A new journey begins

I'm happy to report that Jackson has been doing great. No new health issues is one reason I haven't written in a while, another is my crazy busy job, and another is my focus on completing version two of my manuscript. It's a fiction novel with one of the main characters a 17-year-old boy with Williams syndrome, which I started writing when Jackson was 7 (I'm slow). More on that another time, though . . . guess who started his teenage journey?

Yep, our boy turned 13 on Wednesday! We took advantage of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday for an early celebration. Angy and I took Jackson and Christian out early to eat pancakes and go to the mall. (Christian said he wanted to go to his brother's "party.") At the restaurant, Jackson kept smiling his broad, exuberant smile, sometimes squeezing his thumbs and index fingers at the corners of his eyes and saying, "Happy." God bless him. It's like he wants us to look in his eyes and see that he's happy. Maybe Jackson realizes that the eyes reflect the soul.

After breakfast, we went to Barnes & Noble and hung out in the children's section until it was time for the mall to open. I wanted to buy Jackson a book or toy there, but he wouldn't have it. I think he was worried that if he got something at Barnes & Noble, he wouldn't get as much at the mall of the things he really wanted—scented sprays, lotions, and hand sanitizers.

Jackson led us through the mall to Sephora, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and Penney's. He selected gifts at each store, except Sephora (thank goodness) where he tested many of their expensive perfumes. Between purchases, Jackson led us to seating areas so he could rest and check out his growing collection. After a few hours, he said, "Home," so that's where we went. What a blessing it is to hear him talk.

Angy told Christian recently to give Jackson a good-night hug, and he refused on the grounds that Jackson "stinks like perfume." That's an understandable perspective from a little brother, but as Jackson's nana, I don't care what he smells like—I want his hugs whenever I can get them.

The sense of smell is such a wonderful gift that God has given us. Can you imagine what life would be like if we couldn't smell? If we couldn't enjoy the scent of a rose, a newborn baby, a loaf of fresh-baked bread, an ocean breeze? To Jackson, God gave the special gift of a heightened sense of smell, and to us, He gave the special gift of Jackson. Praise His holy name.

One of my favorite praise songs refers to perfume, I Pour My Love on You by Phillips, Craig & Dean. Think about your favorite smells, about all of God's wonderful gifts, and give it a listen. Be blessed!