ELIJAH

ELIJAH IS MY SECOND GRANDSON. HE WAS BORN ABOUT 3 YEARS AFTER JARED. THE MOMENT HE WAS BORN, OUR EYES MET AND OUR SOULS MESHED. HEIS THE FIRST BORN OF JESSICA, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER. HE IS SMART, AND VERY MANIPULATIVE. HE TAKES AFTER HIS MAMA. WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE AND THEN A TEENAGER, I USED TO TELL HER THAT I HOPED SHE GOT A KID LIKE SHE WAS. SHE DID, SHE GOT ELI. DON'T GET ME WRONG, HE IS A GOOD BOY, BUT HE IS JUST LIKE HIS MAMA. I KNOW THAT SHE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH A "PARENT'S CONFERENCE". SO WAS I. IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, SHE SPENT MANY DAYS TRYING TO COAX HIM BACK INTO CLASS. SO DID I. MANY TIMES, SHE FINDS HERSELF GIVING IN TO HIM WHEN SHE REALLY SHOULDN'T, BUT-SO DID I. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT WHEN I TAUGHT HER TO PRAY THAT SHE WAS LISTENING, BUT TO HEAR ELI PRAY, I REALIZE THAT SHE LEARNED WELL. SHE LEARNED A STRONG WORK ETHIC FROM EXAMPLE, AND IT SEEMS, SO IS ELI. WHEN SHE WAS A STINKER, AND I HAD TO PADDLE HER BEHIND, SHE WOULD SAY, "WHEN I HAVE KIDS, I AM NEVER GOING TO SPANK THEM!" I HOPE THAT I HAVE HAD THE SENSE TO NEVER REMIND HER OF THAT STATEMENT AS SHE PLYS A FIRM HAND ON ELI'S DESERVING BACKSIDE! I DESPAIRED OF WHAT SHE WOULD BECOME AS I RAISED HER, SHE NEVER LISTENED TO ME! BUT NOW I SEE SHE DID, AS SHE IS SUCH A RESPONSIBLE MAMA TO HER SON'S. ELI KNOWS FREEDOM WITHIN BOUNDARIES, CONFIDENCE DUE TO HAVING A SAFETY NET, AND COURAGE FROM EXAMPLE. HE IS KIND, FAIR AND LOVING. HE IS ALSO A BRATTY BOY ON OCCASION- THANK GOODNESS! HE IS NOT CRAZY ABOUT SPORTS, BUT HIS MAMA IS. IT MUST BE HARD ON HER THAT HE DOES NOT EXCELL IN SPORTS, BUT HE EXCELLS IN OTHER AREAS. HE IS A TALKER, A MANIPULATER, A FREE-THINKER AND NOT AFRAID TO EXPLORE NEW AREAS. HE IS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED SOON, ON HIS EIGHTH BIRTHDAY IN SEPTEMBER, AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A MISSIONARY FOR THE MORMON CHURCH SOMEDAY. HE WILL BE SOMETHING GOOD WHEN HE GROWS UP, I CAN SEE THAT NOW. WE CANNOT KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BRING, BUT WATCHING SISSY RAISE HER SONS, I KNOW THAT THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE IN A POSITIVE WAY. ELI TALKS OF BECOMING A DOCTOR ONE DAY. HE WILL MAKE A GOOD ONE. I HOPE TO BE AROUND TO SEE THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PATIENTS AS HE IS GOOD TO THEM. I LOVE THAT BOY, LOVE, NANASEE