TYSON--The one that made me a mommy.

Sorry about pic. Too lazy to fix!

Today we went out for a little family walk...some walked, some rode bikes or scooters. It occurred to me in the middle of this walk that I was actually enjoying this walk as I never have. In the past our family walks went like this...Glen or one of the kids suggest a family stroll. OK off we go on the shoulder of the road because we are in Flowell, there are no sidewalks!!! Throughout the walk the kids would get too far ahead of me on their bike or stray to far onto the road. My response would go something like, stop, Stop, STOP...or...get off the road, GET OFF THE ROAD!!! I found myself yelling the entire walk because with 7 kids there is always at least one violating my "Rules of Walking." It was never an enjoyable experience for me, Glen, or the kids. As we walked back into the driveway Glen would often remark sarcastically about what a nice, enjoyable, relaxing walk and isn't it nice to live in a town (population 200) and not be able to even enjoy a walk or bike ride. So today, as we set out on the Bluffdale sidewalk with bike helmet on I was taking in the day and realized that I wasn't yelling but rather enjoying the walk...FINALLY. It has been 10 years this month since Tyson was hit by a car while riding his bike. He just had his final surgery a few months ago and we are pretty sure that we can close that chapter of his life and with gratitude move on to the next chapter.

Tyson is an amazing kid. He will be 16 in July. He just earned his eagle and was awarded it last month. He also came home from school one day and declared, "I need to go take my learners permit test TODAY!" He handed me a little peice of paper, his fortune cookie paper from school lunch. It read, "YOUR FUTURE IS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT." What are the chances of that!?! So we took him and he passed.

Tyson is one of those old spirits. He has always been very wise for his age and very in tune. He is what some call a spiritual giant but he barely weighs 100 lbs. My mom has always said that he is going to be a prophet (Maybe if he had a mom that was better at this parenting stuff). He is not flawless, he is a normal kid, but we, as his parents, have learned a lot from him. When I was pregnant with Malaree he came home from church and proceeded to tell Glen and me that we were going to have ANOTHER baby and it was a girl. Glen, wanting to be done having kids, replied, "you cannot receive revelation for us." Well, the rest is history.

Today Tyson is in the 9th grade. He is currently running for the North Star Academy. He took 4th place at his last meet. We are soooo proud of him. He is a great example to his younger siblings. Tyson loves hunting and horses. He is very smart, receiving a 4.0 last term. We have come a long way with Tyson. Nearly 16 years ago we marveled as we left the hospital with a miracle, our first baby BOY. Ten years ago we again marveled at the grace of God that allowed us to leave the hospital with our son, unlike some that have left with empty arms. We also left with a wheelchair, to be a temporary 10 week accessory rather than a permanent peice of furniture for the rest of his life. I have often said, "When you leave Primary Children Medical Center with your child you don't take a pity party with you". You leave with a gratitude and an appreciation like you have never before experienced. At PCMC it isn't hard to find someone whose situation is a lot worse than yours, usually all it takes is a peek into the next room.

It is important for us not to focus on the negative of the past, but continue to look back occasionally to remember the tender mercies that God has so graciously placed along our path. This experience is not to be a crutch but a building block. Tyson is a stronger, more courageous young man for having gone through these last 10 years and the difficulties that he has faced. We all have a story, this is Tysons.----TO BE CONTINUED