Came across a sweet little slice of parenting. From 2018:

A selection from my letter to Tyler for Mothers Day 2018:

...the most touching thing that happened as your mom in recent years was your call to me the other week. 

You knew you’d hurt my feelings a couple weeks ago. 

You'd said that you didn’t want to date some nice girl from South Carolina a second time because, “She was a Southern-Belle version of you mom.”   

Weeks had gone by since this hurtful report on your dating life, and you pursued a private phone conversation with me. 

You wanted to let me know that you truly think I’m pretty swell. What I heard on that call was basically when you get your career path gets settled, and you had some more bachelor life dating-just-for-fun out of your system, [and perhaps a little therapy for working out your emotional kinks from being raised by perfect parents] you’d really like to find a girl half as good as me.

Well done. I promptly went and hung your pictures back up on the walls.  

What a strange season this is where your life has had so many new experiences to fill us in on, while my reporting from the California home front, feels like a never-ending loop of the same kind of news.   

But this time of helping my folks won’t last forever. I don’t know anyone who is farther down life’s road who regrets spending too much time with their parents. And there really is a sweetness right now, while Grammy Sue still knows who I am and also thinks I’m pretty swell.  I wonder how much will change by Mother’s Day next year.

How much will change indeed. 

This past Mothers Day 2019 I was with Jim back in Asia celebrating with three pastors and their families. I was too busy with meetings and teaching to get my annual MOTHERS DAY letters written. 

Mom didn't know me anymore in 2019. And in about 3 months she would finally be in heaven.

A poem about El Dorado High's #72. What he'll be in 2072

My prayer and vision for John Ramirez' future:

Once John had hated studying. 

To sit through class, a bore. 

He’d train his body in the gym, 

But above the neck a chore! 

“I’m not a dumb jock!” 

He decided one day. 

“Just been week, lazy, and slow. “

“I’ll WILL myself this year to train 

My brain muscle to grow!”

So he worked his mind to get it lean; 

Fit and fighting tough. 

He knew for battles off the field, 

His BRAWN wouldn’t be enough. 

John’s long become a full-grown man. 

And he’s a champion at life. 

Admired by more than his fans; 

He’s respected by kids and wife! 

He’d still prefer a good clean sack. 

To hit the books still not as fun. 

Rather get out and make a hole 

Where another back can run! 

But, he hit those books though it was hell. 

He got his brain in shape. 

His future dream was NFL; 

But that’s not what made him great!

from Aunt Kimberly

8/31/2019