Making His Brother Laugh

Jake and Andrew enjoy each other's company. Jacob especially likes interacting with the baby, now that Andrew responds to him. And Andrew seems to enjoy Jacob's company, second only to Greg....again mom is on the back burner, but I still like watching them all.

Spiderman Cases Hollidaysburg

Looking for villains, Spiderman traipsed through Hollidaysburg on a covert mission yesterday. He was captured by a star super-hero photographer in various locations. His chilled little brother, wrapped in his mother's sweatshirt, was spotted joining as Spidey's faithful sidekick.

What Little Ears Hear

Jacob is always asking me what the baby said. "Mom-what-he-say?" is a permanent flavoring phrase completing each sentence Jacob says in relation to Andrew. It's maddening at times, but it can also be very funny. Like the time he came running to me and said, "Mom! I heard Andrew say his first word! He said 'Gooooo!'" He thinks a lot about what Andrew is thinking, and while it can be annoying for me to constantly answer what his brother's thoughts are, it is nice to know that he is relating to the baby as someone who is capable of thoughts, and doesn't just see him as a blob who takes his mother's time away.

Today Jake said he heard a song about baby talk. I asked what it was and he said he wasn't sure what the name of the song was, but the words went like this, "The baby just said meow." Now, to put this into perspective, you must sing those words to the tune of Collective Soul's song 'December.' You all know the song. It's real words go as follows: "Don't scream about. Don't think aloud. Turn your head, now baby just spit me out." Now sing Jake's version, "blah, blah blah blah. Blah, blah blah blah. blah blah blah the baby just said ME-OW!" Ha! We couldn't have thought that up if we tried. Funny. Wonder what other song lyrics he has floating around in that head of his...

Evil Wal-Mart

Most of you know my stance on Wal-Mart. Actually, most of you have probably heard Jacob's standard, memorized lines: "You can't shop at Wal-Mart, because Wal-Mart steals business from the little stores, then the people who work at the little stores lose their jobs." He says this to anyone who even mentions Wal-Mart. It's like some kind of supernatural detection he has, seeking out those to chastise for shopping at the evil giant!

Well, today we were getting ready to go to the mall to shop for a birthday present for a friend of Jake's. He said he didn't want to shop at the Disney Store, and I said that was good, because the Disney Store at our mall closed. He looked at me and said very soberly, "It wasn't Wal-Mart, was it mom?" It wasn't Wal-Mart, but I said, "Could be, Jake. That's what Wal-Mart does." OK, maybe that was a little mean of me, but hey - I hate Wal-Mart! :)

Play Trivia, Feed People and Pets

I love the Ellen show. It's the only tv that I actually TRY to watch, although I don't watch it every day. Today she had a little girl who created a website that donates food to cats and dogs in shelters when people play trivia. She has two sites - freekibble.com is for dogs and freekibblekat.com is for cats. There is a similar website that donates rice to hungry people, which I will look up shortly and add to my links. Check out the websites, if you have a chance. Answer a question and do a good deed. It's fun and it's a very simple way to help make a difference.

Co-Ed Nakedness

Today we had a Williams Family Steeler Party at our house. Greg's whole family was here. At one point, Jacob came downstairs with nothing on except underwear. I took him into the laundry room and got him some more clothing. I asked him why he wasn't wearing anything. He said, "Because we were having a niked party." (Niked is naked in Jake-speak)

I said, "What exactly is a niked party?"

"A party where you are all niked."

"Who all was niked?"

"Just me." (Whew - my two nieces were also upstairs with him)

"OK. From now on, no more niked parties. The only girl you should be niked around is your mother."

"OK"

"OK".....for now anyway! :)

If Jacob Could Vote...

The other day during dinner, Jacob saw a copy of Time magazine on the table. On the cover were John McCain and Barak Obama. He pointed to Obama and said, "This guy's favorite kid's book is 'Harry Potter.'" Then he pointed to McCain and said, "This guy's favorite food is tacos. I'm voting for Ovama because I'm awfully fond of 'Harry Potter' too." He said they talked about the candidates at school. I know he's heard a lot of discussion in our home too, recently. Politics are getting heated around here!

