17 years later

Jacob turns 17 today. It truly does seem like only yesterday that I was stopping at the Donut Bank on the way to the hospital to deliver him.  (I knew THEY weren't gonna be feeding me anytime soon.)


Jacob has grown up a lot in the last few years.  He's had to deal with some unpleasant stuff that most adults never deal with.  And he has handled it with grace and forgiveness.  He's kind to his siblings for the most part and loves to play computer games.


He's a hard worker and I love the fact that when he tells me something, I can be about 99.9% sure it's the truth. THAT is huge in this house.


He continually cracks me up. He is quick witted and that will serve him well.  He's working hard to graduate and is totally unsure of what to do after that. I try to not push in one direction or the other and just listen as he weighs his pros and cons for school vs. work.


He likes weird things that I don't understand - things like Japanese cartoons. It's not as if he understands the language.  I don't get it, myself.  But then, I don't have to.


What he doesn't like is change.  Not the money kind - the kind that affects him.  Like moving. He's lived in this house his entire life and is plotting ways to continue living here after I move in a few years (or sooner).  I don't think it will be happening, but you can't convince him.  He didn't want change concerning his birthday dinner, either. Try as I might -- and I tried heartily -- he could not be swayed to just pick a restaurant to go eat at for his birthday.  In his words, "Birthday dinners are around the big table."  End of story for him.


He was an unexpected baby who has been a huge blessing from the second he was born.  It's such a joy being his mom!