Little Eli was six-months and two-days-old when he came to live with Tommy a
nd me. He was not your typical baby. He never cried, but laid contently in his bed taking in the world around him. He never demanded affection, wept for a bottle, or fussed in discomfort from a wet diaper. And though it was not necessary to rock him to sleep, I would take him into my arms each night and rock him until his eyes would close and I knew he was sound asleep. Eli's life, as he had previously known it, was about to change drastically.
Being a family who loves the outdoors, we quickly introduced Eli and his 4-year-old sister Missy to camping,fishing, and hunting. Little Eli caught his first fish at the age of 22 months and even at this young age, knew instantly he had a fish on. Bouncing up and down excitedly, he was yelling, "Got one, Daddy! Got one!" With very little assistance, Eli reeled the little blue gill in as Mommy proudly caught the entire event on camera! What an exciting day that was!
Eli turned two-years-old in August and 
this curly-haired bubbly little boy has turned into quite a little man. He has his own little fishing pole which on most occasions has a hard plastic crankbait dangling from it... a lure which his Daddy Tommy removed the dangerous hooks. And his tackle box? Well, he owns one of those too, but instead of tackle you will usually find an assortment of toys and occasionally maybe even a sippy-cup of juice and his favorite Elmo tucked neatly inside. It's a learning process and one where he is fully enjoying being the student, and like a sponge, he absorbs everything.
It's never too early to introduce a child to the wonderful world of fishing and teaching them about the outdoors. My parents were not "out-doorsey-type" folks. With ten children to raise, they were busy people, but my grandfather was an avid fisherman and loved to fish for bass and trout on the Spring River or 
any other body of water where the fish were biting and I would often accompany him as a child to his favorite fishing spots. His love for fishing and the respect that he had for our waterways and the marine life which inhabited it was passed to me through him and has remained with me throughout the years. It was my grandfather's gift to me ... a legacy. It is this same gift that I want to pass on to Eli. A gift that won't fade with time... one that won't break. A present Eli won't outgrow or get bored with. A special Gift that will last a lifetime.
Eli's future, as well as his sister's is uncertain at this point. Whether the children will remain in our custody is questionable, but we count our blessings each day and thank God for each and every moment that Eli and Missy remain a part of our family. What joy they have brought into our home! In the meantime, we hope that we have provided a solid foundation on which the children will grow and a love for the world around them.
It's Christmas time and fifteen stockings are hung over our fireplace. Twinkling 
lights are everywhere. The tree is decorated with smiling snowmen, glistening snowflakes, and glitter-covered angels and neatly wrapped presents adorn the floor beneath it. This Christmas will be a special one at the Garner house. The house will be filled with all the kids and grandkids and friends galore. The smell of sugar cookies, homemade candy, and freshly baked pumpkin pies will fill the air. The atmosphere will spell LOVE and JOY for all who enter the doors of this home. And as the festivities end on Christmas night, I'll take little Eli in my arms and we'll sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy the warmth of the fire. And as I rock my little one and stroke his curls, he'll drift off to sleep. No doubt we'll both be dreaming of a summer day when we can catch crawdads at the edge of the river, splash in the water, count our nightcrawlers and once again I'll hear my little boy tell his daddy, "Got one, Daddy! Got one!"
Good Night Eli, Mommy loves you... and Merry Christmas!
Give a Gift that will last forever... Introduce someone to the wonderful world of fishing!