Today when I was pushing Jake on the swings, he said he had learned about an author who was born in New York City. I asked who the author was and he said, "I think it was John McCain. He wrote 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar.'" I said, "I think you mean Eric Carle." He said, "Oh yeah. Eric Carle." How funny that a 5 year old even had John McCain's name in his head. It just goes to show that they do listen more than we think they do.

Some Videos from the Backyard

This is what happens when you have a mother who cannot play baseball - or any game with a ball, requiring hand/eye coordination, for that matter!

This is Andrew's reaction to watching his brother play ball. Somewhat enthused - but Jacob, of course, has to get in on the shot!

And last, but not least, this is one of the neighbor boys, whom Jake holds so dear. This kid is very, very sweet, but he talks non-stop. I have no idea what he is talking about in this video. Actually, I had asked him to hold still so I could take a picture of his shirt, which is spongebob and says, "Be thankful I'm not your kid." But after 15 minutes of talking, I realized that he was not going to stop talking so that I could take the picture, so I shot a 30 second video instead! He never even noticed!

The Band

Years ago I told a coworker that one of my lifelong dreams was to be a singer in a band. Ha! What teenager didn’t think about stardom, in some form or another, while rocking away to his or her favorite tunes? I can sing. I can at least carry a tune, but I’m certainly not the next American Idol. I’ve always loved singing. I sang in high school and college, but never really took it much further than church, or my boy’s rocking chairs as of late. That is, until one night by chance we formed a band.

Let me set the record straight. Greg and Fred, my brother-in-law, formed the band. Fred is an incredible guitar player. He’s amazing. He’s unnecessarily modest, but he shouldn’t be, because the man can jam. He listens to a song and then just plays it. I know he practices some, but most of it is pure God-given talent and it’s a privilege for anyone who listens to him play.

Greg loves to drum and he’s pretty good too! It’s such an appropriate instrument for him, given his gung-ho personality. He just rocks away like a mad-man with sticks! Actually, being self taught and not having had much formal exposure to music, he’s a bit of a wonder too.

Fred and Greg have played together for years - long before I came into the picture. When Greg’s parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, I suggested to Greg that we get together and give them a wedding song (they never had one). Fred had a friend who played bass guitar and the three of them, with me as an occasional addition put together a handful of songs for Ed and Dale Ann’s anniversary, and thus a band was formed. The bass player has since left the band, but Greg and Fred persevered. I quit for a while too, when I was pregnant and right after the baby was born, but now I’m back for a handful of songs.

Greg likes to do everything big. It’s his greatest asset and his biggest fault. Right now his dream is to play and have a big party for all his friends and family, so that’s what we’re going to do. We rented out the Lions Club in Newry on Oct 24th from 7pm - 10pm and we are going to play and party. It’s a totally informal party, and everyone is invited. We’ll provide beer, pop, chips and pretzels, and entertainment. If you are local and you want to come, please feel free.

We’ve been practicing almost every week for the past month, and probably will continue for the next month, until the party. While I was on hiatus, I didn’t really think that I missed the band, but now that I am back in the groove, I realized that I actually really enjoy it. I like singing a few songs - not too many, but enough to get a little charge jamming with my husband. I have found that playing together is very sexy. Music has a way of connecting people, and let’s face it, there’s something very hot about a man with a good sense of rhythm! What girl doesn’t want to grab the drummer?!

I think back from time to time on that conversation from my past. When I said that I wanted to sing in a band, I never had any inkling that it would come true, in any sense. It’s just another way that Greg is fantasy come true , fulfilling all my wildest dreams!

OK - I’m done now - you can stop gagging! :)

One Tooth Less

Jacob's surgery went well yesterday. It wasn't scheduled until 1230, which I thought was ridiculous. I wasn't allowed to feed him anything after midnight, and by 9 am, he was continually asking me when he could eat. I felt terrible. I ate my own breakfast in the laundry room, so he wouldn't see me. How awful it must be to not have enough money to feed your kids. I can't imagine the pain a parent would feel hearing those pitiful requests over and over, day after day.

Anyway, back to us - Jacob was a trooper. He wasn't scared at all. He even walked to the OR willingly with the nurse. They pulled the tooth out in less than ten minutes. It took him longer to come out of the anesthesia. He was a little emotional when he was waking up, and wanted to see the hole immediately. He didn't like the Novocaine that they had given him, and on the ride home, he started crying because it felt strange when he sucked his thumb and when he took a drink, one side of his mouth spit. Poor guy. Having just had oral surgery for the first time myself, I can understand how he felt. But within an hour of being home, he was flipping up the couch cushions and attempting to repair it with plastic tools. By evening, he had eaten two cans of chicken noodle soup himself!

