It's hard to believe that 18 years ago, my oldest son Steve was born. He has always been such a fun boy, always sweet, and positive, and obedient.He grew very slowly, and I noticed that by the time he was 9 months old, he looked the size of a 3 or 4 month old baby. I was okay with it, but people in the grocery store would stop me when I was buying finger foods for him to start eating, and ask me how old he was; they didn't think finger foods were appropriate for such a small baby. Others would worry as they picked him up, they said they thought they would break off one of his arms, because they were so skinny.
As Steve got older, he was still always the smallest in his class. I bought him size 3T for his kindergarten clothes, and when he became a deacon, I bought him a size 8 suit. But Steve never let his size stop him from doing the things he loved. He has always had a love for basketball, he'll practice for hours on end, and has become really good at it. One year when he was just starting Jr. Jazz, his coach was having all the boys shoot free throws. When Steve got to the front of the line, his coach told him he could move closer to the basket to shoot. Of course Steve wouldn't, instead he shot a free throw from the free throw line and made it.
Steve has always been very smart. When he started kindergarten, I couldn't get him to hold the pencil right, and he would only draw spiders, but as soon as another adult started to teach him, he caught on really fast. He has never had homework, has always had straight A's, and I've never had to worry that he'd miss a report or project that was due.
Steve decided about 4 years ago that he wanted to try to graduate from High School with an Associate's Degree. He never lost sight of that goal, and encouraged several of his friends to attend college classes with him. Now that he's taking college courses, he does have homework, and has to work a little bit harder to keep his grades up, but he never asks me for help (he's too smart for me to help him now), and never turns in anything late. I have started college, and have asked him several times to help me with my homework...
He is an excellent leader, he is an eagle scout, and is the 1st assistant in the priest quorum in our church. He always has a positive attitude, and a great sense of humor.
Today Steve is 18 years old, he's 5'8" and still growing, and I am still so proud of him. I am so glad he came into my life, and only want him to be happy. I hope you know how much I love you, and I hope you have had a Happy Birthday Steve.
