19 years ago today

19 years ago today, I witnessed the true miracle of God.......my first child.   I remember it like it was yesterday; David and I both looking down into Ted's little face and I said "Who could NOT believe in God?"   There is no greater miracle than life.   It's beyond me how one could not see that!

Anyway, I guess I'm not the typical parent, in that I'm not going to say it's gone by "so fast".   For me, I feel like I've had my kids forever - and that's a good thing!

I think homeschooling and having them here with me all of their lives, has been a wonderful gift.  It's given me TIME with them.   I will never have to look back and regret that we didn't have time.  I have treasured it all.

But the time is coming soon when I will have to let him walk out and be the man God has called him to be.  The transition has been coming - Ted has been a "man" for many years.

Always mature - always ready to serve - always ready to be the man God wants him to be - he's been ready for some time now.

But, thankfully, he's also always loved us, respected us, obeyed us, and not been one to desire getting away from us.   For that, I am grateful!

When he was born, actually before that, I "gave" him over to the Lord.   As I carried this child, I had a desire to see him serve Christ with all his heart and God has faithfully taken Ted and caused him to do just that.

From the time Ted was a little boy, I knew in my heart that God was going to use him in music.   When I look back on it now, it's kind of strange, and yet, had to be from God, because it was just something I knew would happen one day.   Ted was created to love music.

We infused so much music into his life, from the time he was little bitty.   In the middle of the night, when it was just the two of us in the rocking chair, I would sing hymns.  We had our favorites and to this day, I can't hear some of those old hymns without thinking about that sweet time with Ted.

Later in life we surrounded him with Southern Gospel.  Anything the Gaithers or their groups sang, Ted knew the words to.    The first song he sang in church was "I'm satisfied" and it was so cute!  He was 4 years old!

As he got older we allowed him (and introduced him) to other genres and told him that it's the lyrics that matter.   Just because it's Rock, Country, Christian, etc. doesn't make it good or bad; it's about the meaning of the words.    (Well, that was before Scream-o came along, which I believe is from the pits, but that's another story.)

The point is, Ted grew up to love all kinds of music, mostly because he could pick out the instruments and copy what they were doing.

His true gift started shining through when he was 12 years old.    That's when he picked up a guitar and started using that gift God gave him.   And, it's never stopped!

Yes, Ted is blessed with a God-given talent.   I'm so thankful for that!  I can't wait to see what God does with all of that.    But, he wouldn't be anything extraordinary if it weren't for his heart for God.  Now THAT is what makes this young man who he is.

From an early age, he has loved the Lord.   Every stage of growth has brought him to a deeper understanding of Christ's love for him, but it's always been there.

I've watched him remain faithful to God throughout the teen years, when he easily could have made wrong choices.   But, he stuck with it and has come out a godly young man.

I'm proud of Ted, but I'm most thankful that he chooses daily to walk with the Lord.   It sure takes a lot of pressure off of me!    I know he's in good hands!

So, with all of that said.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEDDY!

WE LOVE YOU and

are so thankful

that God allowed us

to be your parents!