This morning, he came downstairs with $10 and a note that the Tooth Fairy had left him. I asked him what it said, and he replied, "I can't read it, mom. I can only read 'and, -at, and -ot' words." I read the note to him, which said he was very brave, and that it was a really big tooth, which was why he got so much money. (I don't want him thinking he's getting 10 bucks with every tooth!). He laughed and said, "Ha! I didn't know she left notes! Let's go to the dollar store and buy candy after school today." Oh my. Apparently, surgery isn't a deterrent for sweets! Unfortunately, that's a trait he got from me, so I'm not a very good enforcer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On another subject - my sister in law gave Jacob an aunt farm for his birthday. The aunts arrived two days ago. As you know, he likes to know what various people and animals are saying - "what-he-say?" By 9 am yesterday, I had heard "What'd they say?" about 45 times. Finally, I said to him, "I don't know. What did they say?" He said, "Mom!" (hands on his hips) " I don't speak aunt. I only speak dog." Fantastic. Thank you, Dalann, for adding yet another set of creatures for me to make up conversations! He wants to name each of them, too! I'm bringing them to your house soon - Jacob included! ;)

What it Must Feel Like to Be Schizophrenic

Ok. I am really beginning to think that I have some kind of mental illness. Recently, I have done nothing but complain about how I'm not sure I want to be a stay at home mom and how I need time away from Andrew. Well, I now have an opportunity to break free. It could be possible for me to clean a few houses and take Andrew to day care one day a week, if I want. At first, I thought this would be great. Today I looked at a day care that is right down the street. I know several people who take their kids there and I know that it is a decent place. When I went today I even met one of the infant room staff, whom I happened to go to high school with. At first I thought it would be fine, but the more I thought about it throughout the day, the more uneasy I felt. Do I really want to take Andrew somewhere else for care? He's going to be sick, they will have to let him cry at times, and if it's not an absolute necessity, why am I giving his care to someone outside of the family? I took him grocery shopping directly after visiting the day care and every time I looked at him in the cart and he smiled, it made me want to cry. I felt like I was abandoning him and I haven't even fully decided to send him yet!

So now I am going back and forth about it. Yes, I need time away. Yes, it would be nice to have some of my own money. Jacob went to day care from the time he was 3 months old and I actually think that it benefited him in a lot of ways. BUT - Jacob was also very sick for the first two years of his life. And I HAD to take Jake to day care. There was no choice at that point in my life. Plus, Jake was at a day care where my mother was on the board and on the grounds where both of my parents worked - no longer a possibility for Andrew. I don't want a sick baby, and I do have a choice now.

I really wish that Harbor House took infants. That is where Jacob has been since age 3 and I only have good things to say about the owners and staff there. I would be completely comfortable sending Andrew there, and in fact, I plan to send him there once he turns 2. I guess the question in my mind now is, do I send Andrew somewhere new in the meantime, or do I wait it out for another year and a half? Of course, Greg supports me, whatever decision I make. That's nice, but in a lot of ways, I would like someone else to make the choice for me. I guess I'll be doing a lot of thinking over the next few days.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On another note - Jacob's surgery should go on as planned tomorrow at noon. Yesterday when I was talking to him about it, I told him that the tooth fairy paid big bucks for the molars and that she took all little kid's teeth, paid them for their teeth, and then made dentures for old people. He thought about it for a while and then later said to me, "I hope the tooth fairy gives my tooth to Pap." I didn't follow at first, and asked him why he wanted Pap to have his tooth. "Because they're for old people now, and I think Pap could use it." I'm not sure that was a compliment, but it was nice of Jake to think of Pap!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake won a checkers game at a church carnival this weekend. He calls it "checkerds" and he CHEATS big time. I'm not sure where he learned to play, but it certainly wasn't from me!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I tried to take away Andrew's binky. He puts his hands in his mouth a lot, and I thought that taking the binky away would encourage him to suck a finger or thumb instead. I totally underestimated the power of the pacifier. We made it through one whole day and through 12 the next day, but the second day was brutal. Jacob tried giving Andrew instructions "Brudder, just fold down four fingers and stick your fum in your mouf like this..." but nothing worked. Finally, Jake said, "Mom, just give him the binky. He's a major fusspants. Ha! I called him a fusspants!" It was comical, and I agreed and gave the fusspants his binky. The house has been much quieter since. Perhaps we will try again in a few months when he has better control of his arms and hands...or perhaps he will be one of those kids who carries it with him to kindergarten!
Right now, a happy and quiet baby is worth a large future dental bill!

