Chance turns 12

Chance and his Mom blow out the candle at his birthday dinner date with his Mom and Dad

It is hard to believe, but Chance has just turned 12.  TWELVE!  People tell you all the time that your children grow up so fast and to enjoy the moments you have with them.  Why just yesterday Chance was born and now he is 12 years old!  Thankfully, we don't have to worry about him empty nesting yet, but it is still hard to believe that we are looking at 12.... and junior high next year.

Chance at Two - Before we knew he was deaf

Chance at his 5-year-old birthday party

Some birthdays are milestones.  When you turn 5, you start kindergarten.   In our church you get baptized at the age of 8.  At 12, you usually graduate from elementary school and enter the wider world of junior high school.  In our church at age 12, a boy also receives the Priesthood and becomes a deacon.  As a deacon the boys have certain responsibilities to perform.  Setting up chairs in the morning before the congregation arrives for Sacrament Meeting.  Passing the sacrament to the congregation during the meeting and collecting fast offerings once a month.  Fast offerings are collected on fast Sunday which is usually the first Sunday of the month.  Members of our church fast for two meals which accomplishes two things:  One, members have the opportunity to focus on spiritual things, perhaps praying for a certain blessing or for others.  Two, the money that would have been spent on the two meals is given to the church to use for those in need.  The deacons collect this money and give it to the bishop.

Chance shows off a present at 7!

Chance has been looking forward to becoming a deacon for a while.  His older brother is a deacon and today the boys were able to pass the sacrament to the congregation together for the first time.  Chance did a great job and caught on quickly to the simple system the boys use to ensure that everyone receives the sacrament in a reverent and timely manner.  You have to have a system when you have over 300 people to get to:)

Photo from Chance's birthday invite at 6 - can you guess the theme?

Chance being silly at school on his 8th birthday

Chance when he was 9

As far as junior high goes, I don't know that Chance has an opinion on that topic yet.  He will be starting a new school in the fall that serves grades 7-12, so if everything works out well, he won't have to transfer schools again until he graduates from high school and moves onto college.  His brother will be attending the same school.

Picking raspberries at 11

Excited to receive a book from his grandparents for his 12th birthday.

I don't know that Chance sees entering junior high as a big deal right now.  Maybe I should pick his brain a bit to see how he is feeling about things, but for now,  he is just counting down the days (there are now 5) until his summer vacation begins.  His 12 year old summer, full of adventure, free time, his first week-long scout camp, and oh so many great plans!  Chance has fish to catch, camping to do, friends to play with and bunnies to catch.  He just caught a presumably wild bunny tonight, which looks remarkably like the pet a family the next street over lost.   I hear the chase to get the bunny was quite the adventure  and Chance and his cousin had a great time outsmarting that bunny to snag him. Even if it turns out the bunny is not a wild jack rabbit as Chance and his cousin trumphantly announced to us all upon returning from their catch, the experience was thrilling judging by the boys heavy breathing and glowing faces. Chance's 12 year old summer of adventure has already begun.






old summer full of adventures has already begun.