Stephen Joseph Clanton Happy 17th Bday!

Dear Steve,

Seventeen years ago we met you .....it doesn't seem possible that you are so old!  It seems like you should be maybe 10 or 11 NOT 17 years old!

We had wanted a child (sorta) for years before you came along.  I'll never forget the day we found out that we were expecting!  I had been sick for weeks and was pretty sure I was dying of something.  At the time, working in NYC with the drug addicts and homeless, I thought there was a chance I'd gotten some awful disease.  Someone at Teen Challenge said "maybe you are pregnant"  I really didn't think so but...we couldn't get into my doctor so I decided to go to a Christian Pregnancy Center to do a test.   I really did not think I was....  Got there, did the test and they told me I was pregnant!  I screamed down the hall to Jon and everyone was laughing at me!  I was in shock!  I couldnt' wait to get home to call Aunt Val and Uncle Jim and my good friend Charlene, so we stopped at a phone booth LOL that was a real long time ago!

So the next 8 months were filled with THROW UP!!!  3 or 4 times a day....starting wondering about this whole pregnancy thingy......Just imagine motion sickness 24 hours a day.... and on top of it, the idea of a real baby scared the poop out of me!  You know I"m not much of a kid person!!!

Lots of problems = lots of ultra sounds...everyone one of them said GIRL but it's hard to tell...you were in a odd position....LAST one it was clear we were having a BOY!  I freaked out!!!  Not only did I have to take back all the pretty clothes but I didn't want a boy!!!  So I hoped till the end, they were wrong

Like all your siblings, you had to have some drama, on a routine stress test, there was issues with your heart rate and they admitted me immediately.  Well I was there by myself since Papa had come up a month before you were to be born to "see NYC" and daddy had him out seeing the sights!  This was the days before cell phones so I thought the doctors were going to do an emergency  C section before he could be located.  They didn't and it was 2 more days before you were born!

On October 27, 1995 I woke up exactly at 6 am  in the most terrible pain.  I'd been given a drug over night to induce labor...it did!  OMG!  The next few hours are a blur of pain and finally after almost 2 hours of pushing you were finally born at 11:51 am, right before lunch time:)   I had told them I really didn't want you thrown up on my stomach, right after you were born, they could go clean you up.  But guess what?  That's what happened, and in the moment. I fell in love harder than I ever had before, it was love at first sight!  Holding you made those 8 awful months, and almost 6 hours of the worst pain imaginable, just not matter at all!   It was like pixie dust was sprinkled all over us...what a beautiful memory....and to think I loved this little bloody kid...all of a sudden you became "my boy" and I couldn't imagine wanting anyone else!!!1

From the beginning you were special.  You slept through the night the first night home from the hospital.  The doctor said that wasn't normal, we should wake you up but daddy said "if it ain't broken don't fix it"  LOL  and you were fine!  You were such a pleasant child, never really cried...I took a picture of you around New Years of you crying since it so seldom happened and you were so cute when you cried.  We enjoyed every second of having you as our child.

As you grew, you remained a sweet natured child.  I can hardly remember really having to discipline you much at all.  You made parenthood easy:)   Everything was fun with you......every year, every age, has been great from babyhood, through the teen years.  You never had terrible twos or much of a teen age attitude (most of the time)  Dad and I have always enjoyed doing things with you and going places...

We all didn't know what was ahead for our family when we had Sam, then added Shad and then Sarah & Selah....there has been alot of stress in our life and change but you have rolled with the punches and been there with us.   You've taken a lot of responsibility and you've learned more than most kids your age would ever know about life & the world.  You've handled being a PK (preacher's kid) with grace & kindness ( & just a little sarcasm LOL)  We trust you and have a lot of confidence in you!  You are dependable. 

Over the years, we have learned to deal with life with humor and I'm glad for our family jokes.  They've helped us through:)

The little kids love you.  Shad looks up to you and Sam thinks you are his second daddy ( Sam has 2 dads and 1 mom LOL)  Sarah loves you and laughs at everything you do to make her giggle.  Selah would go and just sit in your room to be with you....You're a great big brother!!!!

I love your mind and confidence and how you deal with your faith.  You are not easily shaken by events.  You have learned to trust God and not expect things to always be easy.  You're a big help at the church in practial ways and I love how you love the inmates and think of them, making sure Dad gets them the newest LeCrae music!

We can't wait to see what's ahead for you!  We will always be here for you and love you!   I am so grateful to have been the one that got to be your mom!  It's been a great 17 years and I look forward to the future!   I love you!!!!