Miracles

Jeremy, about 18 months

Jeremy fall 2008

Those of you who live in Phoenix know that our street lights are yellow, not white. Something about not attracting bugs and using less energy. Anyway, it's very dark here on the streets at night, frankly those lights do very little. So Jeremy was riding his bike home from work on the sidewalk when the bike chain came off or froze up. He flipped out over the front of his bike and flew into the street. (The sidwalks along the main road just outside our neighborhood curve back and forth, so he must have been sort of facing the road when he flipped.) A car honked it's horn and had to swerve to miss him. Jeremy said they didn't stop to see if he was alright. RUDE!! This was a main road where the speed limit is 45, which means people go 50+, had he been hit, it would have been extremely serious. Thankfully that was the further of 2 northbound lanes and nobody was coming in the closer lane...or my post today might be very, very different. I'm so thankful he is safe. It did shake him up and he's home today nursing some minor injuries. You know, he's 16 1/2 and quite independent, probably my most independent child in many ways. If all our kids were like him I could easily have 10 or more. (Ok, if I had enough $ for the groceries, the boy can eat!) But I really feel like taking care of him today, mothering him like I did when he was little.

I'm really thankful for all our kids, they each bring something different into our lives. Jeremy really makes me laugh, which I appreciate so much. If you know me, laughter is one of my favorite things. He is good at many things and rises as a leader wherever he goes. He's a real dare-devil. We went to Florida last summer and I found him jumping off the pier into the ocean with a group of kids he'd met on the beach...scary! He'd love to ride motorcycles, go sky-diving, and is up for adventures all the time. He feels pretty invincible, maybe this will give him a bit of healthy fear?

I'm really interested in studying human behavior, the nature vs. nurture question is an age-old one in psychology, especially when it comes to children. Are they born a blank slate or do they come to us already formed as who they are?? Of course I believe it's some of each~but I'm not bragging about Jeremy. He definetely came to us quite a bit the way he is, he's a lot of nature! I'm really grateful for Jeremy and all he brings into our lives. Last night, a real MIRACLE happened and we're all so happy he's alright. I love this boy.