For everything there is a season… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; … a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Today, our “baby” turns thirty-two. She is our first-born, our eldest, and our last-born, our youngest. The Alpha and Omega of our progeny.

In her time on this planet she has accomplished many things.

She has a quick wit, a bright sense of humor, a willingness to challenge herself on mountain trails and in courts of law. An attorney, a bright intellect, an excellent cook (which she gets from my long line of culinary excellence), a raiser of chickens, and a companion of dogs.

A wife with excellent skills in choosing her husband (Chuck paid me to say this) and a fierce and loyal friend.

Now, she is preparing to enter a new stage of life and bring us all along with her. Soon she will be the one holding a new life in her hands, just like we did thirty-two years ago. And while every moment has not been perfect, it has been a perfectly wonderful experience. Where those years have gone is a mystery, but I wouldn’t have missed them for the world.

Her moment of a life changing event approaches, and time will speed up for her as it has for us..

But all  her accomplishments, her talents and skills and hard work to get where she is, the many moments of her life are just frosting on the cake of her being (the thick butter kind, not that whipped stuff) for she had our hearts the moment she first opened her eyes.

As will her soon to be born child.

Happy Birthday, Kelsey, and may there be many more.

Legal Notice:

 This constitutes the entire extent of my birthday present to you. There is no expressed or implied intention to offer, supply, secure, fund, obtain, invest, or otherwise acquire any additional product, investment vehicle, or other real or valuable items. (Got my money’s worth out of that law school investment.)