Today is Rhett's birthday and I can not believe my baby is 20 years old!!!!!!!
It truly is a "mother thing" to say but....Where has the time gone!!
Rhett has brought much happiness to his family's lives! I don't just say this because he is out on his mission and doing well but he really has blessed our family in many ways!!!
Since there is kind of a gap between Walker and Rhett, I have had many people ask me or say to me....I bet Rhett was one of those late in life surprises! This could not be further from the truth! It is true, he came a little later, and I had had some medical challenges but Tom and I always knew that there was another baby waiting for us after we had Walker! The pregnancy was somewhat of a challenge! The doctors took Rhett 6 weeks early! They told me what to expect and it was not so good and had me so scared! What do doctors know...Rhett was born without any complications to him or me!! We stayed a little extra time in the hospital but, Rhett has been strong ever since he was born in all ways!
Rhett was always a very intense and at time very stubborn! There were times when he was younger that he would be quick to anger! But I have to say as a small child he was always my "Precious"! He was like having a only child with the age difference and we would get to spend the day together just the two of us! He went everywhere with me! I know I have told this story before but it is one of my favorites, so please indulge me!!!
One time I had Rhett with me at the grocery store and I was checking out and he was in the front of the grocery cart! I had looked down the aisle right behind me and noticed I had forgotten something down that aisle! He was about three at this time! So I told him I could see him but I had to quickly grab an item and I would be right back! As I walked backward down the aisle, I got about 3/4 of the way down, he must of thought I was to far and he YELLED at the top of his lungs.... "PRECIOUS WHERE ARE YOU"!!!! I grabbed the item and hurried back and he said again , "precious where were you, I thought you were lost"!!!! I always called Rhett "Precious" so he would call me that too as a little boy for a long time! I did not give it much thought except for the fact that I scared him and then the man behind me said....."excuse me"! In that moment I thought the man would give me grief for leaving my child for a minute or so even though I could still see him!! He went on to ask me...."Did he just call you PRECIOUS"? I said yes and he said that was the cutest thing he had heard in a while and it was! Rhett was a climber! Tom use tell everyone that he had a disease called..."Alz-Climbers"!! Rhett also use to climb out of his window at nap time if the alarm was not set!! My neighbor across the street would call me to tell Rhett had escaped again! Once Rhett was at my mom's home and she was watching him! She thought he was down for a nap BUT...He quietly got out the garage door and open the big garage door and started to walk home! He was maybe only "fourish" at this time or less! A friend of my that happened to be on her way home on a busy road picked him up, at about this time my mom realized he was gone and called me in a HUGE panic! Neither of us knew that this friend had him and we were out searching for him and 911 was called! This girl had been trying to call me and go to our home but we were not home and she could not get a hold of us! My friend had no idea who my mom was either to go over to my moms house which was only about a block away! My friend was confuse as well, she could not figure out why he was out on this busy road....BY HIMSELF! I am sure there was only about 15 minutes of ciaos but it felt like ETERNITY!!! Rhett was fine but my mother was NOT!!!!
Rhett's strengths have helped him in many ways! As hard and stubborn as he could be a times I think it has made him who he is today!! We have had so much fun with Rhett over the years of sports! He has always been such a good little athlete! There were times on the football field and the wrestling mat where he would get SO MAD, that I would think if this kid does not pin him, I will when he gets home! But somehow or another he would get through the moment and be back at practice the next day! He has always LOVED sports! These were such fun years!
But the thing I love about Rhett the most is his choices he has made that are the most important!! Rhett made good choices in high school when it was not always easy! He has now chosen to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! We as his parents could not be more thrilled for this choice! He has served with such happiness and GREAT FAITH! I know that his mission president has said that many people think that a mission in Italy is an "impossible dream" but in Rhett's heart and the Presidents heart and all the other missionaries serving in Italy.... they KNOW it is not! Rhett and many others have proofed it is not an "impossible dream"! Rhett has loved every minute of his mission, even the hard times! I am so thankful for Rhett's humility and his desire to serve the Lord for two years full time! Rhett has expressed his gratitude to Tom and I for supporting his decision to serve a mission full time! But it is Tom and I who are so very grateful for Rhett and the choices he has made always and now! We are so thankful for the service he gives so freely!
I am so grateful for the love he gives to us as his parents! I know Rhett has learned more on his mission than Tom and I could ever teach him!
I could not be more thankful for this "Cute Birthday Boy"!!
Rhett I love you so much! You will forever my "Precious"!
Happy Happy Birthday!
Mama
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