Porter is Eight

Porter David Sowa is 8 years old.

He is handsome and fun, smart and full of energy. The change from little boy to youth - in interests, in actions, in responsibilities, in character, and in needing his parents a little less - is both fun and sad to experience.

Yesterday he wanted to celebrate his birthday by going to the Golden Splash Park with his sister and I.  We had a blast!

 

When we got home, we opened presents...

And then Porter's biggest birthday wish came true: He got to have a sleepover with one of his best buddies, Sawyer.

The boys were up giggling until and had so much fun watching movies, jumping on the trampoline, playing whiffle-ball, and improving their Minecraft skills.  They even slept in a pink fort that Emma Rose made for them!

Up until yesterday, we've stayed busy this summer.  We've spent some beautiful days on the lake... 

This is Porter's other best buddy, Trevor!

And Porter completed his first golf camp!

Emma Rose had her final dance recital this month as well.  

Here's a link to a video of her preparing for dance:

And here is one of her routines from rehearsal:

She was so cute, and so proud.

Practicing her splits right before the big show!

Posing before going on stage...

Walking to get ice cream with Grandma afterward

One thing that has been a first for me in 8 years is that I have actually slept in! (And by sleeping in, I mean getting up at 7:30, even if the kids get up at 6:30!) I walked in, one morning, to Emma Rose, looking so guilty:

But it turns out she was just trying to get breakfast ready for everyone.  That girl is so sweet...

...And so is my Porter.  He's grown up so fast.  As always, I wrote a letter to him.  Here is part of it:

To my smart, handsome, strong-willed, friend-seeking Porter,

I love you. I love you.  I love you, and I am so proud of the young man you are working to become.  We have had a tough year in our family with so many changes and trials, and while it has been hard on you – a guy who thrives on consistency and routine – you have been resilient and strong, and I have watched you work on your character, trying to choose the right thing, when the easier thing is so…easy.  Growing into a kind young man who chooses actions that “make God smile…” and being an intelligent boy who puts kindness above knowledge has been hard for you, but I am proud of you for continuing to try and for continuing to pray for help in the matter.

I know that sometimes you KNOW it, and sometimes you doubt it in the midst of discipline, but you are fiercely loved.  You are adored by your little sister, the heart-beat of your daddy, and the first true miracle of love to your mama.  You are a good boy with wisdom and strength and a deep concern to feel accepted by your peers, and I have been saddened to watch your fear as friendships have changed in the midst of our moves this past year, as you have changed churches, soccer teams, and now schools, but you have held your shoulders back, jumped into life, and continued to navigate new relationships.  I hope that this year’s small steps of strength, and the choices to do what is right, continue to define you throughout your life.

We moved to Arvada last summer – shortly after your 7^th birthday – to pursue a new career up north.  Unfortunately, it has taken a little longer than we expected.  As I continued working at Valor, you and Emma Rose stayed in school down in Highlands Ranch.  You did so well.  You finished with a 4.11 gpa in such a rigorous school.  Next year, after so much prayer, we decided to move you and Emma Rose into a similar core knowledge school near to our house – Woodrow Wilson.  While you were sad to say goodbye to Ben Franklin on your last day a couple weeks ago, you are excited about the following changes to the new school: No uniforms, 3 recesses, and an “awesome playground.”  I know you’ll make friends quickly – you always do.

As I mentioned, we moved to Arvada this past year.  First, we moved in with Nana and Papa, waiting for your new home to be built, for four months.  You enjoyed living on the lake, and you enjoyed interesting ventures with the next-door-neighbor boy, Will J.

When we moved into our new neighborhood in October, you were so nervous about making friends, but you quickly bonded with many boys your age. Sawyer and Trevor are your closest buddies, and I have to admit, I’m always a little bummed at how quickly you want to run out of the house to play with them – I miss our days together going to the zoo, doing science experiments, going on “treasure hunts”...  Trevor and Sawyer are good boys.  Yesterday I walked in on you 3 watching and singing to you YouTube videos.  Gone are the days of playing trains and spies (though you still love playing trucks with your sister… and legos and Pokemon are still “cool.”)  You were so thrilled to have your first-ever sleep-over on the night of your 8^th birthday with Sawyer.

This past year, fidget spinners became really cool.  You got your first one for Easter, and are constantly looking for newer and cooler ones.  You also were allowed, for the first time by dad and I, to start playing Minecraft.  You and Sawyer and Trevor get together and build these cool structures…

You also continued to play soccer this year on a new league in Arvada – on the same fields that I played on as a little girl – Stenger Soccer Complex. 

You continue to blow your dad and I away with the things your mind absorbs.  You still adore fact-books and all things science.  Recently, your dad was flipping through a wildlife book you’d just received, and he said, “hey Porter, that’s interesting…do you know what the most poisoning mammal is?” to which you responded, “hmm….I would guess the duck-billed platypus,” and you were correct.  I have no idea how you knew that.  You ask me questions about blood and oxygen and lightening and land structures that I never know the answer to. It is fun listening to you express your always-thinking mind.

This year, as a family, in addition to moving, we had some great adventures. We went to Oregon to visit aunt Jenny last June. There, we went to a wildlife preservation where you were thrilled to see and pet a cheetah, your favorite animal.  We also went on many hikes (including to the top of Multnomah Falls…with Jenny and Justin’s new kitten, Julius) and you ate a pancake that was too big to fit on a large plate!  We also spent a week in Breckenridge with Grandma and Grandpa over Thanksgiving.  You and Emma Rose were surprised by Santa with your #1 Christmas wish, an in-ground trampoline…a true Christmas miracle.  We ventured to Whistler for daddy’s 40^th birthday, where you continued to “wow” us with your skiing ability.  I also recently got surgery on one of my hips, and it has been really special and sweet how concerned and helpful you’ve been for me.  Thank you for caring so much for me...

...Porter, you make my heart and head so full.  You are smart and you love to argue and prove that you are right (you usually are), but you are sweet, and you are navigating truth and kindness and justice in a difficult, unpredictable world.  I love you and I am here to help and guide you in your journey, always. I pray that you learn to love and appreciate who you are as God made you so uniquely “you,” and that you trust Him and follow His guidance.  You are incredible and you are incredibly loved.

Love, Mommy