My Favorite Son, Andrew

My son Andrew, is 15 years old today! How did that happen?  It really doesn't seem that long ago that he left heaven and joined our family. 

I vividly remember, just hours after Andrew was born, being rolled down the hall in a hospital bed to my hospital room and the nurse in the nursery telling his father and me that our baby boy was still screaming.  Yep, he was vocal then and that really hasn't stopped, he likes voicing his opinions and not afraid to answer questions or debate or argue his point.  But perhaps his excessive screaming on his “birth day” was because of the family he was joining and he already missed his heavenly home.  

Andrew 1 1/2 months old

Andrew’s name was a bit miraculous in how it came to be.  Before he was born, Lance and I had talked about a few names and had a list of possibilities, Andrew being one of them, but still had not decided on a name.  Probably because we had names picked out for our other children and once they were born and we saw them we felt guided to choose a different name.  Andrew was no different.  However, for a day he was “Adam”, but only to us.  We didn’t tell family we were “for sure” on his name, nor did we tell the hospital staff, or have his name put on the birth certificate.  Looking back, I felt like I had the last say on our two older children’s names, both of them girls, and I felt that Lance should have the final say on naming his son.   He chose Adam.  That was good and I was fine with that, Adam was one of the names we discussed and we both liked it.  We wanted a traditional, “classy” name, no strange or unique names for our children, as was becoming the norm.  Lance left the hospital that evening to go back home to be with our little girls.  As the evening and night wore on, I began to be unsettled about the name Adam.  It did not feel right to me.  It also did not feel right for me to tell Lance we needed to change his name.  I prayed about it.  I asked the Lord if this new baby boy was not to be Adam, if He would make it known to Lance too.  The next morning Lance came back to the hospital and explained to me that he didn’t feel right about the name Adam and that we should call him Andrew.  So we did!  I was relieved, I was happy, and the name Andrew felt right for this new little guy in our lives.  Andrew Lance Thaxton was to be his name.   We told his grandparents and others we had decided on the name Andrew.  Lance’s mom shared with him that she liked the name Andrew and went on to remind Lance that January 28th was the birthdate of his Grandma – Irene Lavin Hansen.  Irene’s father was Andrew George Lavin, whose father was Anders Peter Lavin.  The name Andres was a form of “Andrew” and Andres also shared the birthdate of January 28th.  Learning all of this was a confirmation that changing our son’s name from Adam to Andrew was right, and it felt right.  From then on out, we say that Andrew was named after his great-great grandfather and his great-great-great grandfather and shares birthdates with many of his ancestors too.  

Andres Peter Lavin
Andrew's great, great, great grandfather

Anders Peter Lavin - 

28 January 1855 – 13 February 1944.

Born in Göteryd, Kronoberg, Sweden.  On Family Search, it indicates his occupations included being a carpenter and saw mill operator.  It also describes his physical description as being “sickly, slender, an introvert and quiet”.  

Andrew George Lavin
Andrew's great, great grandfather

Andrew George Lavin - 

2 November 1887 – 8 July 1964.

Born in Kristianstad, Kristianstad, Sweden.  On Family Search, it indicates he immigrated in 1889 and his physical description was tall and slender.  Family Search also indicates he was drafted in World War I and pictures of him shows that he ran for political office as a Democratic candidate in the third legislative district in 1958 describing him as “efficient, capable, and fearless”.  

Irene Lavin Hansen and Norman Hansen
Andrew's great grandparents

Irene Lavin Hansen - 28 January 1922 – 25 February 2006. 

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Grandma Hansen was a “tom-boy” and enjoyed playing softball, football, and basketball.  One of her favorite Christmas gifts was a football.  She loved school not merely to gain knowledge, but to participate socially with many friends.  In the 9th grade, at Madison Junior High, she experienced the honor of being elected Student Body Vice President.  At Granite High, when she was a junior, she was elected Jr. Vice President.  

The name Andrew means, “strong, manly, brave, and loyal”.  As Andrew has grown, I can see some of these descriptive words being a part of his personality and character.  I don’t like him being called by the nicknames of “Andy” or “Drew” though.  His name is Andrew. 

Andrew 3 years old
He loved wearing this AF flight suit

Andrew is a great kid and growing and changing into a fine young man.  He was a very cute baby but a hard baby and child for me.  He certainly tried my patience – again, and again, and again.  I have stories to tell…. but I’ll save them for another time.    

Playing sports seems to come natural to Andrew and so does being a leader.  He is not easily intimidated or fearful of standing in front of a crowd and speaking or performing.   For example, when he ran for student body officer last year he wore a “Depend” undergarment to pose for pictures for his campaign poster and even wore a “Depend” during his skit in front of the whole student body!   In elementary school he made a bet with someone about something and if Andrew lost he told the person he would wear a tutu to school.  Andrew did, he wore his sister’s pink tutu to school!  He is composed and cool and collected with things like that and doesn't give much thought to what others might think.  I love and admire that about him.  He has great confidence.   However, like many, he easily loses his cool and becomes frustrated when things may not go as expected.  

Andrew has many friends, both boys and girls.  Several smaller children in our neighborhood look up to him, so I know he has lots of younger friends as well.  As an example, a friend of mine called me a few months ago and while I wasn't home, she left a very kind message on my phone.  She had this to say about Andrew, “the boys came home and they we're in Andrew's group last night and they were pretty excited that they were in his group.  They said… their group was the blue Dolphins and Andrew is just so nice, he's the nicest boy, Mom.   So I said well, so you know now what a nice boy looks like who's older and makes good choices and one that you look up too.  Mom, he's a really good kid.”  It was a good mommy moment for me to know that his example is shining big to some younger kids that are watching. 

