To Aaron, on your 14th birthday...

Dear Aaron, 

I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of the amazing Christian man you are becoming. You are 14 years old today. You are taller than me by several inches (yes, I've finally admitted it). You've got a great sense of humor, you're fun to be around, and you are so happy. You have always made smart, responsible choices and I hope that continues with you throughout your life. I've made a list of little pieces of advice for you as you enter your 14th year of life. So, here goes..

• Surround yourself with people who build you up, not people who tear you down.
• Guard your heart. Seriously, your heart is precious.
• Set your boundaries and stick to them. This will help you not give in to peer pressure.
• Be SO SO SO careful who you date. If it's not someone you would consider marrying one day, don't date her.
• Respect girls. Open her door. Let her go in before you. Give her your coat if she's cold. Tell her she looks nice.
• The internet can be a dangerous place. Don't allow yourself to look at photos or videos that you wouldn't look at if God were in the room with you. Because He is. 
• Pray everyday, several times a day. Don't ever forget how much you need God.
• Make good grades. College costs a lot of money without scholarships. 
• Never be afraid to say no. It's better to be a wimp than dead.
• When you fall on your face, get back up and keep moving.
• Pause before you speak, this will prevent a lot of problems.
• Talk to me or dad about what's on your mind. We are your biggest fans and care deeply about everything that goes on with you.
• Selfies are for faces.

There are at least 100 more pieces of advice I want to give you, but I'm not even sure you're still reading at this point, so I'll stop it at that. You're welcome. 

Here are a few pictures of you from the past year. It is a pleasure to watch you grow.

At Grandma and Poppy Loe's house with Luke, Kaulyn, and Austin

You and Parker Rowe at trap shoot practice

Riding at Bear Creek...You drove me across water I was afraid to drive in by myself.

Snow skiing at Wolf Creek

Boom

You, Austin, and Grandma

On a mission trip in Tennessee, working in the kitchen

Dalton Burns, you, and Kholeton Cox

Billy, you, CJ, Kholeton, and Tyler

You and dad

Photobombing my sunset pic at the beach

Aaron Neil...

And this. Best photo of the year. So proud of you for making the biggest decision of your life this year.

I love you,

Mom