Today I nearly could have said, “Happy Birthday Peter!”
When Samuel was born, Russ and I were houseparents at Alpha Phi sorority at Cornell University. Russ was doing his graduate work and we had all kinds of crazy jobs to support ourselves. We remember our time at Alpha Phi with fondness, including the crazy memories of Samuel’s birth. Samuel was born the day before a blizzard struck the Northeast. He was born at home with two midwives in attendance – an unprecedented event for Alpha Phi.
With the impending blizzard, three young children, and now a newborn, we had little time to finalize our name choices. Each night we would collapsed into bed saying, “What are we going to name the baby?” We had narrowed the field to two names, Samuel or Peter. In exhaustion and desperation we decided to try calling the baby each name for one day and see which one seemed right. For one day we called our son Peter. The next day we called him Samuel and that seemed just right.
Samuel is a wonderful son. He is very faithful to the Lord and to his family and friends. He is incredibly inventive and creative; if we need a sprinkler to irrigate a specific area, Samuel is the one to design and build it. He is currently building an electric viola. He loves music and plays viola, piano, and guitar. He is a very hard worker and can always be trusted to get the job done. He is wonderful with his younger siblings and is my number one chauffeur. I will miss his help when he starts college next year.
Happy Birthday Peter, or Samuel, or whatever your name is. We love you!
~Lisa
Ah, Happy happy bday to Samuel! Enjoy the day mom!
Happy Birthday Samuel. Praying you and my Drew can meet when he heads up that way for school!
Happy Birthday from Germany Samuel! What a wonderful son and brother you must be.
Have a great day!
Happy Birthday, Samuel! What a great story you have for your birth day!
Happy Birthday Samuel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday! I remember Samuel's birth day well! Today is the 1st day that felt like spring in Ithaca. 62 degrees and some snow still on the ground. Crocuses blooming and a good day for a bike ride. This weekend is a "Free the Midwives" rally.
We still miss Ithaca – the beautiful people and places. Please say hello to your mom for me!
:)
Happy Birthday Samuel from the Sutton's! Caleb is looking forward to Vandal Friday and seeing all of you again in a just a few weeks.
We are looking forward to seeing Caleb too!
I remember that blizzard well- I was pretty darn pregnant with Madeline and our anniversary was March 14th and we were completely snowed in and it was our 1st anniversary and we ate stauffer's veggie lasagne on our fancy plates and ate the cake topper from the wedding one year earlier- we have photos showing the snow all the way up to our roof. I must have met you shortly thereafter- I know Samuel was already born when we met- he would come to all my prenatal visits. :) You changed my life Lisa Qualls…you had a ripple effect on just about every aspect of my life. Thank you- and thanks for having Samuel when you did- because that pregnancy helped us come together. Happy Birthday to all of you..and I cant believe he will be in college next year! egads! I am glad I have one more year with Maddie – but when she is really starting to drive me bananas I will have to sned her to stay with you! ;)
Em, you're making me cry! I love how God brought us together through our babies, our love for midwifery, and life in Ithaca. Who would have ever imagined we would end up where we are now. I miss you! Thank you for opening my eyes to the AIDS orphan crisis. I love you, my friend!