A Letter To My Sons

Dear Simon and Cash,

 

Welcome!  I want you to know how very excited and proud we are to have you officially joining our family today.  Even now, as you’re still in your Mother’s belly, you are loved more than you will ever know.  I want to take just a moment or two to introduce you to some of the people that are going to be a part of your lives. 

Your mother is the most amazing woman I have ever known.  You are going to come to realize how wonderful she is over these next weeks, months and years, and you will, as we are, be very thankful to have her.  She has so many qualities that make up the beautiful person she is.  She’s funny.  She has a sense of humor that makes you want to be around her.  She’s brave.  She tackles the obstacles that come her way without so much as a whimper, and I can attest to the fact that sometimes that is not easy.  She’s protective and genuinely interested in her children’s everyday lives.  Sadly, that is becoming a rare quality, but your Mother is overflowing with it. 

And she’s loving.  When she looks at you, when she touches you, you can feel how much she loves you.  I speak from experience because I’ve felt that love and seen it in how she looks at and touches her children.  There will be times, when you are sleeping or otherwise unaware, that she will be looking at you with love in her eyes.  That’s the way she is with her kids.

Her kids.  That would be your big Brother and big Sister. 

Your big Sister is named Sydney and she can’t wait to meet you both!  She has been preparing to meet you by helping out in a variety of ways.  She helped with a baby shower for you both (She made a poster for the occasion that is hanging on your nursery door as we speak…) and she painted a picture especially for you two that is hanging in your nursery above your changing table.  She is a beautiful, artistic person and is full of love.  If you want to get on her good side, tell her London is cool or that you like the Beatles.  Oh!  One thing though.   Don’t go into her room without knocking. 

You have a big Brother too and he is very proud of that fact.  He is even wearing a shirt today that says “Big Brothers Rock!”.  His name is Elliott and he can’t wait to play with you and he has so much he wants to share with you and teach you.  He was the one who you probably heard saying “Hello in there!!” into your Mother’s belly on more than one occasion.  He is full of energy and he has a huge heart.  He has already shared with me that he wants to give you both presents when you’re born.  Some of these presents are toys that are his, but he wants you two to have them.  He’s going to be a great big Brother.

You are also blessed with Grandparents that are so excited today to meet you that they are about to burst!  Your Nina is going to be so special to you both.  She is to everyone who knows her.  She is so very loving and protective and willing to make any sacrifice for her family.  All you need to do is look around your nursery and you can see the love that she put into it just for you.  As busy as she was, she found time to be at our house cleaning and preparing for your arrival.  Your Mother is thirty years old, but when she is sick, hurting, or is even having a bad day, she wants her Mother…your Nina.  That is a testament to what kind of Mother she is, and she is every bit as good as a  Grandmother.

You are going to love your Pop-Pop.  He is so much fun and he loves his Grandchildren!   I can almost close my eyes and see him playing with you two, making you laugh, giving you a ride on the tractor, or having you help in the garden.  He is everything a great Grandfather needs to be and he is so anxious to meet you two!  The quality in Pop-Pop that I have come to admire the most is that he is never afraid or hesitant to show his children or grandchildren how much he loves them.  You boys will never have to wonder how much he loves you. 

Your Grandma Thelma is about as excited as I have ever seen her!  She already loves you both so very much.  And like your Nina, Grandma Thelma has been over at the house constantly, helping clean and prepare for your homecoming.  Never has there been a more loving or sweet woman, at least not that I’ve met.  And she is a prayer warrior.  I would be willing to bet that she is praying for you two right now.  Many of the blessings you will have in your lifetime will be due to your Grandma Thelma’s prayers.  And just wait till you taste her banana pudding! 

You will never have to worry about having someone to roughhouse with or kid around with as long as you have your Grandpa Smokey!  He has a way of antagonizing you, but in a way that makes you want more.  He will probably have nicknames for both of you and will always be ready to tickle or tease you.  And you will love him.  As we all do.  He loves his children and grandchildren unconditionally and would do anything in the world for any of us.

