Counting My Blessings Part Two

My Son

Photo by the Pixel Fairy Princess!

My first baby love, my only son, my sunshine, my first joy!

As I have reflected on my family these past few years, one thing has become painfully clear to me. Before my husband and family, I was broken and lost. I was also a wee bit (okay, alot!) spoiled, self absorbed and totally immature. I was not in a good place, but I was so busy having fun, I didn't notice or care. Meeting my husband was the turning point but my son was the catalyst that changed me and made me a better person. It all happened the year that we got married. All within a 14 month period, my husband graduated from college, got his first job in another state, we moved away, got married, got pregnant and had a baby and moved to our first house. That's right - ALL of that within a 14 month period!!! We were married in November, and in February, we found out I was pregnant. We knew we wanted children, just not so quick! Our emotions when we found out ran the gamut, from being scared to excited and everything in between. But when he was born and I finally got to hold him 5 hours later, my heart was completely transformed. I finally knew what it was to love so completely, unconditionally and with every fiber of my being. Someone in this world mattered more to me than myself and that was a very new feeling for me. As he grew, so did I. My son has been my life's greatest teacher. And he has tested me like no other too!!! LOL

Things that make him so very special:

• His happy go lucky way of approaching life.
• His infectious smile. He smiles like a grown man now, but I still see that sun shiney smile of my little boy. :-)
  
• His pure heart. The most amazing, purest heart I have ever known.
• His desire to serve. Wherever his life leads him, I have no doubt he will serve someone, somewhere. And he will do it humbly and completely.
  
• His innate spirituality. Since he was a small boy, he has always had a very spiritual side to him. He is the one who lead me back to church. I have also witnessed many miracles in my son that doctors said to never expect. God has used my son to teach me, minister to me and through my son, God has been glorified in my life over and over again.
• He is just FUNNY and when you look at the world through his eyes, you can't help but laugh. He really does have a talent for entertaining.
  
• He loves the outdoors, camping, biking, fishing, boating, swimming, etc. These are all the things my husband loves too, so they have plenty of things to share together when they need a little male bonding time away from the rest of us girls.
  
• He is creative on so many levels. His creativity is what has helped him to deal with things that are difficult for him. His teachers love to watch how he handles some things and some have even told me that by watching him, they have a better understanding and idea of how to help other kids.
  
• He is a survivor like I have never known. I know there are big and special things in store for my son. His life hasn't always been easy, but these things have only deepened his compassion and softened his heart.

I am grateful for my son, the joy he brings to my life, the lessons he continues to teach me and the challenges that have forced us to stretch and grow as a family and as individuals. Many times I have failed him as a mother, and I continue to, no matter how hard I try to be aware of my short comings. I only hope that he knows just how deeply proud I am of him and how much I love him. I hope that he will forgive me for my weak moments and understand that I am not perfect. But my love for him is.