~Happy 16th John David~

WOW! It really happened…my baby turns 16 years old today!

the baby I never dreamed I’d give birth to on April 2, 2002 at 39 years of age.

Obviously God knew him before he was formed, but He moved mountains in this Mom’s heart for this child…

I was so done having children at 28 hahahaha. joke is on me! I remember the day God shifted my heart to trust and confidence in Him and willingness in my heart to start all over again. Most people believed Hank was the encourager wanting me to start over again seeing as he did not have biological children of his own. Nothing is farther from the truth…sure he would have loved a baby but it was my heart in which grew an enormous desire to give him a baby. He was already a raising 10, 12 and 14 year old children but had never experienced the beginning…and I desperately wanted to give him that.

Apparently my Lord agreed wholeheartedly…haha not really, He started it all!
John David is a gift to our family! He is the only child who has not lost a parent…or both parents
Isn’t that so stange that just one of my kids has not lost a parent??
God truly works in mysterious ways…

Isaiah 55:8-9 says
“for my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways”
declares the Lord.
“as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than yours ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

On this side of heaven we will never understand Gods ways nor many circumstances in our lives.
Job says in Job 1:21
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

The Lord has taken away in my life and He has given greatly. John David is one of those gifts (along with his brother and 5 sisters).

On each of my children’s birthdays this verse flits through my mind and heart…
James 1:7
“Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the father of heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.”

I love that God promises to never change! Our children grow and change, our lives grow and change..
But God He does not! Amen to that…

So on this 16th birthday of my sweet son I am embracing the change. I love and adore this boy so much. He is such a special young man.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane in pics (he’s gonna hate me haha)

Oh my goodness he was such a cute little guy…had his mama wrapped around his finger, still does who am I fooling?

He was a lover of all things super hero

and of course his big brother

his first love of sport has always been swimming

this was his very first swim meet…look how tiny he is next to his Dad!! Look how Hank is smiling at him!!!

he has always been the best brother, except when he annoys haha!!

he has been able to go to China twice and was such a big help both times!

he has expereinced many a prom without having attended one yet!

and again loving a swim meet

not so happy with the outcome…that looks like a first place ribbon but I think he is disappointed he did not get “triple winner”! Apparently that is a big big deal in the seven year old world!