All about “Little A"

Here we are, Adren is turning 14! This is an important age. (to me) This is the age I have always used since he was a wee one: When Adren is 14, I want to make sure we have a good relationship, he's open with us, we've taught him what is important etc. etc. I've just always felt like if they aren't there at 14, it's too late to instill certain things. Do you get me? 14 is an important age, people!

So, Adren has turned 14!


Paisley and Zeke even got up extra early on a school morning to be there for their big bro.

Let me tell you about Adren. I get teary thinking of how wonderful he is! At fourteen, he is thoughtful and sweet. He jumps up when I come in the house with a hand full of groceries to help without asking, he opens doors for me, when I ask for a hand he stops what he's doing and acts like he's happy to do it. One night after picking him up from guitar I had to drop a treat off to one of my laurels and it was pouring rain. He just grabbed the treat and started opening his door, until I insisted I wanted to take it to the door, he didn't want me having to go out in the rain. He says "Thank You" for everything. The lunch lady at Dixon called to tell me he was out of lunch money and a friend had bought his lunch for him that day. She knew I'd want to know and I thanked her. Before I got off the phone, she said, "Adren is one of the nicest boys I have ever met. He has the best manners and he really stands out because no one is like that at fourteen."
He sends me funny things he thinks I'll like, and I respond to things he posts. I thought this response was sweet:

We have wonderful conversations and I really love chatting with him- even if it's about Fort Night or a book he's reading. I want to hear it all. He is way in to reading! Oh, my goodness. I take him to the library while he piles his arms full, then plows through them in days. He warns me when he's down to his last book that he'll need a trip back to the library soon. By the way, if you have suggestions for action/ adventure tween books, preferably in a series, let me know! He still has some leg/ nerve/ muscle weakness troubles in one leg. It will ache pretty bad at times which I hear is common among the AFM group. But he rarely even tells me. I fear I'm making him sound perfect because there are certainly times he needs a firm sit-down chat, or limited privileges because of poor choices, but I appreciate even right after we're done, he'll say, "Oh, Mom! I was going to tell you the funniest thing..." like he's completely non offended and understands it has nothing to do with my love and interest in him. He seems to get that, and I am grateful.
I sort of volunteered him to share his testimony of the temple at the Turning 12 Fireside when the Primary President asked for youth names. He acted like it was no big deal, and he'd be happy to do it. I assumed he had something in mind when he got up to the microphone. He spoke of a time (not too long ago) where he was struggling with feeling a bit overwhelmed in school with work and friends. He came to me one night a bit emotional and asked if he could take the next day off. I told him it was fine, and suggested I take him to do baptisms. He spoke of the sweet, calming spirit he felt in the temple and recognized it from other times in his life when the Holy Ghost has comforted him. It was just what he needed. He has a way of speaking off the cuff, from his heart and getting people chuckling and feeling the spirit and I thought he did a fine job. At fourteen, Adren is smart, kind, handsome, funny and thoughtful. So far so good! We are all crazy about him.

We all went out to dinner to Wingers at Provo Mall. Our family seems to choose Wingers a lot. Have you had the sticky wing salad???

That evening his best friend Pedro came over to help celebrate. His gifts were so typical tween: electric guitar & amp, cologne, clothes and tickets to his first concert!