B-man has a B-day!

Benjamin celebrated his 14th birthday on January 28th, 2009. He is growing up so fast we can hardly keep up with his birthdays anymore.

At 14, he is the same age Joseph Smith was when he had what we in the LDS church refer to as the First Vision. Benjamin is definitely starting to question the world around him and to begin to wonder about his place in it. As we all do at one point or another.

It is exciting to be part of his life.

Yesterday, he went with his youth group to the Columbia, SC temple to do temple work. Last week, he was very reluctant about the trip as he says he has nothing to do for the 2-1/2 hours that it takes to get down there and then another 2-1/2 hours to get back. I encouraged him to take a book with him.

Yesterday morning he was dressed in his Sunday best before I even had breakfast. (They met at the church at 10am.) Apparently, he was no longer feeling reluctant about the trip. I found out when he got back that he had taken my advice and brought Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird with him and was reading it until it simply got too dark to do so. He rode back with the Alcayaga's and had a good time. When it got too dark to read, Tracy Alcayaga kept him busy in conversation. (Benjamin is not normally very talkative.)

Today, I had the opportunity to ordain Benjamin a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood. A very good experience. It's neat to see him move along in his responsibilities in the church.