Three Beautiful Things This Week - Happy Birthday, Nick!

I'm changing the format of Three Beautiful Things this Week, because today, July 22, is my son's birthday!

Happy 32nd birthday, Nick!

I love you!

Nick is one of the two most beautiful things to ever come into my life!

He was born at 1:38 AM.  I almost slept through it because I never stay up that late, but when he was born, and I held that 9 pound 12 oz baby in my arms, all I could think of is,

"His newborn clothes won't fit," and they didn't!

I had to send Dan home to scrounge up the larger sized clothes that we had, and, when we went home, 

he did have something to wear besides a diaper.

This is one of my favorite photos of Nick and our Basset Hound, Oliver.

Nick had a special relationship with that dog.

They were truly a boy and his dog.

One time when I came home from work,

Oliver came out of the family room, and he was soaking wet.

I asked him,

"Who did this to you?"

Oliver went back into the family room looking so very sad and sat next to Nick.

Nick had to give me his squirt gun, but Oliver and he were best friends again in a matter of minutes.

They truly loved each other!

Nick has always had an infectious smile!

He can make a room warm up when he grins!

The only concern I have is that I raised him to be a White Sox fan.

When he  moved back to Chicago,

he converted!

I don't know what I'll do with him!

That grin of his, though, makes me melt like butter!

Nick also has an amazing sense of humor.

Not only has he worn his "green man" costume for Halloween,

he also wore it to the reception in which he was a groomsman.

The bride just smiled.

I tell you, that his infectious smile saved the day!

Then there's Nick's relationship with his sister.

When she had her stem cell transplant, Nick took 3 weeks off of work to be with her and with me.

We both felt his strength, concern, and love as we navigated this storm again.

This picture was taken last year, a couple of weeks before Jenny was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Nick had invited her to Chicago for a weekend of fun with him and his friends.

The trip was a rousing success!

See what I mean,

he's an amazing man!

Happy Birthday, Nick!

I love you very much!