So I decided to post a blog about each one of my kids over the next few days or so. Today it's Austin's turn :)
I became Austin's mom when he was three years old. Kyle and his ex-wife had joint custody of him but his mom was keeping visitation away from Kyle. We began to fight what ended up being a very long custody battle. During the fight we were awarded joint custody from Sunday through Thursday and Shauna had him Thursday to Sunday.
Austin was such a bright little boy full of laughter and energy. I became pregnant right after I got married and chasing Austin was not easy LOL Kyle and I had problems pretty much right away but I knew that I was supposed to be this little boys mother. Austin went through a lot of physical and emotional abuse at his mom's home and as a result Kyle and I were awarded full custody. He came to live with us full time when he was 7 years old. By this point I had two other baby boys so we went from one to three children in a matter of a few months. It was a joyful time for us.
I remember when Austin was little I he asked me so many questions and it used to annoy me so much LOL but I always came up with an answer by either making something up or telling him I had to think about it and secretly researching it. He thought I knew everything, I liked it that way. Then suddenly at some point he decided to start asking questions that he already knew the answer to so he could tell me I was wrong when I answered him LOL
Like I said he was always so smart. Austin and I had a really good relationship right from the beginning. We would sit in his room and talk till all hours of the night and we had so much in common. We both came from a broken home where we lived with our fathers and step mother and our biological mothers had things they needed to work on. I know I was sent to him to help get him through things that could have really traumatized him.
When Austin was 11 he was sealed to me in the DC temple. It was one of the most amazing things to ever happen. I was always a little sad that he was not biologically mine because in my heart I felt like he was but it all came together when we were sealed...now I was his eternal mother and that filled my heart so full and I never felt sadness about the biology thing again.
When he was in middle school he met Jess. We brought Austin's baby sister in to school and he brilliantly took her from me and told me to watch what happened. Within minutes the girls were all around him LOL Jess took the baby and she was so sweet with her. Jess and Austin began to talk shortly after and by 15 they were a couple.
I really didn't think much of it, just another girlfriend that would come and go but I really liked her right away...well after I chased her through town in my jeep because Austin had tried to sneak out with her LOL She was so good with my children and I remember thinking what a wonderful mother she was going to be.
Well to my suprise they stayed together and I was so glad. She joined the church at 18 and from the get go she encouraged Austin to go on his mission. Austin was called to the Denver North mission and decided to propose to Jess before leaving. Everyone gave him grief but I knew that it was meant to be and Austin told me that when he went for his endowments he felt prompted that this is what he was supposed to do. I had faith in my son and knew that if the Lord had spoken to him that he should follow regardless of the judgments from others.
Jess and I became close while he was gone. She lived with us for a few months and we spent lots of time laughing and creating weird picture albums for Austin. Jess went to college and got her degree while Austin was gone. I was so proud of her. She also worked and paid for much of the wedding herself! She is incredible!
It was also amazing to witness Austin's transformation during this time. He left a little boy and then turned into this amazing example of a man who had dedicated his life to the Lord to the point that he left the woman he loved knowing that the two years could be too hard on their relationship. It was such a sacrafice for both of them but I never lost faith that it would work out because they were listening to the Lord.
When he got home he married Jess right away. I was so excited for them. What a romantic and beautiful love story they would have to share with their children. Austin baptized many on his mission but the fact that he brought his wife into the church is so special.
Shortly after they were married Austin started college to be an air traffic controller. Jess got pregnant just a few months after the wedding. Again there were those, many actually who critisized them for this but I had faith in my children and I saw Jess with my kids and her brothers and thought that her calling in life is to be a mother.She had supported Austin through his calling as a missionary and I didn't feel like she should have to wait to fulfil hers plus I knew that if this was inspired by the Lord He would take good care of them.
Baby Javan was born on November 25. My life changed forever...I never thought that I could love anyone as much as my children but it's such a different kind of love and such a special kind of love. Javan brings so much joy to my life!
Austin and Jess are active members of the church. They are an amazing example to me and I am so proud of who they are. Austin is the one I go to now when I need blessings and his is an awesome vessel for the Lord.
I am so happy that we will be an eternal family together. They are such incredible people and I am so grateful that they love me and support me in my efforts to be the best mom I can be and the best grammy in the world :) God blessed my life the day he sent Austin to me and my heart grew that day and continues to grow with each new eternal family member he brings into our lives.
So that's the story of how my oldest came to be. I am a very lucky mom and grammy!
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