April 10 Matt is NINETEEN

Wednesday:  I made this card for Matthew's birthday and brought it over to him on my way home from being with the little kids.

Matt was just three years old in the first picture. I used it for the cover of his card because it's just so cute of him, isn't it? This was taken on the school playground in El Paso, where Matt lived for more than six years of his very early life.

The inside of his card was a combination of more than 30 other pictures I gathered from my archives. I love these pictures of Matt--mostly because I can remember every place/event of each picture.

Matt isn't a young child any more. Nineteen is his very last year as a TEEN. He graduated from high school a year ago. He is presently working full time at a car dealership as a mechanic-in-training. Right now, he mostly changes the oil on the cars; but he has a lot of mechanical aptitude and is eventually going to advance in all he can do to work on and fix cars.

I need to post bigger pictures of the ones I used for his card--because I love these so much:

The bluest eyes!

This was about a year ago. Matt was over,
and he and Emma were sketching stuff.

The one and only time Matt has played
PACHESI at my house.

I think Emma took this picture of Matt.
They are at a playground very near his house.

This is a close-up of the picture above.
Matt has grown to be so handsome.

I especially love this picture of Matt,
so I zoomed in (below) to see 
the sweet expression on his face ...

This was one time when just Matt and KT
were here with me. Matt went out of his
way to play with KT and was so kind.

A football player for Comstock Park.
Matt loves football (me too!).

At my friend's (Karen) pool a few
summers ago. Matt was the captain of his
own ship!

At Deer Tracks Junction.
I loved watching these boys love on
the goats. Super sweet and tender.

At AJ's. Matt "won" more tickets and shared his
winnings with Chris!

At Deer Tracks Junction,
lost in the softness of this little rabbit ...

Same day at the Budgie House

One of the last times I was in the woods
with Matt. I loved walking in the woods
with him.

At Art Prize a few years ago

Matt playing with our Cocoa Cat puppet

At the Corn Maze
Schwallier's Country Basket

Grand Haven Pier
2014?

THIS picture!
Out in nature, having the time of
his life.

2012 at Townsend Park
Hunting crayfish!

At the school playground near Brendan's
house blowing huge bubbles

I think this is at the John Ball Zoo
playground. We used to play
there after visiting the animals.

I remember this day like it was
yesterday. We were at a park
on the W. side of town, doing
some hiking. This is such a great
picture of Matt.

I had this picture of Matt
hanging on my bedroom wall
for a long time ... but his beautiful face
looks so sad, doesn't it?

One of my favorite pictures
of Matt and KT

It was always so much fun
to explore the woods with Matt!

Matt was great at Origami too.

A very expert LEGO builder

A happy Matt showing me his
new bike helmet

The years sure go by quickly. I continue to pray that Matt will seek the Lord who made him. I pray that Matt will KNOW Him as Savior and lover of his heart and soul. I love this quote from C.H. Spurgeon: "God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being He ever created." I think of Matt when I read this because long ago, when he was just a tiny child, we were talking about how much God loves us. I told Matt that God is ALWAYS watching us and wants us to talk to Him. Matt was about 3 at the time--we were at a playground, and he was cuddled up with me--he interrupted me with several questions: (1) "What if God is sleeping when I try to talk to Him?" I told Matt that God NEVER sleeps--not ever! (2) "What if God is too busy to listen to me?" I answered that God is NEVER too busy and that He loves to hear Matt talk to Him. (3) "BUT what if God is very far away when I try to talk to Him, grandma, and can't hear me?" Matt was quite persistent that God was not interested in listening to him! My heart felt so sad during this conversation; but I didn't back down a single bit. I reminded Matt of a verse we had been memorizing: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13.5) 

I pray you will know that the Lord is as close to you as your very breath, Matt. I pray that one day you will enter into a relationship with the God who made you, and the only Person who will ever satisfy the longings of your heart. I love you very much.