Saturday, February 18, 2017

A 16th Birthday

So this guy turns 16 tomorrow....and it is a milestone for this mom that makes me a bit emotional.

You see, my mom died just short of 3 months before my 16th birthday.

Does this make me sad?  It used to, but not anymore.  It makes me grateful that I get to see my oldest turn 16.  To be honest, losing a parent at a young age can give you a different perspective, and the perspective that I choose to have is thankfulness.  It is a privilege to be a mom to three kids....it is a privilege to have a family.....it is a privilege to get up each day and face whatever I need to face.  I am incredibly grateful to God for the gift of knowing my oldest longer than my mom knew me.  I do not know how that sounds to someone who hasn't experienced a loss, but it is how I feel.

So here are some other things I am grateful for on the eve of Evan's 16th birthday;


  • how Evan has taught me how to listen more and talk less (although I am still working on this).
  • the passion Evan has for life - for growing in his faith, playing his sports, working on his school, and caring about his friends
  • I am thankful for Evan's friends, they are each wonderful people that I love having hang out at our house.
  • that Evan and I forgive each other easily.....we are both firstborn children and analytical thinkers....so we have to forgive each other often!
  • how much Evan cares for his family....I could not have picked a better older brother for Ann-Marie and Alec
  • that Evan talks freely to his dad and I.....the conversations are something we all enjoy (o.k., maybe his siblings don't, but the parents do.)
So Happy 16th Birthday to our Evan.....we are so very proud of the young man you are growing into!


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.