Chuck took our three handsome Boy Scouts to the Merit Badge Extravaganza yesterday. This was Enoch's first year as a Boy Scout and first year to attend. 

Judah took: Emergency Preparedness and Citizenship in the Community, and came home with two partials (meaning he still has work to do to earn the badge). 

Boaz took: First Aid and Environmental Science and also received partials.

Enoch took: Leatherworking, Space Exploration and Wood Carving. He completed everything but his  Wood Carving…

I was gently warned by others about letting Enoch sign up for Space Exploration. It's very in-depth, requires plenty of research and a good amount of writing. It's a hard one for a first MBE. It's a much more difficult merit badge to earn than a lot of the hands on ones…Chuck and I discussed it and decided, so what if he doesn't actually earn the badge? Let him go, have fun…he'll certainly learn from it. Life simply isn't all about earning badges. So after letting him know it would be a lot of hard work, we let him follow his passion, not an "easier" badge.

You probably won't be surprised (given this is Enoch) to know that he worked hard on this badge. The first MBE session was several weeks ago and he came home with a whole lot of homework. He worked on it every day (remember, this is my kid who I can barely get to  do his daily school work). He built his rocket, spent time on the computer researching, did his writing, his drawings. Everything. He loved it and came through earning the badge. He's one of those kids who often rises to  a challenge, even if he won't do his "regular" work…much like both his parents were.

All three boys (and one father) had a splendid time this weekend. And once again, I am so thankful to have a husband so committed to our boys.