Well I am currently in Milwaukee.  I was with the good people of St. Edmund’s in Milwaukee this morning, and I was able to deliver the sermon on a day we were transitioning their permanent Deacon to a new assignment for her further development under a different mentor. It has really been a day full of wonderful blessings, and I am truly blessed to get to be involved in it all.  I will be heading home to Indiana very early in the morning to make it home to celebrate my youngest son’s, and child’s, 18^th birthday tomorrow.  I do have to get home before 3pm EST because I have patients scheduled at 3, 4, and 5.  But Amanda told me Ben has requested to “sleep in” on his birthday.  And considering he does not even normally wake up until 4pm (EST) I figure I do not have a lot to deal with.

But this is a rambling about the not quite total adult Ben Tirman that will materialize tomorrow at his getting out of bed.  Ben has been similar to both of his older siblings.  He is crazy smart, and perhaps even more quick witted than either of them.  He is a math and computer nerd, but yet lives his life relating to all of us as if we were normal people.  He is a gym rat, a non-conformist, and a kid who will not enter life with a juvenile record unless he screws up today.  His brilliant scientist mom eats out of his hand, and his brother and sister constantly complain as to why he gets away with stuff that I would eat them alive for.  Ben is taller than them both, but yet still considered the baby.  Yep he has it all figured out, and outplayed both his siblings.

In just a bit I will call him to wish him a Happy Birthday.  It will be 11 here in Wisconsin, but 12 at home.  I will do it at midnight, because he is always up at midnight….just never awake before 4pm.  But I intend to be the first, and I will succeed.

But at midnight I will have taken all three kids to adulthood.  A great accomplishment, but only mildly satisfying.  I will still be pushing, as I have, and still am with all of them.

But happy las day, in fact less than 20 minutes as a kid Ben.  Life is arriving in mere moments, and I cannot wait.  I will let you sleep tomorrow, but it is just a birthday gift.  Adult life is waiting to wake you up everyday!  It’s fun, I swear!  Welcome to the rat race!! I will be hear for you if you ever want to complain!

Thanks for making raising you a pleasure and a blessing.  I am calling you in just a bit, but I love you and you have made me proud!

Blessings to you my son in you last few minutes before adulthood.

Love,

Dad.