Birthday's

Gavin,

You already know that each year we celebrate a birthday. We take joy in another year of life and celebrate with cake, candles, presents. You at age five long to be older and tell me almost everyday how you wish you were another age, usually grown up. I, on the other hand, only wish you to be 18 months again and for myself to be a fresh 20. Time is fleeting. We see it in the seasons as they come and go and come and go. We will never be this age again, never be younger. That's why it's always my life's goal to live in the moment and to teach you this very thing. For soon it will be gone and another will take it's place. We all too often are looking forward and back and missing what's right before our very eyes.

This weekend is your dad's 36th birthday. He has been a part of my life since he was 19 and yours since he was 30. He's changed a lot since I met him. And I as well. With years comes wisdom or at least, so you think. Anyways, your dad has been my rock for all these years. When you get married, you'll find all the moments of anger or annoyance with each other is perfectly normal. Marriage is hard work, but it's worth it.  And I pray often that you find someone who becomes your better half. A person who fills in all the gaps where you might falter, a person who loves you for who you are, yet motivates you to be better. There is no way I could plan an event that would do justice to celebrate how lucky I am to have him in my life. How grounded he keeps me and how much he has tolerated from me throughout the last 17 years. The amount of joy he has given me in this life was only provided through our Heavenly Father and I will forever be grateful for His great work. Happy Birthday Shannon! We love you!

Footnote: At 18, you can't wait to move out. You tell me so every day.  It's just as annoying now as it was then.  You are so ready to start your life on your own. I get it. But time goes by fast enough as it is.  

Parrot Talk Strikes Again

Over and over, poor Gavin gets caught up in our adult conversations. It's to be expected from an intelligent, curious, only-child. The downfall is that you are hearing things you may not need to know or understand or want to know for that matter. So Gavin often hears, "This is an adult conversation." Today, Gavin was talking to me about something and Shannon asked, "what?" Gavin replies, "This is a kids conversation!" My cue...hide smile.