Pryce is 18

How is it that something that seems like it happened yesterday, actually happened 18 years ago.
I remember it all.....going to sleep, waking just before midnight and realizing my water had broke, waking Ryan, calling the dr - and the dr said to wait until contractions were 5 minutes apart, calling the neighbors to watch Colin, getting to the hospital in Milford, check-in took what felt like forever because they were making small talk with Ryan about his social security number....meanwhile, I was having contractions just minutes apart at this point, we got to the floor, into a room, the most fabulous nurse ever came to care for me and massage my back, and minutes later, Pryce made is arrival.....funny how two hours from water breaking to birth of your child can seem like forever.
Fast forward 18 years.....
P is all grown up.  He just finished his Junior year of high school in the middle of a pandemic. He is solid in his faith.  He is always up for an adventure. His commitment to school, church, and his family is unwavering.  He loves to serve others.  His laugh is contagious.  He makes us all proud to call him ours.
Being that we are in the middle of a pandemic, his birthday did look a bit different this year but I think he would agree that it was, in fact, a perfect day/weekend.  Saturday, May 2, he spent on the water kayaking with three of his favorite people - Colin, Spencer and Riley.  Following, the four ended their afternoon in our pool with a basketball contest that lasted a few hours and it was so good to see them together for the first time since mid-March when Covid began.
May 3, we awoke and went to spend the day in SC visiting G-Mom, G-Dad, Gran, Pop and Aunt Nellie.  It was so good to see everyone and visit.....again, we had not seen them for 2ish months and all of us needed some time together.  The cherry on top was being able to celebrate Pryce with all of them.
Following our SC visit, we arrived home just in time for a surprise birthday parade to honor Pryce on his special day.  Birthday parades have been the way to celebrate during the pandemic - these allow for celebrating at a distance.  Pryce had insisted I not plan one of these for him....but, when his friend texted and asked if a parade would be good on his special day, I said of course! Pryce was delighted and happy to see his people!
We ended his evening on the porch dining on a special steak dinner.  It was a great ending to a great day with the one who has taught me to relax a little.