I am Owen. I am seventeen pounds of pure determination. Chronologically, I may be a baby, but I have the heart of a lion. I fear nothing. Mama says I am too little to walk, but I attempt it anyway. When I fall down, I get back up. I hit my head many times in a day, but it only makes me tougher, stronger, and more determined. I speak in a husky, man-child voice, just a shadow of the roar it will one day become.

My brother, Elijah, is a tough guy, too, but I think I could take him. My name means “young warrior”, and that I am. I valiantly take on my brother who is over twice my size. I laugh at his struggle to get away. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. My middle name means “God is gracious”, and I hope he will grace my opponents with the mercy they need to escape me.

One day, I will be as big and strong as my dad. I train with him, already. I can almost take him down with my razor sharp fingernails and my dagger-like teeth. I pity the poor soul who firsts meets my fury when I am at my full size and strength. My dad already has me on a low-carb, high-protein diet.

After a long day of exploration and conquest, like all great warriors, I go to sleep in the manliest of ways. For, I am Owen the Brave.

Kyra got to go on a field trip today to the bowling alley. Me, Elijah, and Owen went with her. We all had a good time. Kyra’s future husband (by her accounts, not his) had to keep rescuing her balls. She wasn’t rolling them hard enough, and they would quit half way down the lane. Westley kept walking down to give them a push. She then said, “Thank you, We-e-estley.” She’s so funny. Elijah really enjoyed bowling. It was right up his alley….pun intended.

Last week, I had the chance to go and see one of my very best friends, Joy, who was visiting her family from Michigan. We hadn’t seen each other since she moved to Michigan a couple of years ago. It was so nice to visit with her for a little while.

The kids with Joy and her husband, Jamin.