glory

Ever wonder what glory is?  I think we caught a glimpse of it this past weekend!  Brand new umbrella ... winter wonderland ... and an entire weekend filled with love and joy.


Practice makes perfect...  Josh and Heather are currently taking bets about when that first independent step will happen!

Always a twinkle in those big blue eyes.  Always a smile.

Always adorable.

Always thinking.  Always tugging at our heartstrings.

Always our funny Princess.

We did it - Jamie and Justin in the same place, both of them smiling at the same time - hurray!


Father/daughter partners in silliness - making faces for some highly-disturbing photo-warping technology.

Isn't Mommy lucky - both her boys have big blue eyes!

Isn't Grandma lucky?

Jamie wanted to spend all her waking hours playing with me!

Isn't Grandpa lucky?

Grandpa got to play with Justin to his heart's content!

Aren't Grandma and Grandpa lucky?  Another much better word - we are truly blessed.   Thank you, Josh and Heather, for our glorious weekend with you and your beautiful children.

his second year of loving us

Sometimes we take him for granted.  He can be wild and crazy, especially when greeting people he loves (i.e. everyone), and then we notice him.  Most of the time, he's just there.  Faithful.  Always.


He's soft and warm...


... sticks to the kids like crazy glue...


... watches over each and every one of us...


... understands...


... stays by our side...


... takes delight in every creature he meets...


... enriches all our experiences...


... makes us laugh...


... and somehow helps shape who we are.  Happy Birthday, Kazan.  Thank you for sharing your life with us.  Thank you for the love you lavish on us every single day.  You are a beautiful being, and we love you.

Here's to Heather!

Happy Birthday, Heather! May you have a lovely day today!  May your loved ones give you the royal treatment, on this, your very first 29th birthday!


From the moment we first heard the beautiful music of your laughter over the telephone all those years ago, we have been so inexpressibly grateful to you for bringing SO much love and happiness into our son's life!



And from the moment you brought our precious little grandchildren into this world, we have marveled at the gentle loving purposeful wisdom of your motherhood.



Thank you for sharing your adventurous spirit with us, for taking the time to build beautiful memories with us, for welcoming us into your heart and into your life.



Dearest Heather, there is no way to express to you strongly enough, how grateful we are that you have come into our family. Thank you for embracing us with your deep generosity and kindness, and for filling our lives, our hearts, and our memories with so much love and laughter!!!  We love you.