happy birthday, nick...

  I am smiling as I think about...

• the happiness Dad and I felt in our hearts the day you were born.
• you wearing a cone birthday hat on your first birthday.
• the nights I use to hold you in bed when you were sick as a baby.
• a kindergarten performance when you sang the "penguin" song.
• the food you love to eat and how you say, "This is delicious!"
• watching you catch in countless Flossmoor baseball games.

• the new friends and new life you made for yourself when we moved to St. Charles.
• high school baseball and golf and wrestling and rugby.
• the way you love riding your bike.
• the day you graduated from East and the look on your face as you graduated.

• orientation day at ASU and watching you and Dad walking on campus together.
• the morning we left you in Jonesboro so you could begin your first year in college.
• your warm smile.

• rugby and trips to the emergency room and hospital and physical therapists.  (Wow!)
• lemon chicken.
• how much I worry about you and how often you tell me not to worry.

• the day Dad and I told you Sarah and Chris were getting married.
• our summer together.
• you watching Sarah on her wedding day.
• watching you drive out of our driveway.
• your hugs.
• how kind you are and how much we all love you.

Nick, you are a wonderful person.  Happy 21st Birthday!