To Jo

Hey miss,

Sorry I missed your birthday.
You're 18 now.  It's a big deal.

Turning 18.....hmm.  I've got to "watch" you grow up.  I can remember when you were young, more innocent, maybe a little dumb ;) (but we all were).  Now, you're becoming a woman.  You're learning about life, about yourself.  I know I preach to you a lot about how amazing life can be, but, please, don't ever sell yourself short.  You can do anything you want to do, go to any school, get any job you want.  It's just a matter of how much work, effort, time you want to put into it.    Not everything is easy, and the real good things never are.

So, you're growing up.  Don't forget you have the rest of the world to see.  You have a whole lifetime of experiences to enjoy.  Don't give up on the world.  One of my favorite quotes and one that truly inspired me is from Saint Augustine, "The world is a book, and those who don't travel only read one page."  I hope you take it to heart.  Don't just take it at face value, memorize it, ingrain it in your life, because he had it right.

Go experience as much as you can, grasp every opportunity.

Love you much,
Jared

Happy Birthday Josabet