Andrew’s friends also include his younger cousins, who he enjoys playing and teasing with.  As he has become older, I see his sisters becoming some of his good friends too and that pleases me much.  Andrew is a “social” guy and reminds us frequently of that. Especially lately when we question the number of text messages he sends and receives, and the amount of time he spends with “social media”.  Most always he has preferred being on the go and away at friends’ houses playing and having fun – or as it is called these days “hanging out”.  Playing video games, basketball, and air-soft guns are some of his favorite things to do with his friends. Last year it was a lot of snow skiing.  There was a time where he and a few friends were into swords and creating their own shields and fighting with their Nerf swords.  That was pretty cool.  

 

Andrew is a great student who gets wonderful grades and his teachers always have nice things to say about him.  Right now math comes pretty easy to him.  He understands it and is able to help others. This school year is his first year taking seminary and he loves that class.  At one time he told me it is his favorite class.  Andrew has an awesome teacher that cares and makes the class fun.  Learning about the Gospel in this class is meaningful and full of the spirit testifying of truths.  Andrew had the opportunity to care for a classmate confided to a wheel chair the first part of the year.  The two of them would leave seminary several minutes early and Andrew would wheel him to the lunch area and help get his lunch and then eat lunch with him.  It pleases me to hear of his service and caring ways for his struggling school friend.  

I’m proud of Andrew for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.  He was awarded that almost a year ago.  It is thrilling to see my children excel and do good things, and Andrew is no exception.  It required a lot of work.  How thankful I am for a dedicated and knowledgeable husband that was supportive and encouraging to his son.  Grateful too for wonderful teachers, youth leaders, Scout leaders, and even extended family for helping, teaching and blessing Andrew’s life.  Their examples and influence has greatly affected his life for the better.  It doesn't take just one to raise a child, but so many.  I truly believe that.  I feel Andrew has been blessed with some of the very best.  In fact, I know so.  In December, he and a group of his friends wrote a letter to their 6th grade teacher at Windridge Elementary, thanking her for her being such a great teacher and sharing ways she had helped and influenced them individually.  I was there for some other business and I saw the tears in her eyes after Andrew and his friends left. Certainly not sad or angry tears.  Rather, she was overcome with emotion probably of gratitude for these good kids and knowing that the things she did several years ago still mattered in these kids’ lives.  It was special to witness. 

Gratitude and appreciation can be far reaching.  Probably like most kids, Andrew complains quite often of the food I fix for dinner.  If he had his choice, it probably would be sweets and treats and cold cereal all day and every day.  I really don’t like the complaining from him (or others), as well as disliking the food when I've gone to the effort to make it, but I DO appreciate his grateful words when I fix some of his favorite meals. 

Andrew is a typical teenage boy that loves sports and has players he really likes most.  He enjoys being on a fantasy basketball and football team with his dad and competing against his uncle.  Lance is so good with sports trivia and I can see Andrew excelling in the same area.  Competitive?  Yes.  He likes to win and is usually hard on himself or the team when it doesn't happen.  His dad and uncle have been his soccer coach for years and basketball coach for a few.   Andrew is a lucky boy that way. 

This is Andrew after he turned 14 last year (2014) and was ordained a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood.
Unlce Jason Thaxton, Grandpa Wade, Dad-Lance, Andrew, Grandpa Thaxton,
Brother Allred and Bishop Clayton

As I look back, especially over this past year and the things Andrew has accomplished, I’m very proud to be his mother.  He has grown and matured.  He is a good boy.  He’s got personality.  He is smart and quite responsible.  These days he has a lot of style or “swag” and he cares about how he looks and smells.  He cares about more important things too like being a priesthood holder.  I see him taking great responsibility for his duties.  He desires to serve a mission in a few years and he is doing something about it right now.  Taking full advantage of his time in seminary and learning about the Gospel, strengthening his testimony and Gospel knowledge participating and teaching in his Quorum and Sunday School classes, and fully participating in early Tuesday mornings “Preach My Gospel” study.  It makes me happy to see him doing these things.  It thrills me to hear and see him laughing and getting along well with his sisters.  I know they can drive him crazy, and it is has got to be hard being the only boy with three of them.  It delights me to watch him reading and studying his scriptures, saying his prayers, and when he chooses to serve others.  I am pleased when he works hard and puts effort into doing something right the first time and making his time matter.  I also enjoy seeing him run up and down the court, especially making a basket with ease, or stopping a goal when he plays goalie and even rushing down the field trying to score a goal.  

A big Happy Birthday with lots of wishes to my favorite son.  My Awesome Andrew!  I love him and so pleased he is my son.  

******  Addendum ******

It's now February 2016.  Andrew just celebrated his 16th birthday.  I need to do another post, instead I'll add the picture I took of him and the men that stood in the circle around him when his dad ordained him a priest on Sunday, January 31st.  Also want to share this fun video his sister, Abbey Thaxton, made for him in honor of his birthday.  Just click on the link:

https://replayapp.com/v/jA4SSZZNn8/?autoplay=1

Andrew ordained a Priest by his father, Lance Thaxton, in our home on Sunday, January 31, 2016
L to R:  Brother Mike Houston (Bishopric 2nd counselor), Jason Thaxton, Darryl Thaxton, Lance Thaxton, Andrew Thaxton, Bishop Boyd Clayton, Lewis Wade, and Dave Allred (Bishopric 1st Counselor)