15

AJ turned 15 in June. This kid… he’s going to be an adult before I can blink. It’s such a bittersweet season. He’s smart, wise, a pain in the booty, a leader, a thinker, a reader… just an all-around solid guy. I can tell he’s flexing those “I’m growing up” muscles, which has led to some fun times. I remind myself often: this is all part of the process.

I’m so curious about where life will take him. We’ve always said he has an engineer’s brain, but recently my dad mentioned he thought AJ might end up in the humanities. (He even dabbled in helping me with my counseling scheduling, which was surprising!) Who knows?! It still catches me off guard when he hugs me and towers over me. It wasn’t always that way…

This summer he also got his learner’s permit, and I’ve loved watching him embrace driving with confidence. He’s said “yes” to every challenge—whether it was rush-hour traffic downtown, driving down the mountain from Estes with my parents, cruising along I-25, or even making it through drive-thrus. He’s already logged more than 35 hours toward the 50 he needs by next June. He’s even gotten comfortable driving the boat. I think he’s really enjoying the independence driving brings. And honestly, I love having another driver in the house—and so far, we don’t drive each other too crazy!

Another thing I’ve noticed is how he’s leaning into healthy risks. He’s tried rappelling, zip lining, and even jumping into rivers—despite his slight fear of heights. He agreed (maybe reluctantly) to get on a horse, too. It’s been so cool watching him step into new adventures with courage.

Here’s to his sophomore year—the last year before Ryker joins him in high school! I can’t wait to see what he gets into next.

Love,
Momma