CA History | Gold Rush

Working on his Gold Rush report. Creating, tracking, and journaling an imaginary trip from New York to CA in 1850-ish.

Sawyer: it's hard doing homework about this trip... I wonder how hard it was to actually MAKE the trip.
Jake: most people died, that's how hard it was.
Sawyer: I feel like I could die doing this assignment.

DRAMA! 😂

A Mother's Love

I can't even begin to describe how grateful and blessed I am to be Sawyer's mom. He had been my rock since birth- keeping me grounded when my aunt was murdered and my mother shot... speaking messages straight from heaven about "forgiving me before I asked"... caring about my feelings and well-being... keeping me grounded again through two more family member deaths and Dempsey's leukemia diagnosis... helping me so much when Dempsey was a baby... hugging me for no reason and without agenda... eagerly anticipating mother-son time... letting me hold him as long as I need to. Tge list is truly endless.

He is always willing to help and almost always has bo complaint.

It tears him up when be needs something from me that "hurts" me to give. I can just see the anxiety and turmoil it causes him. But he has the right to ask that I not interfere with his responsibilities. (Noting soccer games and me being "that mom" in the stands).

He willingly entertains Dempsey, sometimes at all costs. He'll come to me when he's just had it- because a brother on chemo and steroids can really take it out if you- and we'll process his feelings, give them words, and then work to find solutions.

He is such a family man that when I tell him "It's good for you to be alone sometimes" his eyes start to water. He has a hard time being away from us, even if it's with loving grandparents. He just loves "home" that much.

He is so hard on himself when he forgets to take his GIVE envelope to church. He wants to obey God (and authority) so bad that we have to protect him from guilt and shame.

He LOVES to talk to the Sr Pastor (John Riley) at WACC after each week's sermon. Tonight John asked him about his day. A nice aside from the sermon topic which revolved around relationships and... wait for it... sex. I love watching my boy stand in line, respectfully waiting his turn to chat with John for as long as John will chat. It is precious.

He chooses to sit with in service because he wants to learn more than what is offered with his peers. So mature for his age.

He asks thoughtful questions. He particularly loves it when we are together driving somewhere and I ask him "hard life questions/ dilemmas".

He wants to be grown but realizes it is HARD and once you're grown you can't be ungrown (I think I made a new word). He's even said "Sometimes I just want to be older so I can help you guys." What kid says that? Oh yeah, mine!

He obeys the Spirit even when he doesn't realize it. Ex: last night I was emotional at the computer. He'd gone to bed. He came back out to me and said "I don't know why, but I wanted to hug you one more time." For reals...

I've been so afraid of losing him for the majority of his life. I felt God gave me a too-perfect gift because He was planning to call him home too soon.

The way he is intentional with Dempsey leaves me speechless. He understands what this cancer journey is doing to Dempsey and he desperately wants to make it easier. So, he talks with me about ways of coping with tough times and then I watch him live out the advice. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. But he tries!

We have to help him defend himself and not allow himself to be treated in a manner that makes him uncomfortable. Sometimes this is with "friends". Teachable moments that on occasion our "friends" are not really friends because they don't value us enough to treat us with respect... and it's okay to 1. remove those folks from our lives, 2. encourage them to change their behavior toward us, 3. pray for them from a distance, and 4. pray for them whe still interacting with them but keeping strong boundaries set and not allowing those boundaries to be crossed.

Watching him grow in character is better than watching him grow in knowledge, but that is also fun to witness. He is so eager to learn and quick to apply his knowledge. Ex: nutritional videos he watches with me from DietDoctor.com or how he comes close to eavesdrop on conversations I have with people.

I could go on and on!