Tag: happy birthday

To my Princess – Eva Pearl Owen

My dear, precious Eva,

Welcome to the world. You can’t read this yet, but I will read it to you. Don’t worry, your mother will teach you to read before you know it — she’s better at that than me.

We have prayed for you for almost two years. I wasn’t sure I wanted to adopt at first, but I prayed for God to open my heart, if it was His will, and he did. We could not be more excited to welcome you into our family.

Your birth mother could have made many choices, but for you, she choose life. And so we will call you Eva — which means life. Eva is also your mother’s grandmas name. Your middle name, Pearl, is for a very special woman who I call Nanny.  She rocked me for endless hours when I was a baby and she is the lived out definition of love. She will be so proud of you and will love you as she has so many other grandchildren.

Your three brothers have prayed for a baby sister and are so excited to care for you. They will hold you, kiss you, and help feed you. As you get older, they will protect you and love you as a brother should — I will make sure of it. Sometimes (probably often), they will be annoying and probably stir up trouble — that’s what boys do — don’t forget it. Daddy lesson #1: boys are trouble.

After we had three boys, I didn’t think I would have my Cinderella, but here you are. Our princess has arrive. Know this — that I will love you with unconditional love, that I will hold you, protect you, laugh with you, cry with you, and cherish you as a spectacular blessing from God. I will be firm, when you need me to be firm, and I will be soft, when you need me to be soft.

Sometimes I will say things I shouldn’t say, I will make bad decisions, and I will mess up — I am not a perfect Father. But when I am wrong, by the grace of God, I will tell you I am sorry and I will lead our family by example. The good news is that your Father in Heaven is perfect and will always be with you. Always be reminded that Jesus said “I have come that you may have LIFE, and have it to the full.”

This world in which you have been born is not perfect either — it is fallen — but within what can seem like much chaos, God has crafted such beauty. Eva, my precious angel, you were made in HIS image. There will be people in life that try to bring you down and times that you will stray from the straight and narrow, but you’ll always be welcome home by your mother and I and by your Father in heaven.

We likely have many sleepless nights ahead, but before you know it, I’ll be wondering were my baby girl went, as I watch you grow into a little girl, and eventually into a shinning woman.

Eva, I love you and will love you all the days of my life.

-Your Daddy

P.S. I’m posting this publicly not because it’s anyone elses business, but so that I may be held accountable for my words should that be a necessary.

Lincoln, Happy 3rd Birthday

Dear Lincoln,

Today you turned three. It seems like just yesterday when you arrived. I can’t believe how big you’ve grown, you are amazing. We started the morning with a pancake breakfast and now you’re off to homeschool co-op with your brothers for the morning.

A year ago we had your second birthday party at Chick-fil-a. You had tons of friends there, but somehow, everyone got sick 24 hours later. It was a mess, not as fun as planned, but a funny memory now that it’s past.

This year was a big year for you. You learned to talk much better, you can count pretty well, you’re learning your colors and shapes, and most importantly, you don’t wear diapers anymore. You were not officially on any sports teams, but you enjoyed going with your brothers to baseball, soccer, and football. You can hold you’re own with kids much older and are going to be a great athlete someday.

You spent a lot of time with friends and family this year. The Webster’s are like your second set of brothers and there are few you love to smash swords with more then Tyler. Although you may not know it yet, we’ve made a pact with the Pacetti family for you to marry Addie — she’s pretty, smart, has solid parents and can hold up to you in an eating contest.

You spent the night a few times with Gigi & Gramps and Aunt Katie & Uncle David. You love Gigi & Gramp’s chickens from a distance but are not as big a fan of Murphy (Katie & David’s dog).

We had more fun this year than any of us deserve, we got to go to the Zoo, The Mountains, The Beach, and Legoland. (When I was a kid…. oh nevermind.)

The most challenging part of the year (and your life) was during our vacation to Hammock Beach. We were on the last day of vacation and you tripped and fell in the hall. I picked you up and put you back on your feet but you couldn’t stand. We didn’t know it at the time, but you had broken your femur. We took you to Daytona’s hospital and were transported to Wolfson’s in Jacksonville. They couldn’t set your leg until the next morning. Those hours were the longest of my life. I would have traded places with you in an instant. Seeing you lay helpless and in severe pain was possibly the most difficult day of my life. The next 6 weeks you spent in an almost full body cast. You couldn’t sit up or lay down, but you handled it like a trooper. It was a tough 6 weeks, but your brothers and your mother help make it as easy as possible.

You’d never know now that you were in such a sad state with your leg, you run with the best of them and are as crazy as ever.

You’re favorite toy is Lightening McQueen or anything Cars related. You’ll carry those cars around all day long.

At your age, you won’t remember most of this, but I’ve got the pictures to prove it. This year we laughed a lot, cried a little, and grew together.

My greatest desire for you is that you will learn to know Christ and follow his path all the days of your live. Know that there is only one person on this planet that I love more than you and your brothers, and that is your mother. She is a selfless, loving, beautiful, incredible mother, teacher, wife, and best friend to your daddy. She is so good to us and deserves for you to respect her in every way as you grow.

If you don’t marry Addie as planned, look for a woman like your mother and your life will only be the better for it.

Happy 3rd Birthday to you, our baby, Lincoln Graham Owen. I love you.

Daddy