The Boy Who Almost Smiled

There's a certain boy in my house that turned 12 on Saturday. He is the boy that doesn't want to have fun or smile. Well, I think he wants to have fun with his friends, but never admit it to his parents.

We almost captured a smile, but it never happened. He fought it with every energy and strength he could muster.

For his birthday we gave him a BB gun. He was disappointed. He didn't want one. He wouldn't tell us what he wanted for his birthday or what he wants for Christmas, so we mistakenly assumed a 12 -year-old boy might want a BB gun. I know a 10-year-old and an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old that think it's the coolest gift in the world. But not the 12-year-old. (Boy is he going to be disappointed for Christmas ...)

On Sunday he was ordained a deacon in our church. It's a big thing for the 12-year-old young men. He is officially not a kid and doesn't attend the children's Primary anymore. He will now have responsibilities on a weekly and monthly basis at church. And we are thrilled for him. He is happy, too.

Then on Sunday afternoon we had our annual Christmas party. Santa comes and delivers gifts to all the good boys and girls. After Taylor's disappointment on Saturday, we were afraid to give him the gift we bought for this party, so I wrapped up a giant bag of beef jerky for him. And, guess what! He loved it. There was a partial smile. (I think he's going to be getting a lot of beef jerky for Christmas.)

And the children weren't the only "good" ones. Apparently yours truly was a good girl, too, this year. Santa brought her a vintage Pyrex bowl. (He knows me so well.) It's the matching chip bowl to my dip bowl. You know, the one with the blue inside! Sweet! (My sister snuck the gift into one of Santa's bags.) Thanks, Kate. I was very pleasantly surprised.