Turning 18 is a special event. It marks one’s adulthood. At this point, you can start making your own decisions and directing your own life. You can even drink at a bar and most importantly, you can vote.

Gracie Chastain’s 18th birthday was special for a different reason.

On her special day, she received a very special gift that took 17 years to make. It wasn’t a pretty dress, an expensive pair of shoes or even a designer bag.

She received a time capsule that’s filled with different pieces of memorabilia.

Gracie’s parents planned the gift since she was just a baby girl. Her mother Kim bought a time capsule when she turned 1.

Then, she gathered the family and some of their friends to contribute and fill the box with savings bonds, jewelry, magazines, pictures, and other random but meaningful things. It was like a treasure box of love.

Through the years, everyone tried their best to keep the time capsule a secret.

Kim shared:

“We’ve moved a couple of times since we did the time capsule but for the last ten years, it has been in the back of a large storage room in our basement buried beneath boxes of books. My kids never go in there because they think it’s creepy, so it went unnoticed all these years.”

On Gracie’s special day, Kim took out the time capsule and gave it to her precious daughter.

Of course, she needed to document the entire thing so she had a camera in place. Gracie had some of her choir friends come over since they had a rehearsal scheduled later that evening. Kim had to put the box on the kitchen island so that her daughter will be able to see it right away once she’s home.

Gracie was confused about the box sitting on their kitchen island.

Her mom had to give her a card explaining what it was. However, Kim was very specific with her instructions: Gracie can only open the box the next day which was her official birthday party.

Kim explained:

“I figured if I waited for 17 years to be able to tell her about it, I should at least be able to make her anticipate what’s in it for one full day!”

When Gracie finally saw what was inside the capsule, she was ecstatic.

It was actually an encouraging experience for her. She was disappointed after losing her last Show Choir Competitions and opening those gifts and realizing how her family and friends truly love her made her feel a bit more positive in life.

If you haven’t started one for your child, Kim said that it’s not too late.

“Why not make one for your 5-year-old to open when they’re 21? Or your 18-year-old to open when they’re 40? Or make one for your child/grandchild/fiance for their wedding day? Who wouldn’t want to open a time capsule from a loved one even as a grown adult? Go for it!”- Kim said.

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Source: Facebook, Bored Panda