Owen's 13th Family Day

Dear Owen,

On July 30th, we celebrated your 13th Family Day. THIRTEEN years have flown by since that incredible day in Colombia when you were first placed in our arms and we instantly became a family. After all these years, just thinking about that amazing day can still bring tears of joy to my eyes.

I will never forget the butterflies in my stomach as I stood in the Green Room at FANA next to your Pa, anxiously waiting to see your face as the minutes ticked slowly away. All of the sudden, we could hear laughter coming from the hallway. You were being escorted down the hall by a group of FANA staff who were wishing you a fond farewell. And you, being the debonair little gentleman that you are, were enchanting all the ladies by showing off your charming waving skills. 

Just moments later, around the corner you appeared. The most adorable little boy dressed in the dashing blue outfit we had brought for this very moment. 

Since then you have sure grown! I guess that's what happens after 13 years. My sweet little boy who was obsessed with trains and dinosaurs is now very much a teenager.  Well, you still love both trains and dinosaurs, just in a different much more grown-up way. 

You enjoy spending your free time reading your favorite Japanese Mangas ('Attack on Titan' and 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'), searching YouTube for your favorite clips from obnoxious shows like 'The Family Guy', and researching all sorts of rarely known facts. Who knew that La Sagrada Familia was a church in Spain that they've been building for well over 100 years! You love seldom known, bizarre facts that often leave your mom saying, "No way! That can't be true." And as quickly as I utter those words, you are once again proving me wrong.

For your 13th Family Day, all you wanted was Chicken Makhani from India Palace for dinner and homemade brownies for dessert. You are sure easy to please these days! 

You even pitched in to help make the brownies. Perhaps it was because you'd get a chance to lick the brownie batter covered spoon (even though your mom told you not to!)

Most of your special day, you could be found wrapped up in a blanket while sitting in your favorite chair in the office - the same place you sat every school day during distance learning. It's become your favorite place to chill out away from the craziness that is your sisters, yet close enough to the action that you can pop out anytime to see what's going on. You sat on that chair so much this past year that there's a permanent "Owen" shaped indent on the cushion.

Owen, you are our smart, inquisitive, handsome young man. You have grown up before our very eyes. We are so thankful and blessed to call you our son. A very happy 13th Family Day to you, Owen! We love you forever and for always!