Our youngest turned eight this week. We’re sure it was just yesterday that Rusty caught this bundle of joy as he made his world debut. Claire witnessed bewilderment on his proud papa’s face that special day, March 9, 2001. Our midwife Mary and Rusty were speechless, so his mother announced, “He’s a boy!”
Everyone had anticipated a girl, so when “Bailey Kate” arrived as “Ashton Grey” there was a lot of convincing taking place. Eight years later there is no doubt, he is all boy.
This kid hit the ground running and has never slowed down. He doesn’t even stop to put on his shoes. When winter teased us with near seventy degree weather last week, Ashton was leaving bare footprints in the mud and snow.
Often we catch glimpses of him on your computer screen saver, an accumulation of photographs taken over the past eight years. The majority of the photos depict our towhead climbing trees. If we totaled all of Ashton’s waking hours, more than half would prove to be spent in the air. We find him in our eighty foot hemlock, the kiwi trellis, the white pines, and/or on top of the roof.
While Rusty views trees as potential building material or firewood, Ashton sees them as something to explore. No matter what the occasion, where we are, or what he is wearing, if Ashton can touch it -- he climbs it. This bothered his parents at first, until Irene, a veteran of two energetic boys, shared “the ground hasn’t missed catching one yet.”
We know our Tom Sawyer who loves pocket knives, rocks, and toads is growing fast. We’re thankful for the guardian angel who has worked overtime since his birth.
In eight more years, this lad will be driving, in another eight he may be married, finishing college, and climbing Mount Rainer. We won’t rush any of these years, they come fast enough. For now, we’ll enjoy him as a precious gift and allow him to be the boy God created.
Everyone had anticipated a girl, so when “Bailey Kate” arrived as “Ashton Grey” there was a lot of convincing taking place. Eight years later there is no doubt, he is all boy.
This kid hit the ground running and has never slowed down. He doesn’t even stop to put on his shoes. When winter teased us with near seventy degree weather last week, Ashton was leaving bare footprints in the mud and snow.
Often we catch glimpses of him on your computer screen saver, an accumulation of photographs taken over the past eight years. The majority of the photos depict our towhead climbing trees. If we totaled all of Ashton’s waking hours, more than half would prove to be spent in the air. We find him in our eighty foot hemlock, the kiwi trellis, the white pines, and/or on top of the roof.
While Rusty views trees as potential building material or firewood, Ashton sees them as something to explore. No matter what the occasion, where we are, or what he is wearing, if Ashton can touch it -- he climbs it. This bothered his parents at first, until Irene, a veteran of two energetic boys, shared “the ground hasn’t missed catching one yet.”
We know our Tom Sawyer who loves pocket knives, rocks, and toads is growing fast. We’re thankful for the guardian angel who has worked overtime since his birth.
In eight more years, this lad will be driving, in another eight he may be married, finishing college, and climbing Mount Rainer. We won’t rush any of these years, they come fast enough. For now, we’ll enjoy him as a precious gift and allow him to be the boy God created.
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