Skyler is 17

I can not believe the my nephew is 17 today. It was just yesterday that I met him and he wasn't much bigger than lil M. I thought it would be nice to post this. I wrote it a couple years ago for Skyler. He had to do a project at school - telling how he impacted various people.

Dear Skyler,
I thought I could you give you a little insight on how you have positively impacted our lives; and how different I feel our life would be without you.
You have been bringing love and laughter to Uncle Matt and my life since you were very small. I remember when you lived with Grandpa Dodge and we would come over to see you, how you would fly towards us and climb up as if we were a tree and you the monkey. If you hadn't been there, you can bet we would have made a lot less trips.
You know, Skyler, I think in the beginning you brought your mom to me. Your mom and I weren't always friends, once a long time ago; she was just Matt's sister and better yet, your mommy. Through you, I made one of my best friends ever. If you hadn't been born, that would have altered my life in an unimaginable way.
As I sit here and go back through that time in your life when you lived on Walnut Street, I'm taken back by the strong emotion I feel. I believe you are correct that your sister (Gabrielle) and brother (Elijah) needed you to help take care of their basic needs and I believe they would have been forever negatively impacted if you hadn't been there in that very difficult time. I don't believe that you were all they had, or that you single handedly rescued them , but I believe you learned and then taught a valuable lesson to your siblings about doing whatever we can for the people we love. I believe you did everything you possibly could for the people you loved.
Right now, as I type, I'm sitting in your living room at the Walnut street house talking to your mom about your concern for Nana and that she someday go to Heaven. I remember how young you were when you started to be concerned for unsaved people. Reaching up to the God of all Grace to save "everyone in the world who doesn't know you…" I remember many Sunday mornings when your Mom or Dad would call to get Uncle Matt and I out of bed to come to Sunday School; and I'd go, thinking that at least I would get to see you. I remember your happy little face; as you soaked up the truth of God's word and His unconditional love for you. I think you have probably impacted people in a way that you can't understand until you get to Heaven yourself.
I remember the last time I came to the Walnut street house with Uncle Matt. You probably can't remember this, but I clearly do. I can count on one hand the number of times; I've seen Uncle Matt cry. We said good-bye to everyone and then Uncle Matt took his turn with you. I remember him saying, Well Skyler, It'll be a long time before I see you again, and then…he couldn't say anymore…because he was crying. You were such a huge part of our life, we couldn't IMAGINE not seeing you every weekend. I can't even think about how Uncle Matt would be different if he hadn't loved you.
Loving you and helping your mom in those days, helped us prepare for our own family. In fact, you are still doing that. As I watch your Mom and Kevin work with you and work through difficult things, I know Uncle Matt and I will be better parents.
And then there was Allen. Do you remember the first time we brought him to Indiana? He was only a couple of weeks old but we came because you needed us. I have a couple of pictures of you holding Allen when he was first born; and I believe that there is bond between you two that is not explainable. I believe that Allen's life could not possible be the same had you not been born. You taught him about Jesus from the time he could understand. You taught him about nature, and taught him to love Science. (By the way, he never would have got that from me.) I'm pretty sure everything he knows about frogs, lizards, spiders, (should I go on?…) he learned from you. Do you know that he wants to be a paleontologist some day? Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but I doubt he'll outgrow that love of all things natural.
Sometimes, when I look at Allen I see a little you. I hesitate to think who would have taken that place in his life, had you not been born. Allen sees you as someone who he wants to be become; you are affecting another generation. Who could have done that for him? I don't tell you all of this to make you prideful or unbearable to live you. I hope you are old enough to understand these things. Bad things happened when you were little Skyler, there is no doubt. But God has always taken care of you and he always will. He is making you into someone that will love Him and serve him all your life. I pray you will always be the role model to my children that I cannot be frightened of.
For these reasons, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all the saints (especially the saints living in my house), I have NOT stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you ALWAYS in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he as called you…Eph 1:15-18

I love you with all my heart; you are impacting my life even now,
Aunt Barb