Marie Stella Eve Wagner, December 5, 2013

Welcome to the world Marie Stella Eve Wagner

December 5, 2013
Clearwater, Florida

What kind of life will you have?  Will you grow to know the wonderful family that is your family until the day that you enter eternity?  Will you find joy in knowing Jesus?  Will you cherish and pass on your Roman Catholic faith and tradition?  Will your footprints leave an impression on those who follow?  Will you inspire?  Will you teach?  Will you become a mother?  Will you reach back someday and piece together a name for your baby that connects the old with the new? 

How will you forge your place into the family that will, from this day on, never again be complete without you?

I am going to know you and you are gong to know what love feels like from an old grandpa who has not been the same since the arrival of your brother Christopher Paul and your sister Kaire Erocross.  I am going to buy a new steering wheel cover today which will be "rosebud" in your life.

Your arrival was breath taking - even though many of us held our breath while you arrived!

On a cooler than usual but by no means cold early morning in a corner of paradise named Clearwater, Florida a knock on the kitchen door startled me and woke me up.  It was your daddy.  You had been teasing your mommy since 11:30 last night and have been predictably unpredictable about when you planned to arrive.

"We are going to have a baby," your daddy said.   Will you come over and stay with Christopher and Kaire?

"Let's pray" I remember saying.  And your daddy and I prayed for you, for your health, for your place in the family and for your mommy.  I put on an old pair of shorts and a tee shirt and a few minutes later I heard your mommy and daddy leave.

I was excited but in a different way.   I was excited that soon your brother Christopher would be waking up and all of the happy pore's of my life will begin to dance in the happiness of seeing him.  I was also happy about seeing Kaire. Your sister Kaire pilots her own course on her terms.  While as cute, loving and affectionate as any almost three year old can be, Kaire has a quiet aroma of patience that I haven't quite figured out yet.  Maybe that's why I find myself more aligned with Christopher.  We are both loud and find or create an adventure in every day.  Now, I will get to learn about you.  What quality will you bring that will fill our lives with the loveliness of who you are?

I want you to know that if my life ends before you and I get a chance to really know each it is because part of it came due when you arrived today.  You had me praying and worrying for your mommy and your grandmother. I must chopped off at least a couple of years as a result of worry, tension, tight chestedness and insecurity. With every arrival the love that is brought into the world demands that hearts will one day break and that one daybreak a heart will stop and depart.

You are going to love this family.   You are especially going to love Kaire and Christopher.  Even though they have had a 3-4 year head start you will not be intimidated nor will you ever question the entitlement that is yours simply because of who you are and you are who we have prayed for with such anticipation that we will no longer ever be able to recall this family and it's many branches and roots without you as one it's most important members.

Your tiny footsteps will eventually fall into the Footsteps of a Fisherman who will forever become your Navigator.  And when the family size dwindles to a just a few - you won't notice because of the waves of memories, tradition, and experiences that will never allow you to be alone.

I'd say you made a pretty good choice!  Not bad for the first day!  Enjoy the journey!

Grandpa