I hope you learn....

To Owen:

There are so many things that I want you to learn from your Daddy. He is such an incredible man.

• I hope you learn to harmonize like him. He can pick up harmonies like nobodies business. I've had years of singing training and I don't come close to his abilities when it comes to hearing the inner parts of a song.


• I hope you learn your daddy's quiet strength. It is incredible. He took such good care of me when I started to get sick when I was pregnant with you, and then he took care of both of us after you were born. To this day, I'm still not sure how he kept it all together.


• I hope you learn your daddy's sense of humor. It's so quiet and intelligent. He makes me laugh everyday, and at least once a week I laugh so hard, I cry.


• I hope you learn to love to travel. He loves to plan trips and go and see new things.


• I hope you learn to try new food like your daddy. He's pretty much unafraid. I've seen him order Beef Laab at a Thai restaurant (incredibly spicy!) to green-lipped mussels at the Mission Grille in Door Cty. I love that sense of adventure and "nothing to lose" attitude about him.


• I hope you learn to be a hard worker like him. He's not afraid at all to jump in and get his hands dirty.

Your daddy is an amazing man, Owen. He is a wonderful example for you, and I am so proud to have made you with him. Love you both.