Last night we celebrated Corbin’s birthday with a happy hour cider tasting.
Simple, casual, with family and a couple of close friends, we spent an hour tasting and rating mystery ciders.
The funniest part of the evening was our kids’ (and my parents’) responses to plastic shot glasses lining the kitchen counter – I’m sorry, what? A new view in the Wilson kitchen. Or, according to Basden, a jump scare. But I’ve got to get creative these days with birthday gifts for the man who doesn’t want or ask for anything. And who would rather save the money for Christmas gifts. Or college tuition. And so, a cider tasting seemed appropriate.
Corbin is not a big drinker. He can appreciate an occasional cocktail, but he doesn’t like beer or wine. When we traveled through Ireland last summer, he discovered an Irish cider, Rockshore, made only in Ireland. Crisp, not too sweet, served in a frosted glass, and affordable. And currently not available to purchase or import into the US.
So, in desperate need of a birthday gift, and Rockshore available only across the pond, I instead found a handful of Irish and Texas ciders, called our family over for a happy hour tasting, and lined up all the drinks for tasting. Complete with rating sheets.
As we gathered last night, several asked what ciders even are (no idea), whether they’re alcoholic or not (yes), but my highlight of the evening was observing Hudson’s engagement. He sat back a bit from all the banter, thoughtfully tasted each cider, ranked them with notes, and came up with his own ranking system that included not just taste but appearance as well.
I mean, this is the Hudson we know and love. For the past seven years, this Hudson has been at Auburn studying biomedical sciences and business. And then at work building systems and teams. So to see thoughtful, intentional, mindful Hudson “at work” in our kitchen filled me with joy. It did not surprise me, it simply reminded me of so many things I love about this kid. The way God wired him, the way he uses his gifts, interests, and personality traits, a simple reminder that God created him so specifically and intricately – he is uniquely, perfectly, Hudson James Wilson.
Our dear friend Jessica drove over to join in Corbin’s birthday happy hour. Such a special, unusual gift that she could “pop by,” as Jessica lives in Little Rock. But she’s staying at her daughter’s home, ten minutes down the road, helping with their 5-day old baby girl. So as I’m thinking of the inexplicable joy it brought me watching young adult Hudson last night, I’m reminded of God’s perfect, intricate, intentional design of baby Claire. She was JUST knit in her mother Becca’s womb these last nine months, perfectly designed for a life of bringing God glory. Claire was perfectly designed, perfectly created, to be the only Claire Marie Corkern on the planet. And Becca and Lawson have a front-row seat to living life with God’s precious new little person.
Shelby and Hudson with Lawson and Becca, and star of the show, baby Claire
Claire’s little life will forever shape her family. Just as Hudson’s thoughtful, intelligent, and opinionated personality has shaped our family. Hud is still working things out – learning to be a husband, learning at work, building a new community with his new wife across the country from his college friends, learning to be an adult in the town he grew up in. But what a joy to get a moment in our kitchen last night with this kid.
Hudson is not perfect. Although as a child, he sure wanted to be. And he’s spent the last twenty years or so (slowly) learning contentment, recognizing that only one perfect person has ever walked this earth.
But Hudson was perfectly created. And as parents, whether holding a newborn or tasting ciders with a young adult, may we have eyes and hearts to delight in watching God’s perfect design unfold.
Even in the unexpected places. Even over a kitchen counter full of shot glasses.
