Ten Years

I've been a mother a for a decade now, 10-01-01, the birth of my firstborn. Wish I could show you a sweet little photo montage of Owen Denver growing up through the years, but it's late, I'm on the wrong computer and I don't even know how to use the scanner ( that's right, I'm old enough that when my firstborn entered the world we were still using FILM! ). So I'll tell you a little story instead. A small window into the world of  my complicated, first born of two firstborns. I  had the joy of taking him out to eat Friday night for his birthday. We went to Texas Roadhouse b/c  he had a free kids meal from school.  Owen had never been before and thought that the hot yeast rolls and throwing your peanut shells on the floor was all pretty cool. Then he scarfed down his mini cheeseburgers and green beans ( yes, he chose green beans ) and declared that he was stuffed. I have not actually heard those words come out of his mouth in a couple of years now. About that time our waiter and a dozen more head out singing happy birthday and carrying a cup of ice cream. I had asked earlier in the evening if they did anything for birthdays and he told me  "only on the actual day" so this bday ice cream was a little surprise.  Unfortunately, it almost ruined our whole evening. Owen, who, remember-  is stuffed , could not bring himself to eat the ice cream and was suddenly overcome with this intense guilt and shame for all of the inconvenience that he had caused the wait staff for bringing him this ice cream that he couldn't even eat. I mean he almost wasn't able to move on from it! Every time the waiter came to check on us he would pretend to eat a little, just so he wouldn't appear ungrateful! Nothing that I had to say would convince him that really, it was not such a big deal to not eat the free birthday ice cream. He summed it all up later in the car. " I just don't like to disappoint people." Yikes. That sounds a little scary familiar.
Love this boy and his servants heart. He has been such a help to me in the past year. Daddy let me sleep in on Monday and when I woke up Owen had diapered and dressed his baby sister! Unfortunately, the diaper was on inside out, so the outfit choice didn't last long. (:
He loves to eat and is a joy to cook for and Always thanks me for the "delicious meal" . My prayer for Owen is that he uses his talents, his confidence, his compassion for the glory of God and service in His kingdom!