10 Years Ago Today

Ten Years Ago Today....

I became a Mom. For some reason, Sam hitting his 10th Birthday is a bittersweet moment for me. I cannot quite wrap my head around it. He can't really be in double digits already, can he?

The past few days my mind has been replaying memories of the past, here are a few I thought I would share:

The complete shock & awe of God's timing. After 4 long infertility years, one miscarrage, hundreds of tears, reading 1 Samuel 1 more times than I could count, God allowed us to become parents. So thankful, now, to Him for that struggle.

Healthy baby boy, Samuel Mark Utzig, born at 7:07 a.m., weighing 7 lbs, 7oz. on a rainy, fall day.

Sam not yet a year old, sitting in his car seat at a Perkin's Restaurant, smiling at the pretty blonde waitress every time she came around (like father like son!)

Many hours of pushing Sam in the tire swing, teaching him to play baseball with the big, orange, plastic bat & ball when he was a toddler.

Riding in the combine with Grandpa B. - started when Sam was literally in diapers, still loves to do this today...although now he enjoys DRIVING it! Countless hours cutting alfalfa, rock picking with the CAT, riding in the semi. As a country girl, it warms my heart that my child has gotten this "stuff" in his blood too.

Moving. Being the nervous new kid at school. Sam being excited when another new boy came to school named Damon and sat at his Kindergarten table. As I hear the two of them "fishing" on the Wii now, I am thankful for that friendship and the others he has made here.

Dad coaching baseball & football and Sam loving to play both. How Sam used to get up before school and watch cartoons...now it is Sports Center on ESPN. Sam always loved going to MN Twins games...used to be for the peanuts (Grandpa U. & Dad couldn't get them out of their shell fast enough) now it is ANY baseball or football game. He watches the plays, dreams of being on the field, and keeps track of the stats...are there even peanuts anymore??

Sam's quick wit. He may not say much, but he can come up with some good ones. He still enjoys reading, likes school & learning, most the time is tender to his sister. He is my "thinker." Sam has plans A,B,& C lined up for any given situation.

Enough looking back. I am almost afraid to look ahead, as the next ten years will surely pass more quickly than the last 10 have. In ten years Sam will be 20, out of the house, driving, dating.

As his Mom I am in awe at how great God has been to us this past decade and will be honored to watch him break the shell of childhood and grow (literally) into adulthood. Who will you grow up to be Sam? Teacher, Firefighter, Pastor, Military Commander? Whatever Sam becomes, I hope he always knows what a gift he has been to us, how proud of him we are, and that he can turn to us in any situation, and that his "team" loves him dearly.

Happy 10th Birthday, Sam!