Sam, you know I’m not good at remembering things. I don’t mean remembering where I put my keys or remembering important days. I mean remembering events in the past. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I don’t remember details about the day of your birth. The truth is, I have an even harder time assigning what I do remember to you specifically. For me, the births of my three children tend to run together.
However, I do remember one night soon after you came home from the hospital. You were nursing and you choked. Your lips turned blue. Your mother sat you up and patted you on the back and you were instantly fine. But it scared us. Your mother and I were tired and we panicked. I remember thinking, and I may have even said it aloud, “How could they (the hospital staff) have let us come home with a baby? We don’t have any idea what we’re doing!”
From your perspective, I probably come across as self-assured, in control, and decisive. I’ve never been one to shy away from sharing my opinions. But I have to tell you there are many times when I have felt I don’t have any idea what I’m doing.
Luckily for both of us my lack of confidence and occasional self doubt are of no consequence. You are doing just fine all by yourself. You are doing better than fine; you are doing great.
Happy birthday, Sam.
icanhasgrace 
You don’t give yourself enough credit Doug. (Neither does you mom, so it must run in the family.) I was with Sam more than the other two children during the early years of his life. I remember taking a picture similar to this of Sam at Henri’s one Saturday. He is so Beautiful!
I remember every Christmas Ann, Sam and I would go to Rivergate mall, pick out a present for Mommy and Daddy, then go back and wrap it. We would eat at the food court. We kept up that tradition even a couple of years after Ben came along, but somewhere along the way we stopped. I want you to know that I have always admired you as a father and think highly of your parenting style. Happy Birthday to Sam and Congradulations to you. 17 years is a long time to keep someone safe and you have done that with love and patience.
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You made me cry again. (But that runs in the family, too.) Thanks, LadyVol1.
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My dear, sweet brother’s birthday. Seventeen. . . next is eighteen which is college. Whoa. That’s gonna be a wild ride. But let’s live for right now… & right now, your still an annoying, seventeen-year-old brother… that I love.
😉 Don’t let that get it your head though.
❤ Ruthie.
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Sam, there isn’t time to tell all the stories, but the words are: gratitude, amazement, humility, some pride, excitement, pleasure, smiles, some concern, and always love.
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Sam. Happy Birthday (formally). I love you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life. It’s been my privelege and joy to share a home with you. It’s been so long that we have all been together I can’t remember when we weren’t. With your kind and open heart you accepted Katie and I as family and now after all these years we are all truly a family; a family that I cherish. Hugs to you and prayers of gratitude to God for these blessings. Hugs.
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