For those of you who read my columns in the Enterprise Record and the Willows Journal, you know my children. You watched them grow-up through the stories I shared. Having four of them around has always provided a new adventure from raising rats for a science fair project to losing my keys in the house gutter because one of the kids decided I need to go out for a long pass.

Every once in a while I give you an update on the one or more of the four now adult children who have all left the nest and are flying on their own. I’ve told you about the Air Force for my two boys one of who is now out of the Air Force and headed towards a law degree. I shared a wedding for one of my girls and the other is now a senior at Sonoma State.

Today’s update, however, may be the most amazing event so far. Yesterday London Paige arrived as the newest member of the family. Jennifer and Jordan are the proud parents of this 6 lb 5 oz wonder. I’m usually pretty good with words, but this one left me without much to say. Well, at least for a while.

What an incredible miracle. As I held this little one only a few minutes after she was born, it was like looking at life in this moment now, yet also seeing life stretch out into the years ahead. It was no coincidence that only a couple of hours before her birth, we were watching the inauguration of our first African-American President and feeling the hope, excitement and expectation of a whole country. What a time to be born. What amazing possibilities await this child.

As I looked at her I realized how much I believe all babies, all children are miraces and all have such amazing possiblities awaiting them. Those possibilities become possibles because we, the parents and adults in their lives, believe in who our children are. We can't make a child into someone not matching with who he or she is, but we can provide them the love, support, and the freedom to think, to learn, and to choose to be who they are. Whoever baby London is will come directly from her and will be guided and supported by those around her. Your children are who they are through and because of you. Make the best of every loving and learning moment.