Two Generations

Over the weekend, Julia, Richie, me and my mom went the Waco Zoo, and took in the animals. We all had a pretty good time just being a family. But for me the real highlight was going the Mikeska's Barbeque in Temple, TX. Now I will say that food was really that great, sorry Clem and family, but what was cool was eating barbeque with Richie in same booth and in the same restaurant where I ate as a kid Richie's age now. So when I was 5 and Richie is five we both got to share that memory. For me it was really cool.

It really got me to thinking there are two other places where I ate as a child that are still in business. One is Green's Sausage House in Zabcikville, Texas and the other is the Bluebonnet cafe in downtown Temple.

She is Richie's Momma

Pretty much every post that I make here is about Richie, but today I wanted to share a little bit about the person behind Richie that makes him so special, and that is my wife Julia. Richie has a such a kindness and gentleness to him, that I know comes directly from her. She so tirelessly loves him. She has really given up every thing she has that is important to her for him. Thanks babe for all that you do for our boy. Sometimes I forget how much you mean to me.



When Julia and I got married early on, she would tell me how much she wanted to be a mom. Now I think I chose to ignore that, or maybe in my mind, she would get to a point where she just didn't want that anymore. For me I was so scared of having a child because I didn't think I would be a good dad. And I so didn't want our child to have my life as a kid growing up.




I just thank God and people like Rich Muguerza for intervening in my life to help me get over that fear so that we could have Richie. I know that through Richie, Julia has been able to experience what she so much wanted in life and that was to be a momma.

Back in Time

When I started doing the blog for Richie, my hope was that I could have a kind of online scrap book. I was looking through some emails and I came across some pictures I had forgotten about.

Here is Richie as Scooby, and his friend Joey a Power Ranger:


Oh and another one of my favorites when Richie dropped dog food all over the kitchen:


Here is Richie out at the pumpkin patch. Yes these are from October, its June almost one year later.


I really miss this version of Richie. The hair the chubby cheeks. I think it has really set in that he is growing up.

Richie's Heart

There are many things that Richie does that makes me proud to be his dad. The most significant one is his natural ability to be empathetic. Most Dad's might be proud of his arm, or the fact that he can swim like Jacques Cousteau. When I am sad or I don't feel good I can always count on Richie to come to me and say "Daddy I am sorry you're feeling bad or you've had a bad day." I just have to sit back and say wow. As adults how often do we offer even our other family members care and concern? Or our friends?

It's always been amazing to me to see the number of friends that Richie has. To hear their parents talk about their child talking about Richie this and Richie that. Or when I take him to his class and the whole class just stops because Richie's there. Sometimes its like he is a Rockstar or something like that. But what I really think it is that he is such a gentle spirit, and he loves people. And he loves to talk to people primarily about dinosaurs or sharks, but man he can talk. What little boy or little girl doesn't want a friend like that.

For me I like to ponder what will Richie be like when he grows up. I just hope that by the time he reaches High School, that he will still have such a gentle spirit, and love people. I so can't wait to see what God is going to do in his life and through him to touch other people. Sometimes I wish I could just fast forward to see how his life will turn out, because I just know in my heart it will be a good one.

When Richie was born, Julia proclaimed that he is our miracle baby. And that is so right. It was a miracle from God that he was even born, or even conceived. And he has been a miracle in our lives.

Life

Experiencing "Life" with Richie and Julia is just awesome. Now not everyday is awesome in that life can get us down, but just watching my boy grow up is something I could never have planned for in advance. So many people both kids and adults just love him. He has so much joy and love for people, sometimes I just stand back in awe. I haven't felt very good the last few days, and what a blessing it is to hear Richie say, Daddy I am sorry that you feel bad. He is so empathetic. Another awesome thing is to have kids come up to me and say hello Richie's dad. They know me, but I don't know their name, and I might know their parents. What an impact my son will make for Christ when he gets older. I so hope our home is a haven for kids who parents aren't there for them.



I wanted to include Richie and some of his friends. One with Austyn and one with Gavin. It is a blessing to Julia and I to watch him interact with them. Thanks for your blessing to us Buddy. Can't wait until you can read this stuff.