DJ, age 11

DJ's "birth day" lives so vividly in my memory, it's hard to believe it was 11 years ago! He is growing into this thoughtful, serious, hard-working kid and we love him so much and who he's becoming.

Sports are still pretty much top on DJ's list of things to do, watch, and to think, read, write, and talk about. If he plays a video game, it's a sports game. I love that I can ask him details about specific plays or players and he either has the answer or is willing to chat about it. When there's no baseball, football, or basketball to watch and he's in the mood to watch sports, he can get into a softball, water polo, or world tag (?) game just as much. He plays baseball, soccer, and basketball on LCS teams and loves just about every minute of it. DJ's greatest sorrow is we don't like to throw the football around at home nearly as much as he'd like.

But DJ also enjoys reading, math, and putting stuff together, whether it's Legos or a new tabletop foosball table. He has delightful friends at school and is working hard at getting along with his siblings. It's exciting to think about what the next year holds as we look forward to MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Birthday haircut

He's been waiting two years for the Guardians of the Galaxy ship Lego set. It's mostly for him, but a little bit for me.

Blowing out his (two) candles...one thing I forgot in the many Christmas/birthday shopping trips. This year, Grandma Linda made him an ice cream pie at his request.

Birthday bowling

What was your favorite memory from the last year?

Improving at soccer. We didn't win a single game last season, then this fall we were almost undefeated! 

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?

He's helping me get better at things. Like in the baseball hitting league, it felt impossible to hit the pitches that were coming at 50 mph. I was pretty scared at the beginning. But after the first one or two games I was able to get multiple hits in each game and even get some home runs.

How do you feel about being eleven?  

It's nice, I feel like last year went way too fast. Nine to ten was a really long year, but then ten went really fast. Not in the moment, but looking back it was super fast.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

Baseball season, playing with the older kids this year. We just have a better team, we're able to win more games. Wesley might come back to the soccer at LCS this year. Going to Florida and maybe visiting Roger!

Who are your best friends?

At school, Caleb, Wesley, and Ira. In the family, Otto, Roger, Xander, and Eddie

What are your strengths?

Baseball, reading, soccer, math, FIFA '23 (Nintendo Switch game). I'm good at doing chores; I've gotten a lot better at doing chores without complaining. [I would agree!] I'm good at making cold brew coffee. I know what I'm not good at...thinking of things that I'm good at. I'm good at being polite.

What careers are you considering?

Like a pastor, a paleontologist, an athlete. I think I'd like engineering or building things. I like the idea of automotive or aeronautical engineering.

Why are you interested in those fields?

I don't know, I mean, I'm a good athlete and I think it would be cool to learn about fossils and look into our past, and I think being a pastor would be cool because you get to write sermons and travel. You collect stories and connect them to the ideas in the sermons. I really like Legos, so I think I'd like engineering.

What’s your favorite song or type of music?   

"Help" by the Beatles, and my favorite type of music is Beatles music.

What's your favorite food?

Chicken pot pie.

Current favorite movie?   

The Sandlot or Back to the Future.

Current book you're reading?

The Tripod Series at school and comic books at home. Far Side, Garfield.

Favorite color?   

Light green.

Favorite place to be?

Usually I would say Aunt Pam's house, but...Petoskey or Papa John's house.

What are your favorite things to do? 

Read, play/watch sports, I like playing video games. I like traveling, being in different places. 

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?

I've had two cups of coffee and it's only 11:45 in the morning. Ah! I just got coffee in my eye! I'm only 17 years away from my golden birthday.