My baby boy is 17 today

The years have flown and I am really having a hard time with this birthday. There is something about ages 17-21. This is when all of the most important and major life choices really set it. I told Calvin this last night and he said " I know, and it is really scary". I was so GLAD he said that. It is evidence of him taking his future seriously.

But still, letting my first born out of the nest is really hard. It's not like he is leaving or anything, I am just seeing my son transform into a man and it is FREAKING me out. He is such a great kid and I am so blessed to have such a son.

My most profound memory is when Calvin was about 3 years old. We drove past a pro-life picket rally and he said "Mommy, why is that lady holding a sign with a picture of a dead chicken?" I had to pull over and I was bawling! He said "Mommy,why are you crying?" I began to explain what that dead chicken was and how sad it is when a mommy does not want her baby.

Meanwhile floods of memories poured over me at how upset I was when I found out I was pregnant with him. I did NOT want a baby yet. We had only been married 6 months and Brian and I were NOT getting along. I remember after a HUGE argument getting in the car and driving towards an abortion clinic thinking that maybe that was the best option.

Calvin knows this story and he knows that I was tempted by my sin to get an abortion. It really only lasted a few minutes, but had I NOT known The LORD and had I not been profoundly pro-life, I might have done it! That is sobering!

When Calvin was born I held him and cried and prayed over this "little man" as we used to call him. I thanked God daily for this little sweet blessing and was continually reminded of the blessing we would have missed if I had driven to that abortion clinic.

When Calvin turned 8 he proclaimed that he wanted to be a judge! I asked him why and he said "Do you remember that sign with a dead chicken?" I said "Oh Calvin you remember that!?"  He said "I want to be a judge so that I can make abortions illegal!" 

Out of the mouths of Babes!! We have encouraged Calvin to pray regularly about his career for his future and he still senses a call to be a judge. He is not exactly sure why or how he is going to get there, but for now he plans to go to law school and walk a path towards becoming a judge.

He currently volunteers at the Lewisville Police Department in the 911 Dispatch department. They said they will hire him when he is 17 1/2 to begin his formal training. We are praying about college and what that will look like. His undergrad degree will likely have some focus towards law enforcement.

Today we celebrate the birth of our first born and will culminate our celebrations by going out for sushi! Sushi is better than cake! I think I will have a glass of plum wine too!!!

Here is a pic of me and Calvin from 2 years ago and a pic of him playing in the Texas snow last week!