Wicked!

Yesterday I went to Pittsburgh to see Wicked with some of my friends from Allegheny East. First of all - what a fabulous show! If any of you has the opportunity to see it - go! It was very cleverly written, with (obviously) many allusions to the Wizard of Oz, humor, suspense, and lots of surprise plot twists. It was highly entertaining and very well performed. Thus is the opinion of Koelle Williams, musical critic extraordinaire!

I truly had a great time with everyone. It was nice to have an entire day without any kids, to spend time with my friends, doing something I love. We had great food, great company and great entertainment. But honestly, with this group of women, all we really need is a comfortable place to sit - we have many times made our own entertainment out of ourselves. Sometimes the funniest things, are those which hit close to home!

As fun as it was, however, I left Pittsburgh feeling somewhat ambivalent. Part of me was still excited about the days events, and couldn’t wait to tell others about the musical and the fun I had. But another part of me had a heavy heart leaving three women whom I hold very dear. I often think about how my life’s friendships have been forged. I lived in Pittsburgh for only 5 years after graduating from college. Although I grew up in Hollidaysburg and now have returned here, my largest group of friends live in Pittsburgh. Some of them are from Allegheny East, the agency I worked for while I was there, and some of them are from college, which I suppose is chance, to a degree. To me, it’s just amazing that I place where I spent only a fraction of my life, has such a stronghold on my heart. Just thinking about the city conjures a myriad of good memories, and often also a touch of nostalgia and longing to return to a part of my life now passed.

I suppose most of us, looking back, find that our lives unfolded much differently than we had planned in those naive days of childhood and adolescence. It was never part of my plan to enter the field of human services. Actually I had quit a job at AT&T that I hated, and needed some kind of employment. Out of necessity, rather than true desire, I began working at a temp agency for adults with MH/MR. The agency placed me at Allegheny East, and the director of AE offered me a full time job there almost immediately. I remember telling her that I needed a little time to decide if I even like the field, because I had no experience. She was a wonderful boss with a fantastic outlook not just in the field of human services, but also in the general course of life. She said something along the lines of, “take you time and let me know, but these guys have a way of grabbing you by the heartstrings.” How true that statement turned out to be! I often think of those words, because now, 8 years later, the people that I worked with - clients and staff - still have a hold on my heartstrings.

As I look back on my life’s experiences, there have been many times when I have been able to say, after the fact, why things happened the way they did. It was a blessing that my first marriage ended, it was a blessing that I didn’t get some of the jobs that I have wanted over the years, it was a blessing that I stumbled into the temp agency and into Allegheny East, etc. Today as I was ruminating about my friendships and my family, I was struck by a revelation that applied to my current situation. Instead of waiting to look back on a lesson, maybe I am actually learning it now as it happens!

I have been struggling with the fact that I am not working outside the home, and trying to come to terms with my new found position as stay-at-home-mom. Perhaps I am unemployed so that I can focus on my life a little more. It has always been very easy for me to eagerly focus my energy on my work, but maybe this time of unemployment is my chance to really take a look at who I am and what I am doing, rather than the other people I am serving. Why have I felt so terribly sentimental and emotional lately? Is God speaking to me, focusing my attention on what is really important? It’s easy to say that your family comes first, but in reality, how many people always live by those words? How often have I personally placed work before family? I’ve missed God’s messages before. Maybe I’m a little more in tune this time, because I am less distracted and more capable of hearing.

