Ryan

Abilene, happy birthdays, Sing Song and Peter Pan...those were some of my experiences this last weekend. We were in Abilene for Sing Song. Ryan's club, Gamma Sigma Phi, were Peter Pans and won first place for their efforts. They were wonderful! So much of this weekend turned my thoughts to thankfulness for God's blessings.

Sunday was Ryan's 21st birthday. It was so much fun to be with him and spend the weekend watching him be the man he is becoming. This is a person who never meets a stranger. Open and outgoing, Ryan is a friend to many. It's difficult to walk about anywhere in Abilene that Ryan doesn't see someone he knows well enough to hug. He is a loving and gregarious and passionate young man. A joy to spend time with and fun in conversation, Ryan is a person a parent would be proud of and we are!! He is that rare person who is serious about the serious things in life (i.e. his grades and his relationships) but balanced enough to know how to have fun.

We almost lost Ryan at his birth. There was some birthing trauma and his heartbeat was ominously silent for what seemed an eternity. I have never been more frightened. On top of that, we had experienced two miscarriages before becoming pregnant with Ryan. We fought hard for this child and we were not prepared to lose him. We have always considered his healthy delivery and childhood a blessing from God for which we have been very grateful. It seems natural to also thank God for the extraordinary man he is becoming.

We love you Ryan and we thank God for the blessing you are to our lives.
Mom and Dad