Just Another Wrinkle Closer to Jesus

I found this today and loved it. It puts the view from my mirror in better perspective!! Hope you enjoy...........

Another sigh...........

Happy Birthday, Tyler! I can't believe the boy is 21. It some ways it's actually surprising that he made it to 21. In every single sense of the word this child is all boy and kept me on my knees. But before I digress let me tell you how very much he is an answer to prayer.

I had endometriosis all during my 20's and 30's. I didn't actually know that until my 30's but it made getting pregnant very difficult. After Matt was born we were told we were lucky that we had him and to be thankful. Of course we were. But I wanted a houseful of Matthew's and that diagnosis was met with tears. For six years we waited for me to get pregnant and the stress and strain of all those tests and charts and drugs were taking their toll on my emotional health. Finally in 1986 we decided we'd adopt. We started the process in March 1986. All of the consultations and references were completed by Memorial Day, 1986. We had always heard the waiting list was long and we figured it would be at least a year before we would meet the baby God had for us. We received the official acceptance the first of July. On the 25th of August we got a call from the social worker. "You have a baby boy!” We made that 100 mile trip to Amarillo in short order. It was very important to Matt that he be included in the process and the social worker had drawn up a paper that was just for him - all about the responsibilities he had as an older brother and that he promised he would look out for Tyler and be a good role model for the rest of his life. I just bawled watching Matthew nod that he understood what he was signing (He was 6, remember) and watching him solemnly sign his name. Then we signed our names and she said "Just a minute" and left the room. In just a matter of minutes the door opened again and Sharon, the foster mom, carried Tyler in and handed him to me. Oh my gosh I was bawling and laughing and talking -- he was so beautiful. He was two months old when we were introduced and it was immediately apparent that this was the boy we'd been waiting for and that God had planned for all along. This is us just minutes after I first saw my son. Look at the smile on Matt's face.

Tyler was on the go from the very minute he figured out how to motor around. Nothing was safe in his reach. When he was 18 months old he found a screwdriver in the drawer and nearly dismantled his high chair before I discovered him. Another time his dad stepped out of the pickup to talk with someone and Tyler decided he waited long enough. He put the car in drive and took off down the street. He was 2. Tyler is very much an extrovert -- he is energized by people contact. The biggest punishment I could ever give him was to put him in his room alone. He is an adrenaline junkie and I know I don't even want to know half of what he has done. The things I know about (like skateboarding off a house) are scary enough. He is hard working, doesn't like to be idle, and is up for just about anything. Most of all he is an answer to prayer. He is so very much my son that I forget I didn't give birth to him. I couldn't possibly love him more. Happy Birthday, my son. Please, please, please be safe. Contrary to what you seem to believe, you are NOT invincible.

This is my very favorite picture of the little ham.

Sigh....again.

Twenty seven years ago this morning at 11:00 a.m. John Matthew Scott made his entrance into the world. How could it be TWENTY SEVEN years ago????? I can still remember making that 36 mile drive from the hospital to our home -- absolutely scared to death. What was I going to do with a baby for goodness sake??? It's a wonder the poor child lived through our ignorant attempts at parenting. We were way too hard on him but he was loved to death. First grandchild on my side of the family and close enough that Grandpa and Grandma visits were frequent. Matt was the only one that really got to know a well Grandpa and he was the apple of his eye. Matt was so very good. I remember a close friend bursting my bubble (well, actually she insulted me and it was several years before I had to admit she was right). She said "Michelle, I need to tell you that Matt is really, really a great kid -- it's not because you are a great mother." I thought "Oh I'll show you." Then I had Tyler and Katie. Darn if Jackie wasn't right. Matt WAS a really good kid. Compliant, respectful, sweet and big hearted. He still is today. Someday I'm going to write a whole post about how proud I am of Matt the adult - but today I'm enjoying the memories of Matt the boy. He was and is as funny as can be and has made life so enjoyable. You are going to have a great time if you hang around him long. Because he was an only child for six years he was quite practiced at playing by himself and his imagination was great. One of my favorite memories was when he was about 3-1/2. We had taken the teen agers to a neighboring town for a Bible Bowl competition. When that was over they got up and announced they would have a Bible Bee for those who were too young to participate with the big kids. So they had all the kids under 4th grade come up. Naturally Matt was up to the front in a minute. He was a preacher's kid remember - he'd been taught the Bible stories all his life. One by one the kids were eliminated until only Matt and another kid about 2 or 3 years older than him were left. It was causing quite a stir in the audience - they were amazed at my boy. The question was asked and the other child didn't know the answer - it was Matt's turn. And it was one he wasn't sure about. He looked out at the audience until he found me and then he walked to the edge of the stage area and put his hand up to his mouth and whispered very loudly "What is it Mommy?" He brought down the house. He ended up winning and I still have his Bible Bee pin.

You've taught me so much my son. Courage, determination -- you've amazed and marveled me -- I've laughed hardest in my life when I've been with you. God blessed me above anything I could possibly have imagined that May 23, 1980. I love you, Matt.

(P.S. Who IS that holding my son???? )

Sigh.....

Nineteen years ago today I woke up to a tiny pink bundle sleeping in the bassinet next to me. I had no idea whatsoever how much my life was fixing to change. I've learned the lesson that many who've gone before me learned -- parenting sons is completely different from parenting daughters. I've heard it said that no house is big enough for two women and there has been many an incident where I would have added a hearty amen to that. Exactly 19 years ago at 10:00 p.m. last night (May 9), Kaitlin Elizabeth (aka, Katie) weighed in at a hearty 8 lbs and 10 oz and was 21 inches long. She had blonde hair and blue eyes - neither of which she possesses today. Her eyes kind of change with what she's wearing - some days they're more green than blue. Her hair would still be blonde but she is currently sporting a brown/red color that looks very nice. Kaitlin came into this world a spitfire and has not changed. She took one look around and decided that from all she could see, no one else was as fit to rule as she was and so proceeded to order all events pertaining to her. This, as you might imagine, has resulted in more than one head to head confrontation. She's funny, she's loud, she's shy, she's a poet, a writer, a singer and as stubborn as a farmhouse mule. She's taught me that you can indeed love someone with all your heart and soul while at the same time wishing to banish them to outer Mongolia.

My very favorite memory of her is when she was just a little over two years old. We were walking to the football field which was across a park from our house at the time. I would take the kids with me and they would play in the sand pit by the long jump while I walked around the track. The boys had gone on ahead of us because we were too slow. Katie had to walk independently of course, without any help from me. She was noticing everything like two year olds do; and I was completely unaware of how precious this moment would be years down the road. I don't know what was going through her little mind at the moment that caused her to decide it was time to be a little less independent but that little tow-headed blonde doll looked up at me and said "Would you carry my hand, Mommy?"


We are, 17 years down the road, living in those same independent, "I will do it myself" days. I'm waiting, because I think it will happen, for the day when she turns to me and says again "Would you carry my hand, Mommy?"