Eight Years Ago

It’s amazing all that can happen in eight years time. The world is a different place than it was May 18, 2000. In those days no one had even heard of Afghanistan or a guy named Osama something. Myspace and Facebook hadn’t even been dreamed up yet, and MP3 sounded like something from a Star Wars movie. We were just happy that civilization was still going on after something called Y2K while drinking our year’s supply of bottled water. Our family’s life has changed dramatically too. Waistlines and hairlines have constantly been moving. The waistline seems to come and go; the hairline seems to just go. We have been in three homes, three jobs, countless vehicles (thanks RCM), and now live half-a-world away from all we ever knew. But for us the world changed forever eight years ago because of a little guy we decided to name Hudson. And he has changed sooooo much in those eight years.


When you talk about eight years it seems like a really long time. Yet it seems like only a moment ago when I held him in my arms for the first time and he fit between my bent elbow and the end of my hand. While walking through our complex today, with Hudson running ahead, Alicia and I both commented in amazement that our little boy is eight. If you know anything about Hudson, you know that he is completely passionate about whatever he happens to be into. In eight years he has gone from Blues Clues to Veggie Tales to Super Heroes to Star Wars to Basketball, Ps2, and all things OU (as it should be). Less than a year ago he gave his heart to Jesus and really began to change. Since we left home in January he has begun to love to pray, read the scripture, and be used by God. He prays daily for his friends and family and for the people he sees around him every day in our new world. He really wants to follow Jesus. He’s come so far in eight years. He makes me so immeasurably happy and proud, but this father can only wonder at all that his Father has planned for the rest of his years.


Yesterday he had his first birthday party in this hemisphere. It was a big hit and he had a great time. Hudson has been desperate to get a basketball game going. We don’t have a hoop at our complex, but he had spied one out just down the street in the parking lot of a maternity hospital of all things; this place never ceases to amaze me. So we got several of his new friends together and went down to play ball for Hudson’s birthday. We had a great game and Hudson hit the big shot at the end of the game. (We’re not sure who won, but he still hit the big shot.) We then let Hudson choose where we would eat and invited everyone along. He chose his new favorite place; Shao Kao. Shao Kao can’t really be explained, it just has to be experienced. Rest assured all who come to visit us will join in the fun. We ended the night with singing and birthday cake at the “restaurant” surrounded by Asianese onlookers who were delighted and puzzled all at the same time. Hudson loved every minute of it and I honestly don’t think he would have enjoyed his birthday more if it had been anywhere else in the world.

ROB