I woke up today thinking about how thankful I am for my family, and I realized that up until now I have shared with everyone a little bit about Bill, Kim and Katlin. However, I have not spoken yet about my son. Actually, I believe that there is a reason I have waited. I’ll try to explain…
Today, I want to introduce you to my son Paul. He is our oldest child and the sibling of Kim and Katlin. He is 24 and just like his sisters he never fails to fascinate me. What fascinates me the most about Paul though is the way in which he handles some of life’s most difficult challenges. You see Paul has this calming effect. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, like when he dropped everything and quickly drove 300 miles to Chicago to assist Bill and I during an unexpected medical emergency, Paul remains calm. There are numerous times in addition to the Chicago trip that Paul has responded to one of us in need and provided much needed support in his gentle and calm way. Of course Paul is there many other times as well, but for some reason it is in times of need that his calming effect becomes highly notable.
Throughout the years Paul has been told how much he is like his father. I do have to say I agree. Paul definitely looks like his father, and many of his mannerisms remind me of Bill. However, Paul stands apart as the man he has come to be. He has defined himself, and as his mother I could not be prouder. He is a single father raising our adorable two year old granddaughter Marissa, works for North Star Ice-cream and is a full-time student at Devry University.
You probably have noticed that a picture of two people fishing showed up in the sidebar of the blog a few days ago without explanation. It isn’t just any picture. It is a picture of Paul and Kim fishing in Branson, Missouri September 19th, 2010. I love this picture because Paul is standing near Kim. He is not right next to her nor is he too far away. That is how Paul is! He is always near. He is supportive, but to just the right degree.
This picture is dear to me for several reasons, but mainly because it was taken just four months after Kim’s second attempt. According to Merriam-Webster.com a brother is defined as, “…a male who has the same parents as another or one parent in common with another.” Clearly, when you read this blog and look at this picture you can see that a brother can’t even be defined! And this is the reason that I hadn’t wrote yet about Paul. Sometimes I have a difficult time putting into words how great a person affects me. This is one such time!
The ripples of life’s challenges continue to ebb and flow our way, and yet I know my son Paul is near and the waters will calm.
Paul & Kim ~ Summer 2010