JAMES DAVID ZINN

IS having a BIRTHDAY TODAY!

9-22-12

I will spare the "details" of the birth of James David Zinn as I have posted in the past birthday blogs of my children! YES, it was a Sunday he came into my life (6 weeks early) to change my title to MOTHER! YES, it was on a military base and the hospital was OLD and the military nurses were not very "soothing" for a first time experience BUT: it did not matter for this experience brought to my life all that I ever wanted from the time I was a young girl and that was to become a MOTHER!

It is said that the first child is the Guinea pig and that is really true.. because we went from this:

tiny, small and innocent baby with a mother NOT KNOWING exactly what to do!!
BUT knowing HOW MUCH I LOVED HIM!

With a lot of "trial and error on my part......

James made if from THIS......to

to this.......which brings a flood of feelings to me!

As a parent you have HOPES, DREAMS & EXPECTATIONS for your child but you are flying through this experience without a full fledge plan that you KNOW will bring about the results you want. I am so grateful for my beliefs and the knowledge you can make Heavenly Father a partner with you in raising your children.

When I was doing this blog I ended up uploading 77 pictures of James without even knowing it. I would go through my pictures (all 16,700 of them) and think : OH I LIKE THIS ONE and would click and before you know it I had way to MANY so I am trying to pick just a few from the ones I picked! :) Each picture brings back fun filled memories!

James brought LIFE into our home!

James LOVED "exploring" and getting into LOTS of things to learn first hand

Can you see the look on his face letting me know he was
ready for ADVENTURE!

IF I did not provide the adventure for him he found it himself!

His First Birthday came and we both survived the first year of "motherhood/childhood" without too many problems!

Happy 1st Birthday James!

James always had a zest for life, learning and compassion..... he was the best oldest brother to a house full of siblings over the years!

ONE, by ONE they arrived....

Scott, Melissa, & James

James, Scott, Melissa, & Marnie

until we had "eight" children.......
James is the oldest to seven siblings.
He has always taken his roll seriously and has been a
wonderful roll model to each of them.
I wish I could find the words to express the love
and gratitude each one of his brothers & sisters
convey to me about James!

James David Zinn......
LOVED music from an early age.
He had no problems taking a nap and would go
willingly when I would turn on our REAL to REAL
tape player and turn the speaker towards the hallway!
He loved the 60's music

James played the piano in grade and middle school then took up the drums and was in the drum line at Snider High School. He had an early morning paper route, went to Early morning seminary, school, then participated in Snider marching band and would work at a fast food restaurant. James YM leader said he never worried about James getting into trouble as a teen ager as he was involved with so many things. When ever he had a few moments to spare he would take a "little time" to sleep. (and that is still the case today)

could not resist this picture with his afro hair
this was his high school look!

James "always" seemed to be serious about life from an early age. He wanted to grow up, work in chicago and carry a brief case! Which all of the above he did but it evolved over the course of many years.

James went to BYU for one year then served his mission in Haiti. He worked in the mission home over the mission financial affairs and decided this would be something he would like to do as a profession. He returned from his mission, went to school to get his pilots license while waiting to return to the Y, and graduated from BYU with a Masters of Accountancy. I could not even begin to tell you what he does now but I know he does many important things and travels the world.

While at BYU James met and married Tamara Nelson....
They are perfect together and have accomplished much and continue to move forward in their life!

Tamara has supported James through college, through his travels all over the world, and through his six years as bishop. They make a good team!
Meghan changed my "honorable title of MOTHER to that of GRANDMOTHER.......and I love both their children dearly!

James "loves" his children and the following pictures tell you how much they love him!

James love his nieces and nephews and is such a good uncle and I can say they LOVE him!

James loves all of his siblings!

and is a wonderful roll model to them!

He loves his mother. What other son would leave a party and go get his wife
& MOTHER a much needed SODA

I told you from the time James was little he LOVED music! As an adult he
continues to LOVE music. He has a wonderful array of "equipment to DJ with
and this is something he enjoys and is good at! He was so good to bring all his equipment
(in a rented van) to Galesburg to play after Eric's wedding and again the following week
to play at his Ft. Wayne reception. James will go "far and wide" for his family :)

I just could not delete all of the 77 pictures I picked so I will end this posting with some of them that makes me HAPPY! :)