To Aaron, on your 21st...

 Dear Aaron,

Every year I honestly can't believe how old you are, but 21 hits different. This puts you in an entire different category. You are now legally a full adult. Your license will change, your rights will change, and your opportunities will change. It's so much all at one time. But (strangely enough), I'm not having a hard time with it this year...

And here is why...

You spent your 20th year of life discovering more of who you are and who you will become, and I really like that guy. You've been able to travel from the east coast to the west coast and so many places in between this year. You've met new people and deepened friendships with others. Through all of these experiences, you've proved to me over and over that you are ready for all of the things adulthood will bring. You've had to make big, hard decisions already and those have all ended well for you. You've chosen to take the hard road when the easy road was so tempting. You've acted in ways that showed you were thinking about what was best for you in the long run over what you really wanted in the now. This is how I know you're ready for 21. Your adulting skills are already ON POINT.

While doing all of that, you seem to have realized the importance and the blessing of having your two parents still married to each other, all grandparents, aunts, and uncles still living, and no major deaths or horrible things that you've had to deal with. This is actually rare for someone your age. Life won't always be like this and I truly believe that you know this and can see the value in what you've got. I'm so thankful that you have made a point to visit your grandparents when you could and let me and Dad hang out with you on our Searcy weekends. I think the trip we took this summer may have even helped you realize that you've got a pretty cool brother, too! Life is so short and we never know when our time on Earth is over. Your family has been there for you since day one, and I love that you continue to realize the importance of them (us) in your life. 

 Our job as parents was to raise you to love Jesus, be a good human, be independent, and one day become a successful member of society. Sometimes I think we may have done too good a job on you. You seem to realize the importance of attending worship, praying, and just keeping Jesus in all of your decisions. You're insanely independent and find a way to make your own money, even when you're not employed. You get along with people extremely well, no matter their age or status. And you have already become a successful member of society, even while still attending college. Proud is not a big enough word for how I feel. 

Many of the pictures I used in this letter came from other people because I wasn't there to get to see it all, but please know that through all of your adventures, your parents are over here cheering you on every single day. We pray constantly for you. I often pray for God to give you wisdom to be able to do well in your classes. I pray that He keeps you safe on all of your travels, whether you're going somewhere on a plane or driving hours down the road to buy or sell a boat. I pray that He guards your heart and keeps you from bad things. I pray for your wife, and that He reveals to you who that will be when the time is right and when your heart is ready for that. I pray for your peace, because college isn't easy and down time can be hard to find sometimes. More than anything, I pray that you will always put God first because everything else will work itself out beautifully if you do that. 

In high school, we got a chance to really get to know and love all of your friends. Our house was the house they all came to. Some even moved in with us for different amounts of time. Some came to Dad and I for advice. All of them walked right into our house like it was theirs. They knew that we would love and accept them (and even correct them, when needed) and we loved that so much. When you got out of high school, our fear is that we wouldn't get to really know any of your college friends. BUT GOD. We love getting texts from your college friends and also love that they just walk right into our Searcy house the way your high school friends did at our Genoa house. We love your friend group. Please don't take these relationships for granted. I graduated from college 25 years ago and still keep up with my core friend group from Harding. These are the relationships that will last a lifetime. You just thought you were growing up with your high school friends.  The big growth actually happens in college, when adult choices begin coming at you left and right and you need others on the same path to help you out. You've got a great group. I pray that your group will continue to grow closer together as you all grow closer to God over the next year and a half.  

I tried to come up with some kind of "wisdom for a 21-year-old", but I can't think of anything to tell you that you don't already know. There are some things that you will just have to learn on your own but whatever it is, Dad and I are here and it's quite possible we've been through it ourselves and would love to help you through it. My biggest advice will always be to make yourself look more like Jesus with every year that passes. If you do that, you'll be amazed at how things will fall into place more easily.

My second piece of advice is to be bold. Don't be afraid to go after what you want. And don't EVER think you are not good enough to get or have whatever that may be. You are a child of the king and you ARE good enough. Sometimes that may mean that you have to be vulnerable, and that's ok. Putting yourself out there without having a clue how it will be received is a huge part of adulting, and having the self-confidence to handle it when it doesn't turn out the way you want is building character, and often times preparing you for something better that you could've ever imagined for yourself. Your worth does not come from people or status, but from God, and no one gets to take that away from you. 

Just as your 20th year of life was fun and full of learning new things and visiting new places, I have no doubt that your 21st will be just as great. I can't wait to see all of the pictures that I'll put on your 22nd birthday letter. This time next year you will be almost out of college and thinking more about your future. I hope that you don't stress over what you will do with your life or where you will end up. God has a really cool way of revealing His plans for you exactly in the moment you need it to happen.

You are, by far, one of my most favorite people to be around. You have a heart of gold and you're so gifted in so many areas. You can do anything you set your mind to. In just the past year or two you've learned how to fix boats, build walls, lay floor, build corn hole boards, change brake pads, pay rent on time, fix motorcycles, how to travel in a pandemic, and have greatly improved your wood-working skills. And all of that is separate and apart from what you're learning in your classes. You are well-rounded and I love that you don't put all your eggs in one basket. You are a natural entrepreneur, and you come by that honestly. 

I hope and pray that your 21st year of life is exactly what you want and need for it to be. Dad and I couldn't possibly be more proud of the man that you are. 

Happy 21st birthday, Aaron. I've dreaded this number for years, but as it turns out, having an adult child is kinda cool. 

I love you,

Mom