I’ve long held the honor of being known as “Jerry McBee, the plumber’s, wife” and/or “Amanda and Adam’s mom”.  These identities are one happy crazy mess, yet distinctly different.  As it’s Amanda’s 25th birthday, this is the post in which I mortify her by sharing what it is to be ”Amanda’s mom”.

Amanda was, and still is, the most beautiful newborn on which I’ve ever laid eyes.  (Sorry, Adam, but it’s a well-known fact you resembled a baby orangutan the first two months of your life.) She was pink and round and perfect in every way. She was an incredibly easy infant — slept through the night, healthy, happy, and progressed through the milestones slightly ahead of schedule.

Toddler and childhood were a breeze.  Potty trained with ease, no Terrible Twos, she LOVED school. Sports and Youth became a flurry of activities from tweenage years on.  Then came the dreaded teenage years.  NOT! We couldn’t have prayed for a better child.  Never sassy, always obedient.  Honor roll, advanced placement classes, and lots and lots of softball and soccer. Like a flash she was off to college, where she jumped right in, making the Dean’s List, volunteering with YoungLife and the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, and finding a local church in which to worship. 

Her second year of college, she was involved in an accident.  Life changed forever.  She was a perfectly healthy young woman one day and handicapped the next.  Through it all, she ministered and was an inspiration to every doctor, nurse, and therapist who treated her. 

She lost precious time and scholarships because of recuperation and therapy, but she never gave up on her goal to be the first person in our family to receive a college degree. Simply navigating campus was first impossible, then painful at best.  She persevered. She didn’t let her injury keep her from continuing to volunteer in the church and community.  She continued to work, first at a Christian bookstore, then a stint as a full-time nanny of 5 in CO, and when she returned, a rehab facility.  Most importantly, she never let her pain keep her from praising God.  

Along the way, she realized that her goals had changed.  She now has a heart for ministry and counseling those in emergency and disaster situations.  A couple of months ago Amanda announced her calling to full-time missions.  She leaves the end of May to complete a 3-month internship at Into Abba’s Arms, an orphanage in Kenya*.  She will return and graduate next year — with honors.  Then she is off to fulfill God’s calling. With a bum leg, a college degree, and infinite faith in Christ her Savior.  Amanda is 25 today.  She is amazing.  And I’m blessed to be called “Amanda’s mom”. Happy Birthday, Lou — I love you!

* many thanks to those who prayed and provided Kenya information and advice for this very anxious mama