Happy 30th Birthday Jonathan – Your Mama Loves You!

Happy 30th Birthday Jonathan!

October 22, 1984! A beautiful October morning in Athens, Georgia 30 years ago today when you made your entrance into the world! “I bet you’re hoping for a little girl,” folks at church would say. I would answer back, “No, I’m hoping for a healthy child and God knows exactly what his Daddy and I need.” Yes God knew, and he blessed us with YOU – a beautiful healthy baby boy we named Jonathan. Jonathan means “God has given, God’s gift.” Indeed. You were a good baby even though you had your “days and nights” mixed up for a while…I enjoyed those peaceful days taking care of you and your 3-year-old big brother Jeremy, and your sweet daddy got up with you most nights.Sunday, December 30, 1984 was the day we publicly dedicated you to the Lord and declared to raise you up in a Christian home. This was Central Baptist Church where your dad served as the Music & Youth Pastor. Dr. Ben Glosson is holding you in this picture. You loved music at an early age and would sit at the piano and play softly – never banging on the keys, just moving your chubby little fingers up and down the keyboard. As you grew older many nights you would go to sleep listening to music. God put the gift of music in your heart at a very young age.You started walking at 9 1/2 months old. Your brother was so excited he insisted we call your daddy to come home from the church so we could all celebrate! And so we did! Your big brother loved you so much – and he still does! Psalm 133:1 was our brotherly verse – “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.”

Here are some of my favorite pictures of you…you were such an easy child to raise, with an easygoing temperament and you especially loved your sleep! [I believe that is still true!] Many nights you would say, “I go night night,” and you’d get your blanket and go to bed…”Your daddy was so proud of you and this picture was taken at church one Sunday. You loved to come to “big church” and find your daddy there. Just like your kids do today…You were definitely a mama’s boy for a good while…and I loved every minute of that season, it was just too short!We moved to Houston County Georgia when you were just a little over 3 years old, so really this is home to you and your dad and I have thanked the Lord many times for the privilege to raise you and Jeremy in one community, in one church… This is you with our Bassett Hound Beulah. You loved that dog so much!You always made friends so easily and loved going to school at Second Baptist Kindergarten and Bonaire Elementary when you were young. Here you are on your first day of Kindergarten!Sports were a big part of your life early on and you easily won the “50 yard dash” on Field Day every year [except one…and we won’t talk about that]! You could run so FAST! Here you are with friends and neighbors Jackie and Miles Bell . I love that Jackie is now our dentist…another joy of living in a community for a long time – lifelong friends!Birthday parties with the Morton family tradition of a “Giant Cookie!” You remind me so much of your son Jackson in this photo!Your 13th Birthday – October 22, 1997 – officially a teenager! You were a Bonaire Middle School student and getting more handsome every year – loving life which included sports and friends and family time!Football, Basketball, Soccer, Track…you played them ALL and excelled! You were the first “Mr. Jaguar” at BMS! I loved it – because your good grades counted too! [I’m a proud mom – still am!] Hunting season was a good time for you and your dad and brother – love this of you three in camo!You started showing more interest in music and began playing guitar – and we are so proud of your musical gifts! High school years came with more sports! Your dad and I LOVED watching you run up and down the field like the wind…and especially when you caught a pass and scored a touchdown!Such a handsome young man – all dressed up in his tuxedo! Still handsome today!Lifelong friends with the Nash Family – this was a quail hunt with Jack, your dad, Jeremy, you, & Ben Nash. Good times – your dad always said you were a good shot..You and your brother on the blue sofa – the one that y’all finally BROKE from flying down the hall, turning and landing on it in mid-air. This was one of those rare occasions when you decided to share…[Psalm 133:1]High school graduation, Warner Robins High – Class of 2003! Happy times and with none other than your buddy Tal Talton! More good times to celebrate! I always believed that God had someone special chosen just for you…and this beautiful young woman came into your life at just the right time…Miss Erin Lee Hutto, the answer to our prayers for your life and future. Your wedding day came before your dad and I were ready to let you leave the nest, but what a beautiful day it was! June 7, 2008 – and we loved that you wrote a song especially for your bride and sang it to her…Here we are celebrating YOU today – your 30 years of life, but now you know the JOY of celebrating life. because on May 24, 2010 YOU became a daddy when your son was born! You have embraced that role with more passion than I ever imagined – you are a wonderful father to Jackson and Emery! We are so proud of you!Here you are at the Morton Farm teaching your son how to fish. My boy and his boy – pure JOY!Sweet Emery Caroline – your girl! We love her so much and she adores her Daddy too!Your beautiful family – a wonderful wife and two awesome children, a son and a daughter – God has blessed you so much. It has been a JOY to see you grow into the man you are today. Yes, you are a man, but you will ALWAYS and FOREVER be my baby boy.