I have not done a personal blog on my site, but thought that this would be a good time to start. 

It seems just like yesterday my oldest daughter came into my life.  She is now 20years old and doing great.  In the spring she married an awesome young man which I was pleased to walk her down the aisle to.  They were young to be getting married, but they both had such strong paths they wanted to take together, it seemed unfair to keep them from attaining them.  He is in the military and is currently stationed in Missouri finishing up with his training before moving to North Carolina where he will be stationed.

They have done very well for themselves since their wedding.  My daughter moved up to Missouri and has been living just off base to where on his short leaves; they can spend some time together.  She has had no family or friends to spend the very vast times of separations with, but has kept herself busy and out of "trouble". 

I received a phone call from her the other day, and I was glad that I could not get to my phone and it went to voice mail.  I had had a hard day and when I listened to it, I melted.  It was one of those phone calls that a parent waits to hear.  She was going to be moving into their first apartment and had been shopping for some kitchen items.  The message was that she wanted to let me know how much she loved me and that she appreciated what I had taught her throughout her life.  She was very proud that she was able to go to a thrift store and bought plates, glassware, pots, pans and other assorted kitchen items for the low price of $12.00 for everything!  She had BUDGETED (not a word most young people know) to spend over 100.00, and she was excited and thrilled that she had some money left over!  I called her back and let her know who much that message meant and how proud I was of her and her husband.

Now for the GREAT news...this past weekend they called me and told me that I was going to be a grandpa!!!!  I couldn't be more excited...even though I still have two small wonderful girls, ages 8 and 4 that I still have at home.  My oldest couldn't wait to tell her sisters that they were going to be aunts!!!  The older one took it well, she understood, but the younger one said "I don't want to be an aunt...I squish ants and I don't want to be squished!!!"...she just isn't quite old enough yet to understand. 

We have settled on me being called "Opa" a good German name for grandpa, and my wife is going to be called "Oma"...we couldn't be more excited.  My oldest is going to take with her the crib we used for her younger sisters, which means a lot to her, and to me as well. 

It is going to be a great summer...I guess the inevitable is happening...I will be a grandpa before my baby goes into kindergarten.  She will more than likely be the only aunt in her class.

Thanks for letting me share.