Today is blessing # 3's birthday!  Alejandro Timoteo  (Alex) was born this day in 1992.  He has always been quite the character.  For almost 7 years he was the youngest child then we had 2 more blessings-so with Alex you get the 2 for 1 special (all this for $19.92 and call now and we'll throw in for free.....). You get the entire "baby of the family...doted on, spoiled, center of everyone's attention AND thanks to 2 younger siblings, you get the whole "oh woe is me, I'm the middle child and nothing is as it should be" packaging!  On top of that he has such a great personality!  He loves being the center of attention and can find fun in most activities.  He's a ham, a clown, an engineer/mechanic, and thinker.  Now pack all of that into a 16 year old teenage body!  He's an athlete and a musician.  He has lots of energy and always seems to need to be moving.  He forgives pretty easily and tends to wear his emotions on his sleeve.

This is the boy that jumps off rooftops.  This is the boy that jumps from rooftop to rooftop.  And videotapes himself doing it!  This is the boy who pretends to run into poles in stores just to see people's reactions!  He is my fix-it guy.  When blessing number 5 came, Alex put together EVERYTHING-stroller, crib, car seat, bassinet, high chair.  He loves most sports except basketball  but baseball is his number 1 thing!  He is like the energizer bunny in fast forward.  He loves to study about World War II.  Whenever he finds something he would like to learn about, he usually jumps right in and teaches himself.  Lately that has been guitar.

Alex also has a great devotion to God and love of his family.  He stays involved on a parish level, even though, since he attends private school he is not required to.  He is involved in our Archdiocese on the Youth Council and has started a young men's club at his school. 

Today, Alex got his birthday wish.....he started Drivers Education!  He has been walking on cloud 9 since he found out about it this weekend.  I just picked him up from his first class and he was already picking out violations!  Beware Houston Drivers!!!  Mr. Sunshine will soon be on the road!

For you, Alex, I claim these scriptures:

1 Timothy 2: 18-19...."I entrust this charge to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophetic words once spoken about you.  Through them may you fight a good fight by having faith and a good conscience."

1 Timothy 4: 7-16:

"Avoid profane and silly myths.  Train yourself for devotion, for while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future.  This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.    For this we toil and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe.  Command and teach these things.  Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.  Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation and teaching.  Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic  word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.  Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone.  Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you."

HAPPY SWEET 16, MY SON!  LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH!

You make our hearts happy!