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puzzle pieces

Monday, November 8, 2010

Yesterday, I was 16

My oldest turns 16 today.
Bittersweet.
No...I know 16 isn't old and grown up and leaving and all.


{But I was just 16.     Yesterday.
And so much has happened in one day I can hardly grasp it.}

Tomorrow he'll be 18. 
Then 25. 
Then I could be a grandma.
(WHAT?)

{I am only 19 as I type this...
unless I type looking in the mirror. 
Then I remember  what age I'm supposed to be.}

How does this time thing happen?
You go to bed when you're 18-
and wake up 36,
 with 4 kids,
 and a mortgage,
and a few more "smile lines" around your eyes.

But! 
Today is Today.
~~~~~

Happy Birthday Bud!


On this day I wish you
courage~for all the moments you find yourself in,

commitment~to all the matters and relationships you come upon,

strength~ to stand in every situation,

safety~ as you travel to places you have never traveled before.

Happy Birthday
~~~~~


My thought for today....
Where will I be when I next open my eyes.



29 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

The years pass so fast.When I was this age I knew it all, and felt I shouldn't be treated as a child.HA! Years later I wished I could go back a bit. My baby is a few years older but still my baby.She often reminds me she isn't a child anymore.LOL

Leah J. Utas said...

Another beautiful post.

I'm somewhere in my late 20s, maybe early 30s. Until I try to get out of the chair, or catch my reflection, or am reminded that I was a teenager in the seventies.

Rambling said...

What a handsome young man! Happy Birthday to him from Nebraska.

Melissa A said...

oh my goodness, I can so relate to this one Dawn. It reminds me of one of my favorite movies, "13 Going On 30" have you seen it. It's a romantic comedy and very sweet and funny. Happy Birthday to your son! It does go fast and you wonder how you got there.

TexWisGirl said...

Happy birthday to your oldest! What a great post!

I recently had to get dressed in "real" clothes to attend a funeral (after being off work for a year, and living in shorts and sweats, it was a shock to have to dress like a grown-up). Anyway, I looked at myself in the mirror and was surprised by how old I looked. Ha! And I've got 11 yrs on you! So you're still a young thing!

Jodie said...

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an incredible nephew and cousin!!!
We love you lots and lots and lots and wish you all the best in your 16th year!

Kerri Farley said...

My baby boy turns 20 today ;) Yes, they do grow up so fast.

Anonymous said...

What a great post Dawn...brought a tear to my eye actually as I can so relate! My big guy is going to be 17 in a couple months. I ask my friends, "When did I become a month to a 16 year old???????"
It makes me chuckle and shake my head at myself....

I love all the things you hoped for him.

love and light

Tiggeriffic said...

Turning 16 is a awesome marking point in ones life. When I turned 16 I got my drivers license. Got my license on a cold freezing snowy day in Feb. and my dad gave me the keys.. M-you want me to drive today? Yikes.. I made it home..at age 22 I was driving a school bus.
Enjoy the happy 16 year old boy. Children grow up fast and then they are up ~ up~and away.
I really liked your pictures.. Island Odyssey ? that looks like a good time. He looks like a fine young man~!
Have a blessed day..Ta Ta For Now~from Iowa. annieptigger@aol.com

GardenOfDaisies said...

Happy birthday to your son! Enjoy every minute of these next couple of years, because he will be gone and out of the house before you can blink! Time just slips though our fingers. Both of my kids are in college now... in fact, one getting ready to graduate from college in about 6 months... I don't know where the years went.

Sem Nome said...

Lovely post!! Health and happiness to you, Bud!!! May all your dreams come true!!!
Have a sweet week, dear lady Dawn!! Live your best today! Bela.

Jimmy said...

Happy Birthday Bud, what a nice looking young man you have there, I see you are proud of him and rightfully so.

Yes time does move quickly, our youngest made us grandparents this past year, and it seems I just made my first cross country road trip by myself at eighteen, but my last birthday was my 50th, doesn't seem possible but you are so right when you say you are writing at 19 unless you look in the mirror, I still feel that eighteen year old until I do the same.

Barbie said...

Happy Birthday gorgeous boy. I wish you all the best for the following year and most importantly for the rest of your life.

Dawn: I know exactly how you feel. My twins are on their way to 15 and I honestly don't know where time has gone. I don't feel old enough to have children who are almost as tall as I and I sure don't act old enough half the time. But I guess that just means we have enjoyed every step of the way, even the tough times.

Kenley said...

That is just brilliant! Great post to commemorate a birthday. Great pics too as well.

The Patchwork Heart said...

What a lovely post and beautiful photo of you and your son. Happy birthday to him from England!
Heather x

Scented Sweetpeas said...

aah lovely post! Happy birthday to your boy. I am only 25 and I am sticking to that no matter what the mirror says :-)

Nancy said...

Wait until you turn 50. Then it really hits. Happy birthday to your son.

Alli said...

Even though I'm just 21 I've noticed how much faster each year goes than the last. I feel like I can't hold onto my time well enough. The sad part for me is that we only get so much time with the ones we love and if we squander it one day we'll lose out on it forever (whether leaving your college friends or losing a family member). I know it's a blessing to have that time though.

Happy Birthday to your son! Does he read this blog? Maybe sometime you could show him this post... It would mean a lot to him one day.

Anonymous said...

Memorize every moment of these years. My son is 37, a MAN! How can that be? I'm not that old! But what a joy to watch him be a good husband, a good father, a hard worker, a man of integrity and honor. Bittersweet, yes.

Liz

Sheree said...

Dawn, what a lovely post. You know my thoughts on time passing, and a being much wiser then myself once said "We would all do better to forget our years". (or something like that) ;)

Happy Birthday to your first born and wishing you both nothing but joyous wonders in the years to come!

birdie blue said...

happiest of birthday wishes to your handsome son. i know what you mean about time flying...

thank you, too, for all of your sweet comments on my blog.

have the loveliest of days.
xo
~molly

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday to your son. I do know how you feel. My son is 13 and I feel like I don't even know when that happened!

koralee said...

First off my friend..you are looking way too young to have a 16 year old.

Second...Happy Birthday to your handsome Son! Yes...time does fly.

xoxox

heather said...

awww, this totally choked me up. oh man. happy birthday to your baby :)

Aimee said...

Happy Birthday to your son! My boys are 3 and 5 and it seems like yesterday they were still so little. Time goes by way too fast!

Dawn said...

Just wanted to say Thank you to everyone who commented and sent out birthday wishes today.

I showed him all you wrote and he felt quite honored:)
Thank you!

Carole Barkett said...

Happy Birthday to a very lucky boy with a great mom :O) Yes, they grow up too and go away too fast

Zuly said...

Qué guapo tu hijo!
Le deseo un feliz cumpleaños!
Bendiciones desde Costa Rica,
Zuly Castillo
http://pedacitosdetela.blogspot.com/

Lynette Jacobs said...

Happy birthday to your big boy. And you don't look a day over 19;-D