joyful

It seems kinda fitting that we have spent this week together enjoying the days leading up to your birthday. Your 30th birthday, I might add.

Thirty years ago, the week crawled by. It was hot. I was uncomfortable. And I couldn’t wait to see your face. Back then, we didn’t know ahead of time if you were a boy or a girl. We decorated gender-neutral nurseries, and had a sufficient supply of pink and blue clothes to get us through the first week until we knew for sure. There were no 3d or 4d ultrasounds, so we waited with baited breath to see who you would look like.

Turns out, you looked like yourself. Entirely you, with a heart and personality to match. You were always your own person.

allthekids

Not much has changed in the last 30 years. You are still your own man, charting your own course through this life. You’ve decided what you want to be when you grow up and you are pursuing it with single-minded passion.

You love your family and friends. You are generous and kind and loyal. And so much more.

The writer of Proverbs said,

…may she who gave you birth be joyful! Proverbs 23:25

And I couldn’t be anymore joyful that you are my son! In fact, I look at you with pride and awe and am always amazed that you are mine. 

neilbirthday

So, enough with the words that have already embarrassed you beyond measure. Just know that I loved you 30 years ago before I ever saw your face.

And I love you still…all the way around the world and back again.

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