Nineteen years ago, after 16 hours of labor, Matthew Robert Dustin came into the world, and my life has never been the same. From the very first moment that I looked into his eyes, I fell in love with my "baby" and have counted every moment of his life as an incredible blessing from God above.
It overwhelms me to think that God had his life planned from the beginning of time - He knew that this boy would be my son, and though I have been a completely imperfect mother to him, God specifically chose me to be his mother.
What an amazing journey it has been - from newborn, to toddler, to child, to young man. God has had His hand on Matt's life every single moment - and will continue to lovingly draw Matt's heart to His own all the days of his life. My prayer for Matt would be that he would grow ever-increasingly sensitive to hearing God's voice, and that his passion to love and please his Saviour would grow each and every moment - and that Matt would fully know that nothing in this life or this world will satisfy him as much as the love of Jesus. It is truly all that is needed for pure and complete joy!
Matt celebrated his birthday the other night with many friends around the pool. The rest of us left, but it sure sounded like they had a wonderful time. I didn't even plan this one - I guess the days of "mommy" inviting friends over and having a party with cake and ice cream and star wars decorations are long gone!!
Matt at seven - oh how time flies...
Matt and Danny at Deep Creek Lake many years ago
Here is the little boy that I still picture in my mind on birthdays!! This is Matt and his friend Sam having one of their adventures... again, a long time ago...
This was our version of a pool party when Matt was a little boy!!
But 10 years later, THIS is what it looks like!! haha
No more party hats and blow-horns. Now we have bottled water and GIRLS!!!
Here, on the right, is the master-mind of this party! She even bought his birthday cake for him!!! (I guess my pod-racing cake would have been out of place!! haha)
Thank you, Sherry, for blessing my son!!
Though it may appear that the Dustin family has completely disappeared, we survived our vacation to Minnesota and are back home - buried in books! I do plan to post some pictures of our vacation (once I actually find the camera and download the pictures) but meanwhile, school starts next week and I have found myself completely immersed in planning for the year. Our family room has two long tables set up, completely covered in books, papers, pencils, colored tab dividers, sticky notes, empty folders, flash cards, rock study kits, and a frog and two worms. (To be dissected. By my kids. This year... yuck!) 
