Be a Good Scout

This year, my son joined Boy Scouts. I'm really excited for him, because I've seen firsthand the difference scouting makes in a young man's life. I'm excited because the values of the law are the values I want to instill in my son:

trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful,
thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

And the scout oath is a great framework for life:

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

There are a lot of great skills he gets to learn, like woodcarving, outdoor skills, thinking beyond self, and working towards a goal. He can pick which patches or merit badges he'd like to work on. There's a lot of things to ponder as he picks which ones to pursue. I'm so thrilled to see him thrilled about something.

The skills he's learned so far are quite impressive: he's carved a car out of soap, we've toured a local radio station & learned about the process. He got to play basketball with the Skyforce players and go to a game. the pack even visited the local police department and got a peek behind the scenes-everything from the squad room to heaving a SWAT vest to the crime lab. He's learned about citizenship along the way, and more. There are valid concerns for me too-some of the outdoor activities that might be out of his comfort zone, for example-where he might not want to participate. But I think those fears of mine will alleviate as time goes on and he grows and matures.

I'm incredibly proud of my little man as he grows in scouting and beyond.

10 years gone

This weekend my son turned 10. Double digits.
He's officially a tween.
I'm not prepared.
He's definitely becoming independent and (more) opinionated about things-tv, clothing, and more.
Our tastes are maturing-gone are the nick jr shows, and in are Disney XD programs. Character shoes are gone, and in are skateboarder ones. He's growing up.
10 years ago, he was born early. He had some health complications, including respiratory distress, and had a NICU stay. He was small, and despite all that, he was a fighter. Today, he has no lingering complications from his early health issues. Im forever grateful to the staff that took care of him in those precious early days. That laid the groundwork for him being healthy today.
As a thank you, I became involved with the march of dimes. Part of their mission to help prevent NICU stays. If it does happen, they are there with support. Im grateful for that. I'm hoping that my little role can make a tough beginning for a family a little better.
Another organization I recently became involved with is Every Mother Counts. They help to educate women around the world on prenatal care, maternal health and family planning. The maternal death rates worldwide are appalling, despite advances in the first world. Something as simple as a hygiene kit to allow a woman to give birth in a sterile environment saves lives.
It's hard to believe that my little guy is growing up, and I'm treasuring each moment we have because he's only this age once.
10 years gone, like a flash.
Time flies.

Our March for Babies video, featuring the incredibly appropriate Hourglass by Mindy Gledhill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afCHJMLWEK4&feature=youtube_gdata_player