Super sweet 16

"Happy birthday!" Jackson said in his singsong voice when he got in the car. He was referring to his own. We were on the way to Mom's where he would have the last of three observations of his special day. They were each low-key, but they added up to a nice week for Jackson.

Jackson walking Sara into church

Although "sweet 16" is meant for girls, it's certainly fitting for that boy. And what a loving, caring big brother he is. When he's walking across a parking lot with his siblings, he'll reach down and grab Sara's or Christian's hand to make sure they're safe. 

Jackson has a special love for his little sister. All throughout the day, he says, "Hi, Sara," while smiling and waving at her. When she was sick with a virus that lasted through the weekend of his birthday, he lay on the twin bed next to hers for three days.

Angy kept hearing "Hi, Sara" coming from the bedroom. She asked Jackson to please be quiet and explained that people don't feel like talking when they're sick. But as soon as Angy walked out, she heard "Hi, Sara." That sweet boy just can't help himself. She would sometimes find Jackson sitting up, smiling over at his sister and trying to make her feel better.

After all that close contact, we thought that he would surely be the third child in the house to catch the nasty virus, but God spared him except for a light touch of it.

Now here's a rundown of Jackson's birthday week ...

Sunday, June 1: Jackson spent his actual birthday at home because of the virus quarantine. Angy gave him two tubes of Bodycology lotion that he'd been staring at on the computer and longing for. Then she picked up his gift from his cousins Evyn and Ezra—new ear buds to replace his broken ones and some scented lotion. Jackson was very happy. To thank his cousins for the gift, he texted their parents, "zach and kelly hi." 

Since Jackson doesn't like cake, Angy put a tall candle in a bowl of gummie Life Savers, and the family (sans Sara) sang the birthday song. In between the gifts and the singing, Jackson was lying on the bed next to his sick baby sister.

Wednesday, June 4: With the quarantine lifted, Angy took Jackson out for a day to do whatever he wanted. The first stop was Home Depot to play with the washing machines. Next was Bath & Body Works to pick out scented hand sanitizers, and finally, Walmart to get two more tubes of Bodycology. (Jackson must have them in two's.) Angy offered to take him to lunch, but he said, "Go home."

Sunday, June 8: The celebration at Mom's after church included a birthday balloon, a birthday doughnut with candles, and another performance of the birthday song, so I think it qualified as an actual party. 

Mom and Rex gave Jackson two bags of hand sanitizers. Deke and Kim also gave him hand sanitizers plus a Bath & Body Works gift certificate so he could pick out more. I made Jackson a card with photos on the front and back from many of his birthdays leading up to this 16-year milestone. Inside was the promise of a trip to Walmart so he could pick out what he wanted.

Birthday card

At Walmart afterward, Jackson selected six tubes of Bodycology, two each of three different scents. I asked if he would also like a new shirt and he replied, "Yeah!" Angy picked out a pretty blue polo shirt for him, then Jackson selected two bags of candy. Satisfied with his shopping, he headed over to the car stereo display to have a good time testing them out.

In one way, Jackson is a typical teenager because he likes to look good. I was so pleased that he wanted a new shirt for his birthday instead of more lotion. And he really enjoys getting compliments about his appearance. Even when he gets a new pair of socks, he'll point them out for people to notice.

I love his self-esteem. Whenever I see Jackson, several times he'll say, "Teeth, hair," while pointing them out. I tell him how nice they look and how handsome he is. He does have great hair, and I'm glad that he's not self-conscious about his teeth. Jackson seems quite content with how God made Him, which thrills my soul. We should all be more like Jackson instead of complaining about our imperfections.

My 16-year-old grandson is already growing an abundant crop of facial hair. Darrell shaved off Jackson's chin hair, which was getting close to being a full-fledged goatee, but when he tried to shave his upper lip, Jackson wouldn't stand still and Darrell had to give up. I guess our young man likes how the 'stache is coming in.

Lookin' good, Jack!