You are also blessed with so many other special family members.  Your Uncle Alex has a huge heart and has been calling to check on you two all the time you’ve been in your Mother’s belly.   He will be one of the first ones to the hospital this afternoon I’m sure because he can’t wait to meet you!  He and your Aunt Carla are responsible for many of the things in your nursery.  Carla is an amazing person, always helping without being asked, and checking up on you two and the rest of us.  And your cousin Connor is going to be one of your best buddies I’m sure! 

Your Uncle Justin and Aunt Barbie are anxious to meet you as well, and they are going to provide you with a little cousin in a few months!  You will never have to worry about someone to play with.  Justin and Barbie are so much fun and you will love them just as your big Brother and Sister love them.  They have both constantly checked up on you two and are going to be there to welcome you into the world today!

Your Aunt Sallie and Uncle Lance are eagerly awaiting their new nephews too!  They both can’t wait to play with you.  They are constantly asking when you’re going to be born!  They are both very sweet and you’re going to love them. 

Your Great Aunt and Uncle Shelley and John and your cousins John Henry and Josh have been counting down the days too.  Josh has said many times that he wants your Mother to have the babies, only NOT when he is around!   Shelley has done so much to help us out and prepare for you guys and we are so thankful for her. 

You also have your Nana and Papa, who you will absolutely love.  They provided us with your cradle that is in our bedroom.  They are so sweet and can’t wait to hold their Great Grandbabies! 

You will meet your Uncle Dan and cousin Tyler too and you will get a kick out of both of them.  Dan was married to your Aunt Donna, who you will hear so, so much about in your lifetime.  I wish so much that you could have had the opportunity to know her and experience her.  But I will do my best to tell you everything about her and how she was a role model for all of us.  I want you to know her, even if you can never meet her, at least on this earth.  She would have loved you more than you can imagine.

Your Uncle Dave and Aunt Ann are right up the road, outside of Atlanta, and I look forward to them both being a big part of your lives.  I love them both so much and you will too.

Your Aunt Beth and Uncle Randy will be down to visit soon too, hopefully!  And they will bring with them four more of your cousins!  They are great people and I know you will love them as I do.

You also have your Uncle Wayne, Aunt Marsha, and cousins Nick, Lauren, James and Becca,  They have all been in one way or another an influence in my life and I would not be who I am without them.  They are as close to a perfect family as I’ve ever seen.  They have taught me so much about how to love, how to live, and about our Lord.  And then there is your second cousin Emma, who you will love to death. 

And that brings you to me.  My name is Vern and I’m your Daddy.  I am new to fatherhood, but your Brother and Sister have been doing a great job of breaking me in.  They have each shown me how you can feel unconditional love for your children.  I love them as I love you, and aside from the love I have for your Mother, I’ve never felt anything like it.  The four of you are now the center of my universe, the main consideration of each and every decision your Mother and I will make.  I am humbled by the responsibility of being a father to you all, but am so grateful to God for the opportunity.  I want you to know that I’m going to make mistakes.  A lot of them.  And I ask for your forgiveness.  I know that in all likelihood, you’re going to break my heart at some point.  And I want to you know that I forgive you for that.  I want you to know that you can never do anything that would make me not love you.  

I saved the most important person for last.  I want to introduce you to Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior.  I want you to know him most of all.  As hard as it is for any of us to fathom, he loves each of you more than we ever could.  He died on the cross to pay for all of our sins and it is through his mercy and love that heaven awaits us.  My most important job as a parent will be to do everything I can to make sure you know Jesus and I vow to do just that. 

I can’t believe that I am mere hours from meeting you, my Sons.  I cannot describe the feeling I have in knowing that I will hold each of you today.  I am so honored, so blessed, and so scared. 

Know that I love you.  Know that most of all.  And know that of all the things in this world that I have ever been proud of, none outside of being your Mother’s Husband can compare to being a Father.

 

 

I love you both,

 

Daddy