It is official…I am the mother of 4 young adults. I no longer have any minors in our family. Today at 11:25 a.m., Brandon officially turned 18 years old. Brandon is my military baby, my war child. Brandon came during a time when Danny was deployed to Iraq for 18 months. Danny was deployed on Valentine’s Day 2003, when I was 6 months pregnant with Brandon. I still remember that the morning Brandon was born, Danny called me to get an update. It was around 5 a.m. and I told Danny, “no baby yet.” Then I hung up with him and went back to sleep until the time I had to wake up Hannah for school. I remember that my water suddenly broke and all the chaos began. My mom was already staying overnight with us, and my dad came over to help take me to the hospital. Lackland AFB had a backed up line of cars at the gate, and my dad had so much patience to wait. I, on the other hand, was in labor, leaking water, and crying with painful contractions! I stuck my head out the window of the car and started yelling that I was in labor. People started moving out of the way to make a path for us to get through to the gate, and we were immediately checked into the hospital. Brandon came less than 3 hours of us arriving. I was sent home the very next day after they gave me a steak dinner in my private room! When Danny called the following evening, he was shocked that the update he got was, “Yup, he’s here and we’re already home!”
Brandon is a motivator. He is a planet shaker and one who takes initiative to get things done, WHEN he wants to get them done. He has had a tough year as a senior in his last year of school, as he has been doing the remote learning. But when he puts his mind to it, he gets things done. He is my photographer and videographer. He enjoys working as a sports production staff member. He loves to workout and play basketball and volleyball. He loves to sing and worship the Lord. I am so proud when I see him in his room reading his Bible and writing in his journal. He seeks God and wants to always grow closer to Him.
Brandon loves to drive his car and listen to music. He is very independent and has been waiting for that green light to be able to do things without having to always ask.
Brandon is a loyal friend who loves to hang out with the people he’s closest to – his family and framily that consists of friends as close as family members. He has recently found new friendships with his FLAME Family. He has really grown closer to them and in his relationship with Christ.
Danny and I are so proud of all our kids. We are humbly thankful that despite our own mistakes and failures, we have managed to raise these amazing kids who are so much better than us in different ways. We are so grateful for Brandon and for God loaning his life to us to take care of. Just because he is 18 doesn’t mean that our job has ended. We will always be there for each of our kids for as long as God allows us to have breath here on Earth. It truly doesn’t end at 18 – we will always be their parents, and they will always be our children.
Happy 18th Birthday Brandon Robert
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