I am a mama to boys….4 boys! My oldest is 24 and lives on his own but we see him every week. The rest are still young enough to live at home. I need all the help I can get! Some days I LONG for a tea party and a room done in pink with white lace….my hope now lies in grand-babies 🙂 (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)
Last week Josiah turned 14. I am stunned. It seems like yesterday….
Josiah needed much attention after birth….the roof of his mouth is as deep as the Grand Canyon and his gag reflex at birth started at the tip of his tongue. Needless to say this made nursing almost impossible and extremely painful! Many months were spent working with a lactation consultant, pumping, finger feeding and training Josiah. I am thankful that it was successful. It seems like yesterday!
Josiah was such a delightful little one – he loved hats – he wore anything he could find on his head….cute little hats that matched his clothes, deflated balls, boxes…ANYTHING! He liked to fall asleep in my arms stroking my cheek. Melt my heart! It seems like yesterday!
I look at him today, almost as tall as me, and wonder what happened. I am sure you mama’s understand this phenomenon! Josiah loves God, serves Him and has a HUGE heart for others. He has a lot of passions in his life; family, farming, working with wood, working with his hands….and…..John Wayne movies, especially the really old ones!
Josiah admires many (NOT ALL!) of the characters that John Wayne plays – they were courageous, chivalrous, strong, men of their word, honorable, honest! This year John Wayne movies are available in stores very inexpensively – I think it is because Mr. Wayne would have been 100 this year. So, of course for his birthday, Josiah asked for some movies. Although we don’t have TV, cable or satellite, we do watch movies filtered through a Clearplay dvd player. (See my link in the sidebar to watch a demo of this neat player!)
Birthdays are big deals in our home. It is a day to honor one of our family. Cakes have also become a big deal. Each year, as I pray for the birthday boy, I feel that God gives me inspiration for the cake. I just know what to do…I can almost see the picture of it in my mind….and I am NOT a really creative person so this has to be GOD! I have made some doosies! (Note to readers: this does not in any way imply that I am GOOD at decorating cakes…..)
This year needed to be a western party. Western attire was required. Here are my cowboys!
Lunch was homemade pizza and a special treat of Sobes or sweet tea.
The birthday boy…minus the hat…we were, after all, at the table!
The older cowpoke….armed to the teeth!
And my doodlebug really strong cowboy!
I made a cowboy cake….with a twist. Here is the cake before the ah…er…. special topping.
Then I added something…..I created a letter to Josiah from John Wayne consisting of non-movie quotes from Mr. Wayne. These quote were picked because they speak to things that are pertinent in Josiah’s life at this time. Also, please note….this is not to say that I don’t address these things from the Word….we do! I was trying to add some encouragement wrapped up as fun! 🙂
I then searched the Internet and found a copy of Mr. Wayne’s signature to add at the bottom of the page. The Older Cowpoke “aged the page” and then it was attached to the cake with a gift for Josiah – a HUGE knife…what more could any young man ask for?
Here is the note:
Howdy Friend,
Just wanted to say Happy Birthday Josiah! There are some things I want you to know as you become a young man….
Although I played tough men in the movies, in real life “I am a demonstrative man, a babypicker-upper, a hugger and a kisser – that’s my nature”.
Josiah, when your life gets hard remember this….”When the road looks rough ahead, remember God and the word Hope. Hang onto both and tough it out.”
When you feel scared Josiah, remember….”Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!”
And lastly never forget….”when you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it!”
God Bless You Buddy!
Warm regards,
John Wayne
And the final effect!
I am so pleased at how much this pleased Josiah! Dinner was more traditional cowboy fare…pulled pork bar-b-q on homemade hamburger rolls (Thanks Marlene!), corn on the cob, salad from the garden and baked potatoes! We ended the evening watching some of the John Wayne movies Josiah received for his birthday….we had to hurry because our media fast started at midnight!
We managed to squeak two in 🙂
Saddle up boys!
The Essential Herbalist 
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