Sept.28th, 1972 was the year......

Sept.28th, 1972 was the year I became a MOM!!!!!!!! Yes, on this day 34 years ago I had my first child---a SON--whom we named Terry Charles Fry, Jr. At first it was SO HARD to call that baby boy : CHARLES, but now I can't imagine him being called Charlie or Chip or any other nickname for Charles. His name is perfect for him! ..We're so proud of Charles--of all our kids--but Charles is just so special, in so many ways that I can't list---but for the first reason, he made Terry and I, PARENTS!! He ws our "curly haired " little angelic boy. The little boy who looked like the masculine version of Shirley Temple with that crop of curls! I would be walking Charles, Michael and Natalie when they were little,  but it was CHARLES that the old ladies would run to and run their fingers through his curly locks! He is the oldest child, therefore the "driven child"---the child who worked so hard in school---the child who agonized over a "C" on a paper--the teen who worked so hard to impress his teachers--the young man who loved going to college in town---Birmingham Southern--and then quietly informed us he wanted to be a lawyer and went to U of Alabama Law School and after much  hard work, fulfilled that dream. Married Rachel Blake and works hard for his law firm!  And, on top of   that, he is a role model to his group of teen boys whom he and Rachel are shepherding at church. ( Lucky boys they are!).But, our proudest moment with Charles came when he was named one of  BIRMINGHAM'S 40 under 40 !!!!!! That day , at the Wynfrey Hotel, was one of my proudest of Charles! To hear his PEERS talk about MY son?????? WOW! .....What a shock to see this young man , in my mind, still the curly haired little angel holding a blanket--now in positions to make huge decisions and defend his clients and have such responsiblities.  How can it be that he is all grown up? Last night when he came to dinner ,(Rachel was in Pittsburgh for her job), we had so much fun. It was also ODD that we only had our OLDEST sitting at the table and our YOUNGEST! That never happens! Around the table was just Terry and Charles, Katie and myself ! And we got to talk about his recent Emmaus Walk and how much it meant to him and , for us, to have him go on the Walk that Terry led. He loved his scrapbook I made for him of his Grand-daddy Powell most of all. And it always makes me happy to see him walk into the house, so tall and so mature and yet when I  look at him-- I still see the same little boy I held for the first time 34 years ago in his eyes. The wonder in that tiny bundle I held 34 years ago---all my hopes and dreams for him---fulfilled. But, oh, how I wish I could go back to this day, 34 short years ago  and hold that precious angel, all bundled up and fresh from God--just ONE MORE TIME..........

I love you, Charles and I'm so proud of you for not what you have done, but for WHO you have always been---my son!    I love you, Charles! mom