Let me introduce you to Au..Au...Au...Austin.

My 20year old son Austin can make me cry.......from laughing so hard.  He has always been one to find the humor in almost every situation....sometimes even to my chagrin. One time I was getting on to him and his brother Avery for some ruckus they were up too and as in the most firmly, stern authoritative parental voice I could muster, I said...BOY'S STOP WITH ALL YOUR ...SH...SH...SH...SH.... SHENANIGANS!!!!!Somehow the power in my words seem to wane in the light of the stuttering.....we all stood there silent for 30 seconds...and none of us could contain the hysterical laughter as Austin calmly repeated....sh..sh...sh...sh...shenanigans?  Well, at least they  stopped what they were doing.

One time we were in the car listening to a Micheal W. Smith song and Austin asked me how old was Micheal W. Smith.  I started trying to figure it out in my head by thinking about Amy Grant and how much older she was than me, then calculating how much older Micheal W. Smith was than Amy Grant, I was in a deep thought about this and started to answer and once again my brain stuttered and I said, Oh  5 or.... 5 or....5 or...5 or....Austin interupted me....mom...mom....5 or WHAT.   I snapped back into coherence and said..oh...probably 5 or 6 years older than me.....We laughed for a minute or so about my brain blackout.

We got home, Austin went on to his room and I was doing some house work,  I called out to Austin and asked him when he was going to get on his chores...and without a hesitation he called back....oh in about 5 or, 5 or 5 or 5 or......

He still had to do his chores but once again I was cracking up at his quick wit.

Austin is a really good young man now.  He is very smart....(I'm sure he would whole heartedly agree) but more than smart, I have seen him show wisdom as well.  There have been many times that he has been able to discern how to handle a situation that many his age would not have recognized.

I remember one time one of his friends was struggling with a sin....again...Austin had already talked with him about this and gave him Godly advice of which the friend did not follow, Austin firmly and lovingly told him the next time he called whining about his problem, listen, I care about you dude, but until you do what I suggested  before...I can't help you, so don't call me or contact me till you do what you need to do.

Austin realized he did not need to be sitting next to this young man on an emotional rollercoaster and recognized the young man needed someone to draw the line and stand firm.  Austin studies the Bible, reads all kinds of books...even the encyclopedia....and has a hunger for learning.  He loves to talk to people and is not afraid to talk about his faith and what Jesus is all about.  He knows and lives the phrase, "people don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care".  He truly does care about people and is a true follower of Christ.  He serves in the 6th grade class at our church and many parents have commented how much their child loves Austin.  Austin connects with people...anyone and everyone.  

One thing that makes me smile when I think about Austin is that he loves his family and shows it.  He likes to hang out with his siblings and although he is very good at teasing, he loves to have fun and lighten the mood.
He is protective of his sisters and understands and takes seriously his role model to his younger brothers.

I dropped my little boy Aj off at preschool  a few days ago, as he was getting out of the car he gave me a hug and kiss....it was so sweet.  The teacher that was helping the little ones out of the car said to me"  Oh you better enjoy that now, cuz when they get older, they won't do that anymore".  I smiled and thought to myself...oh yes they do....you don't know my son Austin.