"Four!" Ian exclaimed, when asked on his 4th birthday how much he loved his brother, Rory. And "I wuv cheese!" he repeated after him. Oh, I was so happy when I met my Ian! On New Year's Eve, I can't help but stay up and think about how blessed I am. There are so many good parents out there who are better than me, but God chose to let me have him for these years!!!
Just 4 years ago I was afraid to send Ian on a trip across the country to do Hurricane Katrina clean-up. I was worried he would get hurt, get kidnapped, get ill, get homesick. After all, he was the child of mine who, I would stay up late and wait for the phone call to come and get him because he had a headache every time he stayed the night at someone else's house. I'd get him home and he would tell me "I really didn't have a headache, they just don't have good pillows" or some other story. Then the truth would come out, "I missed you, Mum." Sometimes when Ian was in grade school he would call home from the office with a headache. I'd take him some Tylenol to school and I'd get there and he would be fine and say, "I just needed to see you." He was so sweet. Oh! And, I'll never forget the time that he "snuck" his transformer (on a rope) to school, and slipped it on last minute before pictures were taken. Weeks later I would get the pictures home, with the transformer hanging around his neck, almost as big a his head, and a sly little smile on his face like he got away with something. Wouldn't you know - that's my favorite picture of him. Now we are in his last year of high school, applying for scholarships, preparing to leave for school.
Someone recently asked me, if when I brought Ian home from the hospital I had given any thought to the possibility of having such a sweet young gentleman turning 18? The truth is, I don't remember. I think I was so caught up in his cuteness, I gave it little thought. I have certainly done a lot of things in my life that I regret, but I also can say I have enjoyed every second of having my boys with me. I don't feel like I have wasted any of our time. I have no regrets.
I remember one year taking a vacation to California. We made it a hockey vacation. The Red Wings had just won the Stanley Cup 2 years in a row. We started in LA, then to Anaheim, then San Jose. We visited every rink, and took lots of pictures and the boys got jerseys at each place. But the part of that vacation I remember the most is spending time with a girlfriend of mine, Shelly, and her kids. We went up into the mountains in Santa Cruz and we hiked for a day. Her girls were younger. Ian would have been about 11 at that time. Every time we came to a place that required stepping over a puddle, or climbing up on something, he would pick up Shelly's daughter so gently and make sure she was safely where she had to be. He just kept looking out for her. He was so gentle, caring, and kind.
When he came home from Mississippi, where he had gone on a mission trip to do Hurricane Katrina clean-up, he sat down to write the thank you note that I told him he needed to write for each person who so generously donated to pay for his trip. He wrote for a couple of hours. He had accepted Christ on that trip, heard very clearly God speaking to him, and it was an experience that was so intimate for him, that he wanted everyone to hear every single detail of what it felt like. His letter? 5 pages long.
The other day, we were praying as a family, and Ian said something that really spoke to me, and really pointed out what kind of man he has become. He thanked God for loving him enough to keep him satisfied even if all he has is only exactly what he needs and nothing more.
Ian recently received several awards at the football banquet. He should be proud of all of them. But the one he is most proud of is his character award. The day he received it, he removed his souvenier surf board from Hawaii from the wall in his room, and replaced it with that.
Oh, Ian. I'm so proud of you. You just make me smile from ear to ear. Even as I write this, I'm so proud of the man you are, that I could just cry. You have been the same gentle, kind soul from the time you came home with me from the hospital, until now. You are sweet, and thoughtful, and brilliant. I remember you telling me the story of how hard you prayed for Kyle to get saved, and how unexplainably happy you were when he did that you ran outside and fell down under a tree thanking God. You are always, always thinking of everyone else. You are the most unselfish person I know. Every time you come in the door and greet one of my friends who is over, with your lovable little genuine smile, I could just squeeze you. I love how much you love Rory, and are not shy to express it. I love that you do amazing things at school behind the scenes, without thinking, and without anticipation of being recognized, and then when you are recognized for it, you are so humble about it. I love to watch you in church, furiously taking notes when someone is speaking and then getting in the car with you and hearing your excitement about how God spoke to you. I love that you do things quietly and privately and never do things seeking recognition. God will reward you for that, Ian.
I'm excited for your future. I'm excited because you have said, "Yes!!" to God and I know He will use your talents. I cannot wait to watch you grow and grow during college, and see how God uses you. And yes, I WILL drive all the way to Kalamazoo if you need Tylenol. Hey, you never know - We may even be able to pull off a monthly "mystery lunch" day, who knows! I'm proud of you. And, Papa would be proud of you too, honey. Now, let's go win that scholarship.............
xo Mum
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