Happy Birthday, Rachel!

Twenty-three years ago today I witnessed the miracle of Mary giving birth to Rachel. Life has never been the same since. I immediately fell in love with those inquisitive brown eyes that proved she was her mother’s daughter. Every day since has been made more special because Rachel is such an integral part of my world that—to shamelessly borrow a line from a movie—she makes me want to be a better man. I think it is impossible to pinpoint the single happiest moment in my life because there have been several that are of equal value: when Mary and I discovered that we loved each other, when Mary and I were married, when Rachel was born, and when Rebecca was born. Each of these events profoundly changed my life for the better. So, while I am indebted to all three women in my life, today marks the occasion when I can publicly celebrate Rachel’s life in particular. The world is a better place for her being here, and I know that I am not alone in feeling profoundly fortunate to know and love her.