James is 21

Where have the year's gone? My oldest baby is now 21! I remember that day and night so well, seems just yesterday. Start with 53 hours of labor, not being allowed to have any pain meds except in my IV, and 2 1/2 hours of pushing and into the world comes James Ronald Zehr at 1:05 am on April 26, 1989 at 8 lbs. 13 ozs. and 21 1/2 inches long. (When I can find them, I will post some pictures of the early years)

Thus began years of worry and love and lots of activities. From the start he was destined to be a sports fan and player. Mom and Dad came up to see us that afternoon with gifts in hand. Dad made sure they were sports themed. They brought him a referee outfit complete with an embroidered whistle, a golf sleeper that had a collar, a vest, and little flaps on the feet to resemble golf shoes, his first golf club and ball, and his first baseball mitt and ball. I had to laugh but I knew then there would be no way the first grandson was not going to be into sports. Little did we know then just how much.

Over the years he not only played baseball and golf, but he loved soccer, played and managed football, some basketball and even got in some time for a little gymnastics. He was a catcher for baseball and had quite a knack for knowing where the ball was at all times and for keeping it in front of him if it didn't stay in his glove. At age five, he found soccer in the AYSO (American Youth Soccer Oganization) in Trinidad and from there he grew into playing competitive 3v3 soccer for two years and high school soccer. He managed the football team his sophomore year at Trinidad High. The coaches watched him punt and kick at practice with the guys and asked him to play the next year, but it was not meant to be. When he made the decision to move to Aurora to finish high school JROTC at Hinkley, he did play soccer and tried to play football as the punter/kicker. Unfortunately it was not meant to be for football but he did play two years of soccer and did so well he lettered and was asked to try out for soccer teams at a couple of colleges.

To this day he stays involved in sports by playing softball when he can, refereeing soccer for a bit and especially watching everything he can on TV. But nowadays, his focus is on college and getting his Nursing degree. He is on the right path and will graduate from College America in June of 2011 with a degree in Medical Assisting then it is on to Nursing school.

Besides sports, James was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout reaching the rank of 1st Class before he moved to Aurora. He would have continued Boy Scouts here but did not find the troops in Aurora to be anything like the one in Trinidad, not as challenging.

I can't believe 21 years have gone by so fast. I wish I could have some of those back to enjoy them all over again. But there are more years ahead that should be just as good. I am looking forward to, but not rushing, his graduation, getting his 1st Nursing job, marriage and children. He has grown into a handsome, compassionate, loving young man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!! I AM PROUD TO BE YOUR MOM!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”- Ephesians 1:7

HE IS RISEN! "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'" John 11:25-26