Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Owen's 18th Birthday

 


Dear Owen,

How is it 18 years already? Surely it was just yesterday that we received the life-changing phone call about a tiny newborn boy in Jacksonville, Florida awaiting a family - our family. How Dad and I thank God for the privilege we were given that day and every day since!

It has been our joy to walk beside you as you learned to walk, run, swim, jump, kick, throw and however many other athletic movements you've incorporated into these first eighteen years of your life on earth. You've never been one to sit still unless you're sleeping (and you do love your sleep!) 

Your 18th birthday landed on a pretty lame day this year. Not only was it a school day but you were also scheduled to take the SAT at school. No sooner had school ended than you had to sit in driver's education class, and on the heels of that we headed directly to Wednesday evening commitments. 

Due to construction on the highway, I missed our exit and we had to rush through a fast-food drive through with barely enough time to eat our food. On top of that, Dad was away. At least we managed to start the day with traditional chocolate chip oatmeal bake, if nothing else! And a pair of basketball shoes outside your norm of non-flashy black footwear, but hopefully you liked them anyway.

 


It wasn't until Saturday that we were able to celebrate as a family and eat lunch somewhere you'd been wanting to try. We slid onto the shiny red seats of the classic Americana restaurant called "Twister Burger Diner" with high expectations. 

Our cheerful and friendly server had a hard time believing your age until we finished eating and you uncoiled your long legs to tower over him. "Hey, you grew!" he exclaimed.

It's not an uncommon reaction to the tall, lanky guy you've become. (We guesstimate 6'3" or 6'4".) I have to chuckle every time I realize that once again you've stored something on top of the refrigerator for safekeeping. What's out of reach for the rest of us is in plain sight to you!

This strikes me as a humorous but applicable spiritual analogy to where you find yourself in life right now. Everyone is asking what you plan to do in the fall, and it just isn't clear to you right now. The comforting thing is, God sees the top of the refrigerator. He's got it all figured out and you just need to trust Him and seek Him!


Owen, something I appreciate about you is your predictability and so we celebrated your birthday with peanut butter iced, chocolate cake as always. I love this picture with you and Dad and your brothers (even though I'll always miss seeing your sisters there, too.) 

Tonight I read these words written by a friend about her own four sons: "Watching them together is like being at the theater, and I am their obsessed fan. I never miss a show."

Owen, Dad and I have been your fans for 18 years and we'll never stop! But so much more importantly, God Himself is your absolute biggest fan Who loved you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. As you step into young adulthood, our deepest prayer for you is to invest your life in knowing Jesus and serving your Heavenly Father. This is truly what life is about and where everlasting joy is found.

We love you, Owen Santiago Garcia! 

Happy 18th Birthday, and many more!

All my love,

Mom


Previous birthday posts:

17th Birthday - Owen
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