Watching my son be a Father is one of life's greatest joys.

"You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons.  And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes." 

-Walter M. Schirra, Sr. 

Like many parents, the dates of my children's birth are always special to me. Their entrance into my life each impacted me in ways I would never have considered possible. Each one continues to improve me as a human being, and it's amazing to trace back where we had come from that first moment when our eyes met.

And there are so many incredibly memorable moments.

But I think that the most amazing of those are the instances of watching my children with their children. I am reminded of this as I celebrate the birth of my son Jeremy today. He has provided me with a lifetime of adjectives and adverbs filled with elation and challenge. I never doubted he would be a wonderful father, but even I didn't realize that he would be an exemplary one.

And I don't think I can take any of the credit. 

I just raised a son in the best fashion I knew how. But now my son is filled with determination to be the best father he can be. He has joined forces with a young woman who he has committed to cherishing. He has decided to develop every talent within him to fully support his family and his life's purpose. And for that, he is now also my hero.

Birthday bliss to my hero son, Jeremy Bryce.

Cheers.