Ipod baby
So, we had one kid. I did it, and I even loved it. Kieren was a tough baby, lots of emotions, struggled to sleep and settle, and always had an opinion about everything. This would ring true for all of her life to come. I was utterly in love with her in a way I could have never imagined. She made the world turn for me.
But I had absolutely no interest in a second child. None.
I mean MAYBE adopting a child. MAYBE. But even that I wasn’t sure about. It was such a big a beautiful call to be a mother, either biologically or through adoption. We just had so much to do. So many people to serve. So many problems to solve. I didn’t see how bringing another child into the world would help the problems go away. I thought it would only pull me from my calling and purpose.
But Casey was DEAD SET on another biological child. A boy to be particular.
Casey’s best friend growing up was unequivocally his father. His father was older when he had Casey, had children before with a previous wife, but Casey was his pride and joy. Casey’s dad accompanied him to every game AND every practice. He was his first coach, friend, mentor and icon. The stories would pour from Casey over the years, of their hilariously memorable road trips, like the one where he got chicken pox and his dad had no idea how to take care of him. Or how his dad not only knew Casey well, but also had a close and ridiculously funny and sweet relationship with all his childhood friends. Many stories were told of the weekends at the flea market where his dad owned a stand to sell things, most notably baseball cards, and together they collected thousands over the years that became life-long treasures. His father passed away tragically when Casey was only 16 and permanently imprinted the vision of a perfect father and son relationship on his heart. Casey was set on having a son.
I wasn’t.
I felt complete with Kieren, and I didn’t know why we needed to add to it. I also knew because of Casey’s blind insistence on a son as the gender of our second child it was most likely we would NOT have a boy. I was the older sister with my younger sister. I loved having a sister and loved our sweet relationship. I was open to anything, but more I just felt content with what we had.
But Casey would NOT rest.
We would frequently find ourselves publicly debating the future of our family and people would be weighing in on their opinions. Somehow our lives often resorted to this, conversations with others about our dreams, our hopes, and our wishes. Because we were missionaries, and people literally PAID for our lives and the work we did, people had a unique stake and voice in our lives. Sometimes the opinions boiled over into an overbearing territory, but we always seemed to navigate it okay. Obviously, most people wanted us to have more kids, but I think they mostly were entertained by our lively debates. We were both not shy about our opinions.
One time we were back in the USA for a fundraising stint, and we were sitting around a large table after another generously filling and fun dinner. Our times back in the USA are always filled with so much love and support as most of the work we do is supported through donations in the USA. We were chatting and laughing, and the topic of another child came up once again. Casey started publicly rallying for me to become pregnant with our second and was getting a lot of rambunctious support from the group. Suddenly I remembered my ‘selling point.’
You see, we often travel all over the USA when we are back, speaking at churches, meeting up with people, fundraising and sharing our stories. We had been on an airplane, with then toddler Kieren, and I accidentally left my iPod in the seat pocket, and it was gone forever. I was super bummed and annoyed at it and was already trying to scheme how to get another one.
And then the perfect opportunity arose.
In the middle of the loud debating and laughter I piped in, “Okay! I will have a second baby if you buy me a new iPod!”
“That’s it?!” Casey said incredulously.
“Yep. That’s it. Get me a new iPod and I will have another baby.”
He literally jumped up from the table and got on his computer and ordered a new iPod. The room was filled with laughter, and we made a moment we all never forgot.
You see, I knew I was sunk with the baby conversation. Casey was going to be the best dad of another child and I wanted another sibling for Kieren. We had talked about adopting years earlier, but now as we were launching our soccer academy, Casey loved helping kids with difficult backgrounds, and wanted to also have a biological son. So, I knew I was going to have to give in eventually; and at least this way I got an iPod out of it.
We still tell the story today; how Keller was born because of an iPod. I think more the story illustrates how Keller was born into a very unconventional family, filled with lots of community and love. And that community and love would be central in Keller’s life to come.
