are a million, trillion little things that I love about Avery; after all I AM his Mom.

If I HAD to choose one thing about Avery that I love, it would have to be his laugh. Ever since he was a tiny guy, he had a great BIG laugh. Not your everyday snicker, but the kind that really tickles the funny bone! Avery’s laugh comes from deep inside, and explodes with boisterous fervor! If you don’t know it is coming, it can be very startling!

Avery and I discussed for several months what we would plan for the big “13.” We tossed several ideas around. He finally decided on a trip to the Comedy Barn with two friends, and then a sleep over. The Comedy Barn is one of the local attractions in Pigeon Forge that we hadn’t yet visited. Avery said he hoped that he laughed until his sides hurt.

He definitely laughed the entire time that we were there! We ALL laughed until our sides hurt. Avery’s deep, loud, unique laugh was music to my ears! He was also happy to get the much desired IPod touch as his birthday gift. It is such a wonderful warm feeling to know that you have made your child happy.

I know that life is going to be full of "ups and downs" and "ins and outs" in the coming teen years. As a mother, I am praying that with the Lord’s help, I can guide Avery through these times to be a man that stands firm in his convictions, loves with his whole heart, and is steadfast in his relationship with the Lord. I pray that the paths in his life, even if they are not easy, help him to grow mentally and spiritually. May he surround himself with friends that want to live holy lives, and may he be the kind of friend that builds others up. It is my hearts desire that Avery seek after a young girl who yearns for the Lord’s will to be done in her life above all else.

I love you, Avery Matthew Presson, may your days be filled with love, happiness and that special laughter that comes from deep within you. May your life produce more joy than you can contain!

Always & forever,
Mama
XOXO

It is official - I am the Mom of a teenager - post 12

My oldest son, Avery, turned 13 on December 13th. I am in the midst of 13 memories of him…I know it is a silly Mom thing…but, it is therapeutic for this silly Mom!

Avery has changed so much in the past several years. My little boy is gone, and has been replaced by a young man. He has a quirky sense of humor that keeps me laughing. He still loves sports. He is a diehard LSU fan. My boy is a straight A student who loves all things History!! His walk with the Lord is strong and steadfast. His energy has not slowed in any form. It has just gone to another level!

One of his top interests right now is his gaming systems. Many years ago, the Englers gave us a Playstation. It was love at first sight for Avery! Next, came a Game Boy thanks to Norman Reid, then the beloved DS, Playstation 2, cell phone, and Wii. Papa Don came for a visit and took the boys to Wal-Mart. They came home with an Xbox. Avery saved his Christmas $$ and bought the Kinect for Xbox. Boy’s toys get more expensive as they grow! He loves playing online against his friends from all over the United States. We are very strict on who we let Avery play online with, and are wanting to do our best to teach Avery sound instincts concerning the internet. Recently, he was playing a football game with a friend that asked if he could invite someone else to their game. I overheard him say, “Just make sure he knows that I won’t keep playing if he cusses. I don’t cuss, and I am not going to listen to anyone else cuss!!” I chuckled at the way he said it with such fervency, but was super proud of him for standing up for what he knows is right.

I know there will come a day, probably sooner than I would like, when I will not be able to oversee his decision making ability. When that day comes, he’ll be making decisions all on his own that I will have little or no influence over. At that point, I pray that I can say that Clark and I have done all that we could do to instill in all of our boys a Godly reverence for what’s right.