ADAM HITS A MILESTONE

Forty years ago today, Adam was responsible for the most amazing single day in my life.  Sorry to all my other kids, but it was the day Adam was born that I discovered that incomprehensible love a mother has for her child and the indescribable joy being a mother brings.  I continue to experienced it, but that first one is such an incredible surprise and overwelming, all encompassing love.  I had the same with each of the rest, but I was prepared for it the next times.  I remember Alan often staring down at our newborn Adam and just shaking his head in wonder.

He was such a cute little hairy darling.  I was in love for sure!  No child had ever been more beautiful!

Always a dog around.

Adam watched out for his sister!

He loved sports from a young age and excelled at them although our funniest story about his first year in T-ball was looking out in the field and seeing him with his mitt on his head staring off into space.

Good swimmers, but didn't have time to include it competitively with all his other activities.

Received  his Eagle at 14.  Did not like to wear the uniform in  public by this time, though.

Girls League formal.  Doesn't look to excitied, does he? Already too cool.  This was his favorite dog, Apollo, as a puppy.

Football was his favorite sport.  He played two years on the varsity CIF championship team.

Jennifer came into his life and wedding bells rang.

Aren't they a cute family?  (Did I like my hair that way?)

First Jade...

...and then Bailey

Here are some of the things I love about Adam:

1.  Adam loves his family and loves to be with them.  He makes sure he lets his girls know he loves them.  He spends time with them and is happy when they get interested in his things--as when Jade enjoyed golfing. His girls know they are loved and love to snuggle close in front of the TV.  He is also thoughtful of his brothers and sisters.  He is often the first one to call on their birthdays.

2.  He is a good athlete.  He has always been coordinated and has loved sports since he was young.  He was very good at most sports, but is always hard on himself when he is less than perfect.  He always has a few sports he plays throughout any week besides working out. He looks like he is thirty.

3.  I was looking for pictures of Adam and many, many have him holding or playing with a child, mostly nieces and nephews.  Adam loves children and goes to great lengths to win them over. They are so comfortable with him as well.

4.  Adam has a great mind.  He understands quickly and can explain what he learns in simple terms.  He came to work for us a couple of years ago and quickly had a good knowledge of the ins and outs of our business. We rely on him to straighten out the details of some of the complicated problems.  He can also transfer that knowledge in a sales situation.  He is low pressure but convincing.

5.  Adam loves sports.  One reason I thought I would never get his family back to California was his love of the winter sports.  Now that he is back he has learned to surf and is working on that skill.  He finds a way to take his family to the beach as often as possible.  He always plays on softball teams, as well as plays soccer once a week. He would be out golfing more if he could.  There are a few bonuses to living here such as being able to play golf year round. He is also a passionate fan.  I love watching the sports he is so passionate about because he draws me in.  Also he Tivos the events and we can watch them fast.  He makes it fun even  for me.

6.  Adam is disciplined.  He decided he wanted to lose some weight.  Now he was never overweight.  He weightlifting on a consistent basis, always pushing himself helped him gain so much muscle.  I have watched him lose weight because of his care with the quality of food he eats and regular daily excercise. He has learned to stay disciplined in other ways: consistent work-outs, budgeting, emotionally being in control, etc.

7.  Adam is a reader.  He will read any book I hand him if he has exhausted his supply.  He even loved all the assigned reading literature books in high school, even the ones everyone else thought were boring.  He really enlarges his world by all he reads.

8.  Adam is patient with me even if inside he is irritated. He will help me with a computer problem with great calms, even though it is so frustrating. He never complains in our business and accepts all assignments and critiques.

9. Adam is a dilligent member of the church.  He is reliable and capable in his callings.  Our ward has put him to work and used him in several capacities as well.  I appreciate his willingness to sign up for service projects just because it is the right thing to do.

10. Adam is a true friend to his Dad and me.  He spends a lot of time with Alan and that could easily cause friction, but it doesn't exist.  Alan particularly loves being able to share a joke, a funny picture, or bounce  a difficult situation off him. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADAM!  I LOVE YOU!