Two Significant Birthdays

Within four days of each other, two of our children have birthdays. On January 21st, our oldest son Jason had a birthday. I can't imagine a another father being prouder of a child than I am of Jason. Of all of our children, he was the planner, and determined to reach his goals. From ninth grade on, he knew he wanted to attend Evangel University, major in music and orchestrate music for live and recorded sessions. Today he is an Assistant Professor of Music at Evangel University. He has been instrumental in expanding the music technology and music industry sections of the Music Department. He has written countless orchestrations for many churches, civic orchestras, recording sessions and more. The idea of hearing the music in his head, and then being able to display it on a computer and then print all the parts for an orchestra, boggle my mind. I love hearing the music he has worked on. If he stays on his goal schedule, Jason will begin working on a doctorate this coming fall. The family side of life makes me just as proud. He is a wonderful husband and father. He and Jennie have done a wonderful job of raising their two sons. Both of them excel in different areas. Two years ago, Jason and Jennie began the adoption process to adopt a Haitian orphan who was very ill. Today, Josie is a bubbly, full-of-energy, bundle of excitement, and very healthy. Jason, Jennie and their boys have loved this little girl into health and vitality. The compassion and care of disadvantaged children that Jason saw in his own home as he grew up obviously translated into he and Jennie's decision to follow James 1:27, The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father's point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans... Happy birthday, Jason.

Today is Nicole's 20th birthday. It is hard to imagine that my little girl is all grown up. The memories of her as an 18 month old, playing "chase me" with me are as vivid today as they were 18 years ago. Every Friday we would dress her "to the nines", complete with her fuzzy white coat and take her to the county's social services division so she could visit with her birth grandmother. At the end of the visit, Kathy would usually spend a few minutes talking with Nicole's social worker, and I would take Nicole out in the hall to burn off some energy. For some reason, today she won't play "chase me" anymore. :) I agonized over this child because she had no father. Many nights I would feed her a bottle and put her to sleep, praying over her, and her future. After her grandmother had exhausted all the possible relatives that Nicole could have gone to, we began the adoption process. For you see, by 18 months, she was already embedded far too deeply in our hearts to let her go back into the foster care system. Today she has blossomed into a wonderful young lady. Her photography hobby has evolved into a small photography business, she is working and paying off her car, and learning the life skills that will make her a wonderful wife and mother. Near the end of the adoption process, we had a session with a doctor who discussed with us all of the possible health problems that Nicole could have. She was born a preemie to a 14 year old mother. She had a severe brain bleed at birth. The disclaimers went on and on, enough to scare anyone away from taking responsibility for her. Today she is healthy, beautiful, and is smart and intelligent. None of the "possibilities", ever came to pass. I believe God helped Kathy and I to love her to health, and God has blessed her with His presence for His purpose. Happy birthday, Nicole.