People have asked me where I find the time to write these blogs. Well, there’s a complex answer behind that question. As you all know, I am a ruminator. My mind does not silence, but rather continually chatters away all day and night. When I was working, as those of you who have worked with me can attest to, I focused a lot of that energy on my higher needs families and my job. Without a job, I don’t have anything concrete outside of my own family and friends to focus that energy on. Instead, I find that while I am doing mindless work (cleaning, mostly - this is a big house, and as we all know, I’m obsessive about cleaning. I’m generally NOT contemplating life issues when I am actively involved with the kids), my brain fills the void with these thoughts, which then are almost complete before I hit the computer and begin typing. (I confess also, that I frequently write them in a word document before posting, because I don’t usually have a few hours in one stretch where I can write, proof-read and post. So they actually are written in stages throughout the course of the day, or several days, and then posted upon completion.) I would not have the time to think about these things if I were working, or if I did, they would mostly just be dismissed.

Maybe I’m way off base. Maybe my hormones are still stabilizing, I’m still in a state of transition and I’m just a ball of emotions. Maybe there is no deeper reason for why I think so much. It‘s just my personality, and I‘m a nut ball with too much time on my hands. Regardless of why, what I have nonetheless learned about myself recently is that the changes I am going through, albeit sometimes painful, are predominantly for the good. I am slowly learning who I am, what is important to me, and making those things a priority instead of just talking about them. I owe the changes in part to myself and my time to think, but I also owe a lot to my friends and my family. We choose our friends, but I also think that God guides us to the people we need to make us who we are. I know I have missed God’s voice for many things over the years, but I have listened when it came to friendships. Marsha, Norma, Donna - my friends from Allegheny East, I’m so glad you have graced my life. And to all of my other friends - high school, college, home and away, thank you all for helping me grow.

The Boys Enjoy the New Tub!

Jake loves to get a bath with Andrew. I'm so glad we got our tub fixed, so I'm not embarrassed to post photos! Doesn't Andrew look great with his bubble hat?

Baptism Photos

My niece, Brooke carried the lit candle - very gingerly! Jacob was in charge of the tray, which he not so gingerly spun in a circle until the lids came off of the oil! My dear friend Jackie, whom I've known since 5th grade was Andrew's God Mother and Greg's dear friend, Steve, whom he has known equally as long, was the God Father. We couldn't ask for two more caring individuals to stand for Andrew.

A Boy and His Cone

Have you ever seen a boy so intensely eating an ice cream cone? The Meadow's Frozen Custard must really have some magic recipe!

No Surgery

Just an update -
Jacob did not have the surgery yesterday. Instead, we have postponed it until next Wednesday. Andrew is sick. He has had a fever, stuffy nose and slight cough for the last three days, and hasn't slept more than 45 minutes in a stretch since becoming ill. The pediatrician was also very busy and having a hard time filling out Jake's pre-op papers in time. So instead of rushing around, arguing with the pediatrician and being exhausted beyond belief while Jacob was under the knife, we just decided that it would be better to wait a week.

Andrew is in a very good mood, considering his illness. He's fine during the day, when he can sleep in his bouncy seat or while being held, but he can't sleep long stretches in an upright position. When we lay him down, even with his crib mattress elevated, the vaporizer, and plenty of Vicks Vapo Rub, he just can't stay asleep. It's sad for him, and exhausting for us. We're praying this ends soon.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts, and I'll keep you posted more as the situation unfolds!

Jacobisms Continued...

Jake: “Andrew doesn’t look very good today.”

Me: “Why do you say that?”

Jake: “Not his clothing, I like his outfit. His face looks bad. I think he has a fever.”

Me: “Oh. Really. What do you think we should do about that?”

Jake: “I can take care of it. I’m a doctor, you know.”

Me: "OK. How are you going to fix him?"

Jacob: "Well, to get rid of a fever in a baby, watch a very scary movie. The movie will scare the fever out of the baby. If the baby does not have a fever, the movie will scare the spine out of the baby."

Perhaps we should skip the scary movie. I think Andrew prefers to keep his spine.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

The "life saver" that Jacob wants is highlighted in the movie, Star Wars: the Vampire Strikes Back.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Jacob’s Grace:
Bless us, O Lord, in these, thy griffs, which we are about to receive. In a bounty of Mary cripes a Lord. Amen.
Listen to that each night before dinner and try not to laugh!

Baptism to Birthday

This weekend was busy for us. My grandfather will turn 80 on September 5, so family came in from out of town to celebrate his birthday on Saturday, and we also celebrated Andrew’s baptism on Sunday. Saturday we had dinner at the Allegro for my grandfather. It was a nice gathering and good food. My uncle, the only boy of six children, gave a toast to my grandfather - to the time, love and devotion that he has put into his family throughout the years and how, by such a loving example, his children did the same for their children and now, some of his grandchildren are continuing the family standards.

