to my favorite 11 year old

Dear Luke,

I often find myself in a place that can't believe you're already 11, but at the same time realize you are the most mature and wise 11 year old out there.  You've grown up quickly, but you've also always been an old man at heart.

You are quite the prankster, Luke.  Quietly and constantly keeping us all on our toes.  You set traps and load the dishwasher the wrong way and do little things that have everyone asking "who did THIS?" but we should all know better by now.  Yesterday, I got a box of Cinnamon Life down from the cupboard, went to pour myself a bowl and out came a bunch of wooden dinosaur bones.  The bag of cereal had been replaced with your puzzle and placed back for someone to find.  I knew it was your doing immediately.

You also love to point out when others do something odd or wrong... not because you are being mean, necessarily... just because you find it funny.  A few days ago you asked me, "So mom.  Do you think you put your pants on the right way or inside out?"  I looked down to find my seems hanging out on all sides and laughed.  Not all of us know how to put our pants on the right way.

You are thorough (and still slow) at everything you do, but I always know it will be done, and it will be done accurately.  We've been touching up our house lately, and you're the only one I will allow to paint in the important places (the other kids have kid assignments, Ben included) because I know they are carefree and won't take it seriously.  But I can trust you to keep everything neat and clean and accurate.  Your clothes in your dresser are always folded and clean and never out of place.  That said, you take the longest to get ready... sometimes after church we will all be eating dinner before you're changed.  But your clothes are hung with the most care and never wrinkled!  I love you for that.

I also love you because you have tied my tennis shoes for the past few weeks.  You know just the way I like it and keep me from groaning when I bend over to put them on.  Sometimes when it's time to go, you will ask me what shoes I want to wear, fetch them for me and put them on my feet... You are so cute and thoughtful.

You have a gift for playing and entertaining toddlers and we all know who Roma's favorite is.  She goes around the house all day saying, "Lukey!  I need you for a minute!"  The two of you share a room and it's a blessing and a curse.  She will gladly snuggle up to you, any time of day, no matter what.  But she also keeps you awake and bosses you around, sometimes at 2 am and that's no fun for you.  The two of you have something special-- our "brown eyed kids" and we're anxious if baby number 6 will join the ranks and even things up at this house.  Only time will tell!

The other day while reading The Giver and I asked what you think The Elders would pick for your life Assignment if they could watch you day in and day out, you said an artist, a pianist or an architect.  I thought all of those sounded accurate.  You will be a creator of some kind, I just know it.  You enjoy working alone, in the quiet and left to be free to do and think the way you please.  Your mind is creative and organic and I love to watch you build, paint, and make crazy origami art.  I also love to give you complicated math questions and watch your eyes as you figure it out in your head!

Above all, I love and appreciate our cuddle sessions, usually right before bed.  You were my chimpanzee baby that always wanted to be close to me and nothing has changed over the years.  You are always up for a hug or snuggle and I am always in need of a Luke-fix!  You never go to bed without hugging everyone and telling us that you love us.  Most of the time, you squeeze your brothers too tightly and sometimes even make Zack cry, but that's okay.  Someday I am really going to miss getting mad at you for hugging too tightly!

Remember that we are always here for you no matter how crazy and complicated life gets.  Dad and I are so proud of you and the young man you are becoming!

As Roma would say, I love you too much.

Mom