You stood, nervously rocking your weight from one foot to the other. Your arms poised as if to catch the Hail Mary pass of the year. With uncertainty, (your jaw set with determination), you carefully manuevered your brand new baby girl into the cradle of your caring arms. You looked down at your "pink papoose",(the term you later used to describe her), smiled through your tears and croaked the words "I love you" to your first born daughter. On that day, she came into the world with your gorgeous looks and the gift of your never faltering love.

The next time I saw that same awestruck look on your face, you handled your second born with the grace and confidence of a seasoned, experienced father. What we were not prepared for was the emotional apprehension that came with the evidence of apparent breathing problems and slow responses. Your relief was so evident when the doctor assured us of a healthy baby girl, I thought you had been struck. Your smile was again emotional; your pride and your love magnified by the previous minutes of unknown, and then pure joy when you knew she was safe!

Finally, your son, born on your birthday! Your namesake, Thomas III! The celebration was shaken with the ugliness of the unknown, the foreign medical terms, spoken by so many doctors of varying degrees,who delivered different messages, but could not look us in the eyes. Your anguished plea to God and the promise of your unfaltering faith, if only He return your son's health.

Through it all, your strength and your passion would not be denied...and you shone.

All three births, beautiful, the embodiments of our love. All three births very different, yet the impacts were very much the same! All three, life-altering, forever changing your life, but never your principles.

Today, everyday, through these past years, I have seen you develop and grow as a father. The pride, the strength, sometimes the fear, but always, always, your love have nurtured your children.

They have arrived at adulthood confident in the knowledge that their father loves them without condition. This is the truest gift they'll ever own, and soon they will know this too!

I'm proud of you, Tommy, proud of all you are and all you've done. Do you know what you have accomplished here? We do...and we love you for it!

Happy Father's Day!