My Favorite Son

11.  I am thankful I have a son.
Oh, you finally got your boy, they said to me nine years after the birth of my third daughter.  It wasn't like I had him on lay-a-way.  In many ways he is the son I never wanted.
12.  I am thankful for the things my son has taught me.
Patience,  understanding, the value of the individual, who Optimus Prime is. Once I shared with him that there were things I didn't learn about God until I had children.  I'll bet you're still learning was his reply.
13.  I am thankful for glimpses of the man he will become.
Tall, thin, patient, kind, responsible, loving.
14.  I am thankful that sometimes he is still my little boy.
Giving me a hug, sharing a joke, eating halloween candy from a pillowcase.
15.  I am thankful he will spend a Friday evening with me.
He is picking the movie for tonight.  Something we will both like.  Which means he had to rule out fantasy sci-fi and romantic comedy.

Recently someone who just met us asked if he could ask about our son.  You mean where did we get an amazingly tall, incredibly thin, blonde child over whom we do not fuss?    You mean did we adopt him?  You mean is he leftover from a previous marriage?  You mean is he really ours?

Oh, he's ours.  A gift from God.  For which (today) I am thankful.