My oldest son just turned FOURTEEN...my thoughts...

First, though, I wanna share the pictures of his "Gag Gift" party...which...to his surprise...was also a "Hello Kitty" themed party :)  

Here is how it all went down...By the skin of our teeth, my best friend/husband and I pulled off a fun party for a 14 year old who kinda thought he was "past" birthday parties...WHATEVA!  

NO ONE is ever "past" celebrating the day God brought them into this crazy world!

So...First...some silly pictures...

(the gifts were hilarious...from an artichoke to footed pajamas, a crazy wig, weird t-shirts, products to make Chase smell better -HA!- and .... "Superman" briefs... Chase took it all in stride and with much laughter...-shew!!)

NOW...for the HIGHLIGHT of the PARTY!

Jim and I figured that if the boy had to put up with a "Hello Kitty" birthday cake, then he should definitely get to "shoot" the candles out with one of his 'airsoft guns' [airsoft guns shoot soft plastic balls filled with air].....

It was an absolute RIOT!  Jim got the cake settled out on our porch, we opened some windows....

AND.......

For the record, he DID shoot out each flame....And, YES, we cut it up and ate it afterwards!!  

I told the boys just to spit out the pellets ;0) 

(I think they thought Jim and I were pretty kewl if I do say so myself....giggle...)

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So....It is a tradition, here on my blog, to write a "birthday letter" to each of my five treasures on their birthday (or at least on a day close to their birthday!  I'm a busy momma people! giggle)

With that...Chase...my dear.....

You radiate.

You envelope a room with your smile and leadership abilities without even knowing your are doing it.

Your Dad and I have received some confirmation of what God has for you...

At the very least, we know God is SO EXCITED about you and has called you to something "different" and "unique". 

{theological insert: I know God is excited about everyone...duh..but this is Chase's birthday letter...not "everyones". Okay. Feel better now that's clarified.}

Something so different and unusual that only YOU are going to be able to do.  We wait, with baited breathe, my son, to watch God's plan unfold as you take new steps into this new season of your life.

Sweets, are you just SO glad to be FOURTEEN now and NOT THIRTEEN?  Thirteen was not so fun, was it?  You, as all 13 year olds it seems, didn't even like the skin you were in at times.

We watched you struggle through moodiness, anger, frustration, and a changing physic that baffled us all!  Dang puberty ;)  

But, I bet, that - SOON - Trey, one of your best friends AND your brother (doesn't get better than that kiddo) will STOP saying "I hate Chase's puberty".  ha

Cuz...surely chil'...it's gotta end soon!  Poor baby...it's not easy... but it's a molting process that brings a different person out of the "kid" you were and into the "adult" you will soon become...

Hhhmm....kinda like the Russian Matroyshka dolls that I love and collect....

I think you went through this last year being able to understand that YOU are not defined by your emotions, thoughts, or mistakes. I am proud of you for that.  

There were plenty of mis-steps, bad judgements, moments of "yuck" .... but ... I think (I hope!) that you realize that is part of growing.  I have not seen you get "stuck" on one of your mistakes and let yourself spiral.

I have seen you fight back from your mistakes and become a better young man on the other side of them. 

I KNOW, that as you enter this new and exciting year of your life...You have gained wisdom over the last 365 days that will propel you into thrilling opportunities. 

And that the wisdom you gleaned from this last year will be a foundation upon which you will keep growing and maturing.

You, no matter how big, tall, strong, smart, or fast you get will ALWAYS be our "Orange Pumpkin".  {huge smile}

Daddy gave you that nickname on the airplane home from Moscow, Russia as we were still shocked that you were finally in our arms.

(I know..I know...you know this story...heard it a thousand times..but I love it and am going to tell it again kid!)

We were crazy parents then (okay..okay...still are) but, in our naivety, we were showing you English flashcards on the plane ride home.  I guess we thought you'd be speaking sentences in English by the time we got off the plane!

Oh my ... we were so nuts.  I'm sorry you have received the brunt of our weirdness...but...of any child I have EVER met in my ENTIRE life ..... YOU are to be the one to 'tolerate' us.  Your forgiving spirit is amazing.

So, anyways, of course you had NO clue what the flashcards were about but you did like to chew on the one that said "Pumpkin/Orange". You were 14 months old.  Chewing was WAY more fun than staring.

Thus...you are our eternal "Orange Pumpkin".  

(BTW, I WILL have an orange pumpkin at your wedding...even if I have to hide it somewhere :)

All that being said..."Orange Pumpkin".... 

Absolutely, No Matter What, Regardless of ANYTHING....

Your Father and I are and will forever be YOUR BIGGEST FANS.

If we wouldn't be shunned from the community, we would wear "WE HEART CHASE" t-shirts everyday and wake you up with a cheer each morning ;) 

We are the Co-Presidents of your Fan Club, Your Glee Club, Your Support Group.

We are honored to be your Guidance Counselors, your Career Coaches, and your Taxi Cab service.

Chase...we are just simply HONORED.

You, the son who tends to me when I am down....the son who comes into the room for no reason other than to ask if I "need something"...

....the son who could totally demolish your little brothers in your daily wrestling matches but never-ever injures them (on purpose!)....

.....the son who walks into your Dad's office and hugs him while asking if he's having a good day and then just walks back out...

....the son who takes the trash cans to the curb every Tuesday...and who does chores -truly- without barely a complaint....

You....son....are our reward.

We followed God's prodding when He put the whisper of adoption into our young hearts...cuz, I mean, fer real....

Who gets on a plane at ages 23 and 28 and travels half way across the world into a fantastically COLD yet amazing culture to receive a gift that no one should really be entitled to receive....a baby that melted our hearts into a brand new shape...a shape that has never changed and never will.

(Your Dad and I are SURE our families did not really think we were coming home with a baby.  They all had a VERY shocked look on their faces when we exited the plane with YOU in our arms!)

God prodded....We obeyed....And YOU are the beautifully created red bow on top of this gift of adoption that has proved to impact all of our lives in ways that still astound us.

Your precious birth momma did an amazing thing when she gave you LIFE.  

She gave you LIFE and then has allowed us to ENJOY this journey that is "CHASE LEE COCKRUM".  And for that, Miss Irina, we are eternally grateful. Words really aren't enough.

Pumpkin, we cannot wait to see what happens in the next 365 days .... Yes, a large part of my Momma-heart truly HURTS that the years have gone by so fast....

But, the other (little) part -smile - is excited to see you become more of "YOU".

Happy Birthday "Orange Pumpkin"....

With every ounce of love we have,

Momma and Dad....

Presidents of the "Orange Pumpkin" Fan Club

(other charter members include: Trey-Bear, Z-Dawg, Chief, and Squeeze ;)

 LUV YOU!

REALLY!

Your friends were all around....I didn't care. Your my boy.

"OUCH MOM!"  (okay. I stopped.)