My oldest nephew celebrated his 32nd birthday on September 2. He was born on Labor Day in 1990. I still remember how I teased my sister-in-law about waiting until “Labor Day” to go into labor. Our entire family was excited to welcome my brother and sister-in-law’s first child.
He has grown into a fine young man, and is doing a great job of managing the business my brother built before he passed away last December.
His dad was proud of him before his death, and I believe is even more proud of how he has stepped up to oversee the family business and look out for his mother as she adjusts to life without my brother.
Little did I know that exactly 32 years after my first nephew arrived, I would welcome my first grandchild. I am extremely proud of our new little guy and am happy to report my grandson and his mother are both doing very well.
Since the moment my wife and I learned my daughter was expecting we have been very excited about our coming grandchild. Although I was aware of my growing excitement, I was not fully prepared for the deep emotion I felt the first couple of times I held him. My eyes filled with tears as I looked into the face of Baby J and thanked God for him.
I became a dad when I was 24 and increasingly since that day have been anticipating the time when I would become a grandfather. My wife Kelly has repeatedly told me the baby is perfect. We have done what almost all parents and grandparents do— admired his cute face, counted his fingers and toes and fallen completely in love with our little gift from God.
