Well, my baby is engaged...It seems like yesterday when she came home from the hospital after being born, then she was crawling around the floor here in the den, starting kindergarden, learning to read, enjoying her summer vacations swimming at the lake, taking dance lessons and eventually mastering ballet, learning to use the computer - she is a real digital native, performing in the Little Mermaid play, performing in the Sound of Music, going to church, talking on the phone, Captain of the High School Cheerleading Squad, playing clarinet in the band, marching in parades, Homecoming Court, getting her drivers licenses, the green Jeep, dating, snow skiing, winning beauty pageants, appearing in parades like the NC Azalea Festival, going to Jr. Sr. Proms, her first big cell phone bill, National Honor Society, Jr. Woman’s Club, class officer, graduating high school, going off to college, class officer in college, interning at PPD and planning to graduate with a degree in Clinical Research from UNC-W-- just to name a few events in her totally booked social schedule, she is always on the GO.  Meredith has always been a leader and goal oriented.  Now her goal is a happy marriage- it is going to happen.

 

[Meredith, I know I am leaving out lots more that you have accomplished, please forgive me for not including everything, but it would take several volumes of books to cover it all and I can’t type that much ;-) ]

 

I guess one of the biggest has been her announcement that she and Byron, who I have to admit is one of the hardest working, hardest hunting, hardest fishing, young men I know.  I taught his sister in high school.  She and Byron both are educators with great futures.  Byron’s parents love Meredith like a daughter.  Family is an important part of their lives.  Pig pickings, oyster roasts, Sunday dinner, fishing, shopping at the outlet malls, and listening to each others challenges and celebrating success.  I know they will do everything in the world to keep her safe and happy.  That is all a father can hope for.

 

Bottom line- I am the luckiest man in the world.  I am not losing a daughter, but gaining a son...