My kids....

Chris - 10; Tobi -3; and Zach - 1

Chris and Vincent

Tobi - 8 months

Tobi and Leo just moments after his birth 4/23/11

Zach - 3 with his chicken pox

Walt, Zach and me at his graduation, June 2012

I was sitting here tonight listening to the laughter of my youngest son and his friend Bradley coming from the living room, and thought about how much more rich my life has been with these kids in my life.

Christopher Robin (Buddy) is almost 28.  My oldest son, with whom I share a very special and complex bond.  He and I were alone together for his first 6 years.  Vincent Robert was born when Christopher was young, and Vincent is now 9.  I shared the moment of Vincent's birth with Christopher.  What an incredibly life-changing event that was for me.  I had no idea that I had a place in my heart that was empty until Vincent was born.

He has always been intensely intelligent, and has by far, of all of my children, the most vivid imagination.  Christopher is an artist, and shares that talent with the world in many different media.

Christopher was the one who helped me make it through my chemistry and math classes in nursing school!  Christopher has been the one I've shared very "out there" conversations with.

Christopher has been, and always will be, a huge blessing in my life.  

October Louise (Monkey, as Daddy called her) and (Tobi Lu as Ma calls her) is 22 and my middle child.  She is the one I've shared special "girl" giggles with, played dress up with, and cried with over many, many experiences.

Leo Cristian was born in 2011, and I shared the moment of his birth with her.  Again, a place in my heart filled up!

October is my daughter, and that bond is extraordinary between us.  She, too, is a huge blessing.

Tobi is an incredible mother to her son, and I've been able to share many of the milestones with her.  Leo is an awesome kid, and I give Tobi much credit for that.  He is articulate and well behaved (most of the time) and I truly enjoy spending time with him.

Zachary Alexander (Zach) is 18, my younger son, and I don't think he really likes being the baby...  He and I share the bond only the youngest one shares with their mother.  He's been a huge blessing as well.  

Zachary has an incredibly musical soul.  He takes after his father in this, as I can't carry a tune in a very large bucket.  Zachary is often found in his room, strumming a guitar; at his friend Logan's house pounding his drums; or singing his heart out no matter where he finds himself.

I love listening to Zach create his music.  Zach has learned many of the songs his father used to sing, and has shared them with me.  Zach also writes music, but hasn't shared too much of that with me.  He will, someday.

Walt wasn't Christopher's father, but we married when Chris was 5.  Walt was an awesome Dad to all of the kids, and for that I will always be grateful.  Tobi and Zach inherited many of their father's traits, and Walt instilled those traits in Christopher as the years went by.  Christopher was truly a child of his heart.

My kids lost their dad when he died on August 19, 2012, and I lost my best friend.  This shared experience has drawn us together in ways we couldn't have imagined.  We've regained parts of our relationships that might have not come back together without this happening.

My kids are strong, independent, and dependable adults.  I'm not sure how much influence I had in this, but I am very grateful...

God gave me a family that only He could have chosen... And I thank Him.