It’s something I’ve been aware of since late adolescence - the true gift of family that I have. I myself am one of three - not necessarily a large family unit, but my mother is one of six, and her mother was one of six, and so the heritage continues backwards. The line of aunts, uncles, first, second and once-removed cousins is so long in our family, that there are some people to whom I’m not exactly sure how I’m related! Sure there have been tiffs and separations throughout the years. Some people have moved out of town or state, but by in large, the core of the family hasn’t strayed far.

Some of my youngest memories are of going to Ocean City with my mother, her siblings, my grandmother, my great-aunt Carmen and her children, my cousin Lucie and my great aunt Nora (for whom Andrew would have been named, if he were only a girl!). We still take 5 or more families to the beach each year. I remember big parties every fourth of July at Lucie’s house where everyone would swim and then walk to the cemetery where we could see the fireworks from Lakemont. We always had big gatherings at my grandmother’s for Thanksgiving, and every Christmas there was a big party in my grandparent’s basement. There were tons of kids my age, tons of adults my parents age, my grandparents age, and beyond. Always.

I remember tagging along with my grandmother as often as I could to visit with my aunt Carmen and cousin Lucie. Carmen always had pets of varying numbers and kinds, and Lucie always fed me sweets. I remember being so excited to visit with my aunt Annie, who is only 11 years older than me. As a child, I idolized her. She was always so “cool” and pretty. I remember spending the night at my aunt Kathy’s house once before their daughter Kristy was born, ordering a pizza and eating it in their bedroom.

These are just everyday memories that make me smile. I look at the life I was exposed to - so many people who were always open and willing to stop the world for each other. It is a true blessing. Many people have little or no family. Many people’s families are scattered all over the country or world and seldom see each other. My family is here, or will get here, for all the things that matter. That quality didn’t just happen over night. We aren’t just lucky. My great-grandparent’s parents instilled those values and they trickled down through each generation.

I’m now in an in-between generation. I’m no longer a young and innocent child, but I’m not exactly one of the elders either. I find myself contemplating the various stages of life these days. How does it feel to be my mother, my son, my grandfather? How does it feel to be 80? How does 80 years of living change a person’s perspective? My grandfather doesn’t say much. He is a man of few words, so in many ways, a deep conversation about the changes in his point of view isn’t likely. But I have tapped into my aunt Carmen, who is only 5 years younger than him. I enjoy listening to stories about when she was young, things she did with my grandmother, what her mother was like, how she felt as a young mother.

If I have gathered any wisdom from Carmen, it is this: times change, people change, but the basics of human emotions are elemental. We change our reactions to situations with age and with wisdom, but each generation will inevitably face the same hurdles with exceptions in the details. It’s unfortunate that we cannot have the wisdom of our 80’s when we are in our 30’s. Perhaps that is yet another example of life’s mockery; we cannot be told how to handle situations, emotions, or problems. We must learn by doing, feeling and solving ourselves. Life’s school is much more salient than second hand accounts, even when we enjoy hearing those tales. What it boils down to, as I’ve mentioned before, is having a strong foundation from which to pool your resources and make good decisions. And like a house foundation, the strength of it is not accidental, it is a deliberate reinforcement and enrichment intended to prepare and protect.

This weekend we were faced by polar opposites - the celebration of my grandfather’s 80th birthday. The celebration of a life coming to completion, a man who has done his job not only as an American and a postal employee, but also as a son, as father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and done it well. He, with the help and support of his family, successfully continued instilling high moral standards in his children, all the while also letting them know that they were loved and cherished for the individuals they were. Now he can sit back and enjoy that work in the faces of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Contrarily, we celebrated Andrew’s birth, in a sense. Not his physical birth, but his birth as a Christian. He starts his life shiny and new, slate clean, surrounded by a loving an supportive family. He is blessed by the love of God, but he is also blessed by the love of many, many others, who will help to guide and mold him into (probably someday) a father, then grandfather and perhaps even great-grandfather. I hope that he will sit someday surrounded by several generations of his own offspring, praising his efforts throughout the years, and celebrating the foundation that he continued to nurture and build.