Happy 8th Birthday, Garrison!!

It blows me away to think that my oldest son, Garrison, is already eight years old. He was born on Groundhog's day, 02/02/02. A magical birthday for a magical boy. We weren't sure he was ever going to make his official arrival. He took his sweet time coming out, that's for sure. My poor wife! But, what a blessing he has been ever since.

I can still remember the little hikes that he and I would take around our complex in San Dimas, CA shortly after he learned to walk. He loves to be outside. Always did. He still loves going on "nature hikes" around our new hometown in Colorado. He loves the mountains, the weather, and the wildlife that we are so blessed with in our new home. 

He is amazingly intelligent and a voracious reader. We take him to the library and he gets 5-6 books and finishes them all before the week is up. He just finished "Little House on the Prairie" in under a week. And that's no small book. Lately, there's hardly a time when there isn't a book in his hands.

He's all boy. He loves knives. We bought him his first knife at age seven because he showed a lot of responsibility for a kid his age. Now, he uses his birthday and Christmas money to buy more knives. We had to tell him to cool down on the knife buying. I think he's got eight or nine knives now. But, he still has all his fingers, so he's doing well. He also loves the outdoors, climbing trees, building things, and taking things apart. He's always asking me for something he can take apart so that he can learn about it and perhaps make something new with the spare parts. He asks lots of questions. He's contemplative and sometimes shy and quiet. But, he takes everything in. He hardly misses any details.

It boggles my mind to think that he's 8 years old today. I can still see his little baby face and hear him say "Hi Daddy, did you miss me?" when I walked in from work. He's growing up fast and it almost breaks my heart because I enjoy him and his brothers so much. My goal is to raise them into independent men who can survive in this big world and start a family of their own. But, there's a part of me that wants to hold on to their dependence on me. I love that they like to spend time with me. I love wrestling with them, teaching them about the world, and watching them branch out and take risks. I know that I have to let go and I'm sure that Garrison will be a outstanding young man when that time comes. But, I've still got ten years to train him up in the way he should go. I'm glad. I'm not ready to let go yet.


Garrison is an amazing boy. I couldn't be prouder to be his Daddy. Happy Birthday, G! I love you so very much and I am very proud of who you are and what you are becoming.