Hard to believe we are well into May, already!  May brings lots of joys and celebrations!  Always, it brings to my mind the birth of my second born son, Claude Andrew Morris.  My sweet Andy entered this world by appointment on May 12, 1965!  At a pre-determined time – eight a.m. as I remember - I reported to the City Hospital in McComb, Mississippi, to get things moving along!  My kind obstetrician, Dr. Frank Butler, had decided this was the day!  The hospital was in a lovely section of old McComb, in a shady, serene setting.  (I understand the building is no longer used as a hospital, having been replaced by the new Southwest Regional Medical Center at a new location just off Interstate 55.)  Later that afternoon, a perfect, precious bundle of joy was in my arms, locked forever in my heart. 

We lived in Kentwood, LA, so McComb, MS was just a few miles across the state line from where we lived, and was where my doctor lived and practiced.  After a couple of days in the hospital, we were discharged, and Bill and I drove back to Kentwood with Andy, ready to show him off to everyone!

We lived in an apartment above the J. P. Morris & Sons general merchandise store.  Prior to being that type of store, however, several decades earlier it had been a funeral home and a car dealership!  A freight elevator was still operational and provided the perfect solution to avoid taking the stairs.  You know, back then, having a baby was still a BIG deal and exercise was very limited those first few days.  So climbing the stairs so soon after delivering a baby was not an option!  Times have changed! 

So, here we go: Andy and I hopped on the freight elevator (precious cargo!) and off we zoomed.  Bill operated some type of rope-pulley mechanism, and before you know it we were landing safely onto the second floor of the old store!  The elevator opened into a large warehouse type space, and several steps later we reached the entrance to our apartment.  (As an aside, this was the very apartment where Bill’s parents lived when he was born, so there  was enough nostalgia to go around!)

Granny Gray, my mother, had already come to Kentwood several days before Andy was born, so she was also there with open arms to welcome Andy: a snuggly baby boy, weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz., with a good covering of light brown hair!  He was named Claude Andrew – the Claude for my daddy and Andrew, just because we loved the name.  Of course, big brother, Art, was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his little brother, too!  To this very day they are extremely close.

Andy was always such a joy and he kept us smiling, for sure!  He was always, and still is, a precious son.  Precious is a well-worn word, but it aptly fits my Andy, affectionately known as MLB (Mama’s Little Baby to the two of us.)  He has always had a sweet spirit, and at age six he surprised Bill and me the night he decided to make a public profession of his faith at the close of a church service!  He knew Jesus had spoken to his heart and he wanted everyone to know it.  Since that time he has continued to grow in the Lord and is a consistent Christian husband to Karen and father to Luke and Hannah.

Growing up in the country provided lots of wonderful opportunities for Andy and Art and included such things as working in the vegetable garden with Butch, my sweet nephew; going fishing and hunting, digging  caves in the dirt clay banks with Tate Erwin who lived across the road from us, going on calls to deliver baby calves with Dr. Derry Magee, our dear friend and veterinarian.

Andy is my high school drop-out! Not really, though.  He realized Art was having so much fun in college that he decided he wanted to skip his senior year at Sumner High School and enter college early.  He met all of the requirements posed by the university and also met those of his high school, so off he went a year early!

It was at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR that Andy met his lovely wife-to-be, Karen Kerns.  Both graduated in May of 1986, Andy also sat for the CPA exam a few weeks later, and got married on June 7th!  Nothing like tackling major undertakings under pressure!  He and Karen lived in Tulsa, OK, briefly, while he worked at Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KMPG).  Andy is now a full-fledged CPA, and  a few years later by going to school at night, he also earned his MBA at the University of Arkansas.  Later he worked several years at Dayspring Greeting Cards in Siloam Springs, AR, where he was later named CFO.  Currently, he is one of several senior financial managers at Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, AR.

A few years ago while still at Dayspring, Andy decided to make a run for the Arkansas legislature (while Mike Huckabee was governor. by the way).  We never dreamed he was destined for the statehouse when he announced to us, "I think I am going into politics."  We thought surely he meant town council, school board or some other local arena.  Of course, Bill and I were among his most ardent supporters and we even got to campaign for him one weekend ... now, moms going door to door pleading to, "please vote for my boy" - well, who could refuse that plea!  Sure enough, he won handily, and we were on hand for the big celebration party.  This was quite the victory for a Republican candidate, since Arkansas is widely perceived as a Democratic state.  He lived in a conservative area of Springdale, and he thoroughly enjoyed his time in the legislature.  A job change prevented his running for another term, but someday I would not be surprised if we we got another call.... "Mama, I've decided to run for ....".

Andy, Karen, Luke and Hannah enjoy a busy, fun-filled life, for sure!  Luke graduates high school this year and has been accepted at John Brown University; Hannah will be a HS senior next year, and Karen keeps everything and everybody moving at a rapid pace!  We just "hold on" when we visit them.  She is the girls volleyball coach and teacher at Shiloh Christian School which is affiliated with First Baptist Church of Springdale.

As Andy celebrates his 44th birthday this year, Bill and I are thrilled that we are here, too, to celebrate that event and got to exchange mother/son hugs on Mother’s Day!

I’m so thankful and blessed to be the mother of two godly sons and the mother-in-love of two godly women, Merritt and Karen.

I could go on and on … but you wouldn’t want me to get started on the grandchildren just now, would you?  That would take a while!

In closing .... my sentiments are expressed in this scripture:

No greater cause for thankfulness do I have than these things, that I should be hearing that my children go on walking with the Lord.  3 John vs. 4

Andy - wasn't he a cutie?

 
 
Andy, Hannah, Luke and Karen