We Made It!

Last night at exactly 6:03, we pulled into town with the view of "A" Mountain directly in front of us. We were in Ajo. We were home. My nephew, who was born when I was 15, turns 16 this week. We arrived just in time for his 16th birthday party and drove straight there. I was so glad to be back for this hallmark.

My brother and his wife, Kenda were only 17 and 18 when Brandon was born. "Unexpected" would be a good word to describe this pregnancy. I remember my childish first reaction of disappointment and even a hint of anger. But I also remember being at the hospital the night he was born. When I first laid my eyes on that perfect little boy, it was love at first sight. Love changes everything, doesn't it? I truly could swear I heard angels sing when I looked at him. How could our family be so blessed by something we initially feared? Grace, that's it. Grace has marked our family greater than any other thing.

So last night was monumental for our 2 families. Kenda's younger sister, who I grew up and graduated with, was also there. We were there together the night Brandon was born. We shared that life-changing event together and last night we got to celebrate Brandon's life together once again. I am so unspeakably proud of my brother and Kenda because of the amazing job they have done raising Bradon and now Dylan and Kenzie also. I think about how young they were and all the hurdles they've overcome. I'm also proud of both sets of parents for sticking by their teenagers, encouraging them, supporting them and building them up. I'm so thankful I got to see the beautiful fruit of years of commitment and God's grace.

Brandon truly is a fine young man. I am very proud of that kid. None of us knew that he would be given his first car last night. Bobby and Kenda miraculously kept it a secret from all of us. So when my brother pulled up in the coolest car I've ever seen a 16 year old get, we all were shocked! I wish I had the moment video-taped but it's permanently stored on my brain's hard drive. It went like this:
Kenda had all of us walk out to the road. Brandon kept saying, "No way. If my parents got me a car..." So Bobby pulls up in this tricked out black Cavelier that was way better than Brandon's wildest dreams. Bobby turns the music on and opens the doors. The doors open straight up- like a Lambourghini! So cool! It also has a really great "system", which apparently is a priority for a 16 year old. It was a great moment. Kenda was crying those parental pride tears and we all said, "WOW". I wouldn't have missed that for the world!

I feel like this whole leap of faith back to AZ, that makes ZERO sense to many of the people in our lives was confirmed last night. We are exactly where we're supposed to be- even when, no ESPECIALLY when it makes no sense to the rest of the world.

We made it, we're home.