It's Katie's Day!

Today we celebrate the birthday of my oldest niece, Katie. She is turning the magical age of 18 and I can't imagine where the time has gone. Just a few months ago she graduated high school and is now in college. There is no break in time when it comes to seeing the children grow. Time passes so quickly, especially as you get older.

I have a special bond with Katie as I lived with my sister and brother-in-law when Katie was a baby. I literally got to see her take her first steps, eat baby food for the first time, changed many more diapers than I want to count, and I even had the privilege of taking her to her first day of daycare. We also shared the moment of President Clinton's inauguration. Katie and I are very similar. We both like to cheat when it comes to playing games, like poker. We also like to drive fast, eat everything in a bowl with a spoon, and when we're talking about competition we both don't like to lose. We'll do whatever it takes to win or we'll lose interest and act like we don't care. We both like having a blanket, even in the summer. And we share glances all the time because we know what the other is thinking. Mischievous. "Canaille", my Cajun great-grandmother, Ma-Mom, would probably say to us.

She has always kept us entertained as she still has trouble pronouncing the word "cucumber" and other words. She's quirky. Smart. Funny. In Your Face. Hard Working. And much, much more. Since uncles aren't supposed to have favorites, I won't say it,  but she is definitely loved by me very much. I consider her to be very much like my own daughter. I am proud to say that I have had a hand in her Christian upbringing. At birth, my sister and brother-in-law asked me to be her Godfather. I take that responsibility very serious because I know how important it is to have a spiritual role model. Especially a positive male role model other than your own father. I continually encourage her to keep God number one in her life and she has done that throughout her life, and most important through the rough teenage years.

I will keep committed to helping her whenever I can because she is a special young lady. She has had her share of rocking the boat, but she is an all around good kid with a lot of wisdom. She has two very awesome parents who have definitely trained her according to God's word. I know our lives would not be the same without Katie girl in our lives. It still makes me happy that she runs up to me, just like she did when she was a little girl, and squeezes me tight when she hasn't seen me in a while. I hope she never stops doing that.

Well, Katie....it's your day! Happy Birthday!!