Happy 18th Birthday Casey Paige!
Since I very first knew your mom (my 1st cousin) was expecting you,
I was looking forward to knowing you.
And I was also looking forward to providing you with a playmate in our family.
You see, I knew that Rob and I were planning our first child together then as well.
I didn't tell your mom that or anyone else for that matter.
God indeed did bless Rob and me with that new little life we had hoped for
and my Anna is only 3 months younger than you.
This is the first time I ever saw you.
You're in your dad's lap here and,
of course I took a photo as soon as I walked in the hospital room.
This is the first time I ever held you and if you look closely, that's Rob in the corner
videoing so I guess somewhere in my archives of movies, there's some video of you!
It's also the first photo of you and Anna, I suppose,
since I was 6 months pregnant with her in this photo.
I was very happy to get to meet you and to start getting to know you!
This is at my baby shower in our parsonage. Aren't you and "Anna" so cute?
For all of your 18 years, I have tried to stay close to you.
Even when we lived 4 1/2 hours away, I would come and bring my children
to your birthday parties
and we would visit as often as we could.
Your mom would come to visit us too.
I have been to every one of your parties except one
(and that just couldn't be helped)
but I made sure Anna was there.
I enjoyed watching you being a drum major.
I have enjoyed supporting you in every way I could.
I have loved watching you grow,
especially in your relationship with God.
That makes me smile.
So today, I was thankful I got to be there for this.
Your 18th birthday.
I can definitely say that I have enjoyed
knowing and loving you over the last 18 years and
I look forward to seeing where God takes you in your world.
You are a great young woman and I know God has great plans for you!
I look forward to watching it all unfold!
I love you, Casey Paige!
Always have! Always will!
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