James Ryan Welch

It seems like yesterday that I held my son in my arms for the first time. Looking deep into this blue eyes, wondering what God had in store for this tiny human who I was now responsible for. I remember holding you skin to skin. Your warm, little body propped up on my shoulder as I slowly rubbed your boney back. Gosh how things have changed. You turn sixteen in March and I am simply baffled by this. You'll soon be driving and that will be one more thing for this Mom heart to worry about. You have grown into a fine young man and I am more than proud to call you my own blood. You have taught me so much in the fifteen years you have been gifted to me. You taught me the true meaning of love. I never knew my heart could love so much and so deeply. You show compassion and kindness daily. You exude joy and you are witty beyond your years. My Butterbean, you have blossomed right before my very eyes. I see the best of both me and your Dad through you. You make me laugh, but you also know how to irritate every nerve in my body. Haha! I wouldn't trade being your Mom for anything in this world. Your capabilities and athleticism still blow me away. You are good at so many things, and I am not just saying that because I am your Mother. Ask anyone and they will tell you the same. I enjoy watching you play all sports, but baseball will always be my favorite. You were made for this, and God is going to use you both on and off the field. I pray you always find peace and joy in the little things. I pray you never stop growing and learning. May you always have compassion in your heart and may you always do what's right, even when it's not the popular thing to do. I hope as you get older, that you still like to cook. I hope you still like to dance and to sing. You have an amazing voice, even though most times you try to hide this. Listening to you sing is one of my favorite things to do. I love your love for music of all kinds. Never be afraid to learn about other people and their culture. You will be a better version of you becasue of this. I pray God affords you lots of opportunities to travel. But don't stay gone too long...this Momma still needs her baby. James, I pray you always know how much this Mom heart of mine loves you. You will always be my baby, no matter how old. You have been my greatest joy and my greatest gift. There aren't enough words to describe and express all the joy in my heart. Keep on being wonderful, resilient, and the loving person that you are. You are forever my child. You've had me wrapped since day one.

Life Changes

Have you ever heard and listened to the lyrics to the song "Life Changes" by Thomas Rhett? It has a catchy tune and I've heard it a gazillon times on country radio. However, last night on my drive home from work, this song got me thinking. How many times do you go about your daily routine, making plans, only to have your plans changed in an instant? See we can plan all day long. Plan for the day, plan for tomorrow, plan for our future, but truth is, we are not the ones who hold the key to all this planning. Just like the lyrics say..."make your plans and you hear God laughing." Let's face it, life is full of all kinds of changes. You ever take the time to sit and reflect on all the changes in your life? Both the good and the bad. I mean when you REALLY sit and think...aren't you blown away? My son, James is now 14. I remember from the day he was born I looked forward to all the changes that were now coming my way as a new parent. I watched as my child grew and blossomed each month. I watched him grow into new diapers, new clothes etc. My husband and I were excited the first time he rolled over from his back to his stomach. He then bagan crawling and then before we knew it, he was taking his first steps. Just a like a baby, who transforms into a toddler, then a young child who grows into a teenager...we all go through so many changes within our lives. We grow up, get married, maybe start a family. We lose loved ones. Life is forever changing right before our very eyes. How often do we take the days before us for granted? At 5:58am this morning, 01/18/2024, my sweet nephew, Mason, made his grand entrance into this world. My husband and I received a facetime call shortly before 6:15am. My sister, Michelle had been in labor for 3 days. 3 days! You talk about life changes! I am so excited to welcome another family member and I cannot wait to love, hold him and spoil him. I am going to enjoy these changes that God has granted me. Being an Aunt has been more than a blessing. It in itself has been life changing. So much love and so much joy. I'll forever be grateful for these life changes. And as the lyrics to the song go..."And I wouldn't change it for the world, the world...oh no".