When Did I Get a 30 Year Old Son??

Flashback to April 1980... I was mega pregnant! The doctor told us you were due to be born around the 1st of April, but I guess you enjoyed April Fool's day even then! Since you held out until the LAST day of April to make your grand appearance!

It was before the days of everyone having ultrasounds to find out what they were getting so we didn't know we were getting a son until you showed up! And we were thrilled! It was a long 9 1/2 months! There were many stays in the hospital. Many times we wondered if you would even make it here. Many prayers were offered and blessings received and finally, we had a SON!! Dad couldn't be happier!

You were such a good little boy! You were very mellow and quiet. Little did we know, you were so quiet because you COULDN'T HEAR! When you were 14 months old, you had your tonsils out and the first set of tubes put in your ears. You would go on to have surgery on your ears TEN more times and you were a trooper through all of them!

One surgery experience particularly stands out. You had a surgery where the doctors basically cut off your ear, folded it down and drilled a bunch of infection and gunk out of the bone behind your ear then sewed it back on (called a 'mastoidectomy'). This left a nice scar behind your ear. Well, after your ear had long since healed, my nephew, Bud (who was about 9 or 10 at the time) was at our house and wanted to spend the night (like he always did). His mom told him to do something and he said something smart to her and she pulled his ear. You told him to be careful when his mom pulled his ear because YOUR mom pulled yours completely off one time and you had to have it sewn back on! Then you showed him your scar! Needless to say, Bud NEVER wanted to spend the night with us again after that!



You get your sense of humor from my dad. He died when you were only 3 years old. But what a trickster he was! Your laugh sounds just like his and you look a lot like him (minus the red hair and freckles). This picture really reminds me of my dad and I love it!

You've loved horses from the start and were the cutest little cowboy ever! You had your first horse ride the day you came home from the hospital. You also had your first taste of biscuits and gravy that day! Both must have made a lasting impression because riding horses and eating biscuits and gravy are still your favorite things!

You and your first horse Belle had many adventures over the years!

I can remember you coming home from school and putting on your 'cowboy' clothes and bringing your horse up to the porch steps so you could get on and ride until dinner and bed time.


Time flew by and the next thing we knew, you were headed to college. You were accepted to the equine program at LCCC. This is an elite program and only takes a certain number of students each year and you have to interview and ride before the instructors before you are chosen.

While you told us your degree was in Equine Science, I think you majored in horses and fun! They even had to rewrite the "Barn Rules" book from a small paper handbook to a full-fledged BINDER full of rules! I'm sure they never thought that the day would come that they would have to make the rule that you can't stand up on your horse in class. But then again, they had never met YOU before! At least you had a helmet on....even if it did have a sticker on it that said, "no fat chicks"! And now look, you have been at LCCC since 1998. First as a student, then as a barn worker and now as the Equine Facilities Manager and Adjunct Teacher! We are so proud of you!

You've always been handsome and had girls wanting your attention everywhere you went. That is, until you met Robin! It took you several tries before she would agree to go out with you. ROBIN was the catch of your lifetime and we are so glad she chose you!

Of course we all knew your wedding would include your horse!

Your love of horses goes back several generations in our family and you have passed that love on to your own children.

While Kolby likes to ride horses, his first love is the tractors and equipment you have taught him how to operate! That boy can drive just about anything already! Then our sweet Baylee is your clone! She loves nothing more than to be on the back of a horse with or without her daddy. And finally Taylor, what a cutie she is! She loves to ride and play with her daddy. I know Robin was hoping for a princess she could play primp and pretty with, but they all have too much of their daddy in them! But, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

You sure know how to have fun. Sometimes you have a 'little too much' fun. I imagine the Emergency Room at the Cheyenne Hospital knows you by your first name and you probably even have your own room there by now!

I know you don't think I understand why you love to do what you do, but I do understand. I just don't like the beating your body takes from your love of what you do. I'm the mom, I worry, I fuss, I nag, I'm supposed to do those things, it's in the handbook. I love you, son! Just remember to slow down and rest sometimes!

MY SON

You are my son, my pride and joy. You are my one and only baby boy. From the time I carried you beneath my heart I knew you. My love for you grew stronger with every heart beat. When I first saw you, my heart was overwhelmed. I want you to know there is nothing more precious than to bring forth a life that has been lent to us from a gracious Heavenly Father and to watch it grow and thrive. It hasn't always been easy, but I cherish the honor of being your mother.
You did not come with an instruction manual. It was strictly learn as you go. I remember the first time you crawled with your army crawl. And when you took your first steps. Holding on to your overall straps for balance. Great Grandma Hart called you her mountain man because she said your name reminded her of a mountain man.

You had a smile that went all the way across and you knew how to have fun! I can remember the middle of the night water fights, the moving vehicles around the school parking lot, all the practical jokes and wise remarks!

You were the middle child with a sister on either side for bookends. You were the perfect brother. You were always there to take care of them, teach them, protect them, and yes, even annoy them! You inherited a wonderful gift of laughter from your Grandpa Cole and have been a delight to everyone since day one! I could never stay mad at you because you would look me in the eye and say something to make me laugh like, "but you love me right?".

As you grew, we tried to teach you the values that you would need to carry you through life. We showered you with love, and comforted you when you were sad. We shared with you all that we knew (which wasn't much since we were so young!) and gave to you all that we had so that you could become the man you are today. You turned the tables on us and became the example of what WE wanted to be! Your faith and testimony are so strong! You were the example that kept us all on the straight and narrow!

We wish you all the joy you have brought to us; all the success you have ever dreamed; all the hope the future can bring, and all the love you will ever need.

We love you for:
The little boy you were
The special man you are now
And the precious son you will always be
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON. I LOVE YOU!!