To Austin, on your 14th...

Dear Austin,



You are 14 years old today, This is a birthday you've been waiting for years to take place. In Arkansas, you can get your driving permit the day you turn 14, but unfortunately for you, we've just moved to Texas where permits are not allowed until age 15. Yeah, sorry about that. I know bud, sad day.. But on the bright side, none of your friends are driving right now either, and you have an early school birthday, so you certainly won't be the last person in your class that can drive. Just trying to make it better here... moving on...

Bass Pro in Memphis

You and Jayden in Albuquerque

You and Aaron on a ski lift

Forever my ski buddy

This was behind our house at Sipapu at spring break

Waiting on laundry on the ski trip? You always travel with Uno!

I think we can safely say that your favorite outdoor activity is snow skiing. We've been going every winter for most of your life, and this year we got to go at spring break as well, and you enjoyed every minute of it. You are not a risk taker on the slopes (which is fine by me!) and are happy to make the same run over and over all day, every day. You are fine with skiing on your own and riding up the lift with complete strangers. You are amazing with meeting new people and are genuinely interested in them. This is true from the ski slopes, to school, to church, and everywhere in between. You are a people person, and I love that about you.

My handsome boys

Harding!

This was the day you read 2 million words in one school year. You actually exceeded that number by quite a bit before the year ended. 

This was at Aaron's senior dinner at church. 

Final concert at Genoa

This year has brought lots of changes for you. While you weren't excited about moving, there were never complaints or resistance. You were sad to leave your friends, but I think now that you've changed schools, you can see the value in the move and can appreciate why it needed to happen. You have learned so much this year already, and I'm amazed at all of the things you know. I'm so proud of you for taking on pre-AP classes and maintaining As and Bs so far this year. You know grades have never been something that dad and I have pushed, but the fact that you are pushing yourself in more advanced classes says a lot about the person you are becoming.

Band concert

Year end awards

Melyssa, Kyler, you, and I at Uplift

Playing cards with Paige and Anna in the stu

You love being on Harding's campus and still say that you will one day be a student there. As quickly as time is passing lately, we will blink twice and you will be smiling for your student ID. I'm praying these next few years with you go slowly, and I plan to savor every minute of it.

Why are you so stinkin' cute?!

Uplift had this pic on their website. I love it! You got SO many people's signatures. 

A fun day with Clint and Grandma in Shreveport.

Lunch on a rail car

School shopping in Dallas

First day of 8th grade

Over the past year, I have watched you become a man. You started having to shave. Your voice is unrecognizable. You're almost an entire head taller than me. And you're becoming so independent. You're not scared of anything. You can be dropped down into a field of a thousand people that you don't know and you will walk out with a handful of really good friends and a plethora of others that you will have shaken hands with and asked them how their day was going. I guess that's pretty much what happened as you started your school year this year. I was so nervous about you meeting people in such a big school, but by the second week of school they were yelling your name as soon as you were getting out of the car in the morning because they were happy to see you. What a gift you have, Austin.

The time we met Mrs. Kay again...

Our new digs

TMS pep rally

You and Tyler at a game. Y'all got to play at 2 games this year. 

This was your first band concert at TMS. 

And this was the jazz concert.

Family party to celebrate you! 

Advice for your 14th year of life:

• Keep being exactly who you are. You are an amazing human being. Don't change that for anyone. 
• Bullying tends to really pick up around your age. Kids can really be mean. I pray you never experience this, but more than likely, you will. My advice would be to ignore anything that anyone says to you that is meant to tear you down or upset you. Someone that talks to other people that way doesn't like themselves, so they seek to tear down others to make themselves feel better. Always be kind and move on with the people that say positive things and have similar goals as you. And always, ALWAYS know that you can talk to dad and I if you ever are bullied by anyone. 
• Keep people in your life that will help make you an even better person that you already are. Your friends will shape who you are. Be honest with them about who you are and what you believe. Don't ever be embarrassed about your beliefs and your commitment to God. Anyone that would make fun of that...they are not your people! 
• Don't give up easily when things get hard. Life is full of hard situations. From opening a bottle lid that's really stuck to lifting objects that seem to heavy, to doing classwork that seems impossible..all of these things help build character, which makes you a better person. 
• Don't even worry about having a relationship with a girl yet. You are 14, and your brain still has an insane amount of growing to do. The likelihood of you finding your future wife over the next year is not good, so just enjoy getting to know different types of people during your 14th year of life. 
• Look for ways to be Jesus to other people. You've been going to church your whole life, but you have people around you daily that don't know who Jesus is. Let those people see Jesus in you so much that they ask you why you are different so that you have the opportunity to change their lives. It's ok to be different, in fact, Christians are called to be different. Open doors for people. Pick up their books if they drop them. Help them if they're struggling with learning new notes on their trumpet. Pray for your friends. Invite them to church and church activities. 
• Last piece of advice: don't start getting an attitude with dad and I. We wiped your rear end, dried your tears, taught you how to hold a spoon and walk, taught you to read, and had a strong hand in helping mold you. You do not know more than we do, nor will you achieve that during this year, so bad attitudes and the common 14 year old thought of "my parents don't know anything" is not gonna fly in this household. 

Enjoy this year. Make smart choices. Keep being you. Love people. Be obedient to God. Get outside and enjoy nature. And keep on smiling that crazy, handsome smile. I am so proud of who you are becoming. 

I love you,

Mom