I think that it was nice they decided to establish the first day of summer on my son Jason's birthday! Happy birthday son!
Dolly and I decided before we were married that when our children were born, she would have them at home. Of course, that was shocking to many, but that was a natural choice to us. The great day arrived and we were all set! We had everything we thought we needed and had practiced up on the breathing techniques. Breathe Breathe relax.... breathe breathe relax. Yep, we were ready. But minutes turned into hours and hours turned into anxious moments. At the time we lived upstairs from my parents. My dad was sleeping on the couch downstairs waiting and I went down to talk to him. "Dad" I said, waking him up from a sound sleep. "Dad, I'm not sure but I think something is wrong, we're going to take Dolly to the hospital". "She's probably not ready yet", he calmly stated. But we went any way. Better to be safe than sorry. Hit every red light along the way and got to the hospital. "We'll take her and you fill out the forms" the nurse said as they whisked her away. Nervously I started filling out the forms and before signing read the small print on the standard entrance forms. "...knowing that medicine is not an exact science..." What! That's all I needed to read. "....the hospital may at its' choosing take tissue samples.." I rushed up the stairs with the form to find Dolly. "She's doing fine and is about ready to deliver", they told me. What a relief! "Dolly, they said you were about ready to deliver and you are doing okay". "Let's go home, I want to have it at home", she said.
As we got her up, there was a flurry of activity. The nurses running around trying to find the doctor. "You can't just leave! Your wife is about to have the baby". But we were determined to go. "You have to sign a release as we can't be responsible for what happens". It's funny, but on the same form to release them from damages and to leave the hospital there is also a release for them to do surgery! Looking back I realize that it's a standard thing as the release information is just a paragraph or two and so it just saves paper to have multiple releases on the same page.
Back to the story, so we got Dolly in a wheelchair and left. A half hour later Jason was born at home! Our first born and the first grand son on dad's side.
What a joy to be blessed with a fine healthy boy. We were so proud of him and enjoyed being new parents.
As Jason got older he grew to dislike going to school. He didn't like studying the traditional way, but whatever he set his mind to, he did very well. He had lofty goals, but to be honest, I couldn't figure out how he would achieve them without schooling. But he was so determined you couldn't help but encourage him. He liked doing rugged things and playing sports and he could learn quickly by doing, but school wasn't on his plate. We were happy the day came that he graduated from high school!
Being self-employed Jason worked for me in the office as my receptionist. At the time (early 80's I also did computer consulting on the side and had AutoCad (computerized drafting software). While he worked for me he played with AutoCad and seemed to enjoy it. But he didn't really like working in the office. Working for your dad though, you don't have a choice! Jason wanted more than that. Many times he would tell me that he'd like to try out new software and hardware and test new things.
When he graduated from high school, a friend of mine who owned his own business, was looking for someone to work for him. The person he was looking for was someone who had some experience working with people, answering the phone, and using computers (which at that time for PC's was still in its' infancy). So Jason fit the bill, got the job and was earning a couple dollars an hour more than the typical high school graduate.
He enjoyed drafting, but his heart was with the new technology and it wasn't long before he was in charge of the computers. Web sites were coming into being, but his company wasn't interested in it at the time so he took off looking for something that would fit the bill. Eventually he ended up working for his present company. Now he had an opportunity to hone his skills, which he did. You'd think a guy like that would have a hard time making it, being in a profession that had a very steep learning curve, but you don't know Jason! When he came up to a task that required greater expertise, he'd find someone who did and delegate the task to them. He was a born administrator! Instead of getting stuck in the mud trying to do it all himself, he delegated and as a result helped grow that division of his company.
Nowadays he's in charge of designing websites that cost in the 10's of thousands of dollars or more. ... arranging meetings with executives with large corporations... problem solving...and because his company does every thing first class, he gets to try out the latest and greatest.
I'm so happy that he's achieving this part of his dream but wait there's more!
The best part is that after Jason moved out of our house after high school, he fell in love, got married and the Lord got hold of his heart and turned him around 180 degrees. And what a difference the Lord made in him!
There is so much good that happened in his life, that I think I'll have to devote another article to it. Maybe I'll ask him to give his testimony.
But to give you the short version.... Jason became head of Information Technology at his company... married a sweet wife Elizabeth.... they have 4 great children, he gets to try out the latest and greatest hardware, he loves the Lord, and to top it off, believe it or not, started attending Seminary to become a Pastor. Yes, he went back to school!
It's been a joy to see him and Elizabeth grow together, and make an active effort to serve the Lord and to consistently raise their children the way the Bible teaches.
I know his mom would be so proud of him, as I am, and thankful to the Lord for our first born!
Happy Birthday, Jason!
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