Happy Birthday, Baby!!!

Shane,

Just wanted to take a minute to say Happy Birthday tomorrow. You have shined a light in my life that has never dimmed. You are my reason for constantly wanting to be a better person. You bring out the very best in all of us. We love you. We cherish you and hope and pray that this year will be the most successful and prosperous one so far. Several years ago, you took a huge gamble and hopefully, I will make you grateful everyday for your leap of faith. You are the best decision I ever made. I hope your birthday is really special to you.

I know you have had some serious disappointments in the last couple years but you are so far above the pale. You never let those things get you down. I truly don't know anyone like you. I take the things that have hurt you really hard but you just brush it off. I love your attitude regarding these life changes...."I can't change someone else's decisions or the way they have been influenced. I can't let it ruin my life or the lives of those who depend on me." What a motto! I hope that you can regain the relationship you feel you have lost with your oldest son. I know that someday, he will realize what he had and what he has been influenced to walk away from. One of these days, friends won't be as important as the relationship he had with his dad. You are brave. I couldn't be so brave. You are wonderful, in that you never have given up. I admire your perserverance, even when your attempts are ignored. I want you to know, on your birthday, that you are a gift to me, to our family, to those you work with and to our friends. I want you to know that I am so proud of the man you are. I am in awe of your ability to handle all the responsibilities at home and at work. You know.....you never really complain about anything. What a wonderful attribute.

I love to watch you work. I love to watch you laugh. I love to watch you sleep. I love to watch you when you watch me. You make me feel so loved when things are hard for me. You are my greatest cheerleader....and you have to know that I am yours.

Thank you for the father you are to our children and the "Papa" you are to our grandchildren.
Thank you for diligently helping the boys with their homework. Thanks for being the one who holds the rope the pinata is attached to. Thanks for staying up late on Christmas Eve to help Santa with all his projects. Thanks for holding and honoring your Priesthood and for blessing our family and others. Thanks for your brain....your ability to think anything through and make it work. Thanks for our beautiful home. Thanks for "assisting" our boys with their Pinewood Derby cars. Thanks for clearing the dinner table. Thanks for wiping down the shower when you are done. Thanks for teaching me to LOVE sushi. Thanks for being the shoulder I need. Thanks for doing the taxes for those of our children who need the help. Thanks for taking Tee to get her new car. Thanks for being willing to teach the boys to ski and spending your ski days on a "bunny-hill" even though Back Mountain was calling your name. Thanks for being willing to change a dirty diaper. Thanks for being willing to make dinner when the responsibilities of my job don't allow me to be home in time to do it. Thanks for sacrificing a game or a race or a favorite show you have wanted to watch for a SpongeBob marathon. Thanks for putting the worm on. Thanks for buying me a tent trailer so I would never have to sleep on the ground in a thunderstorm again. Thanks for going to the occasional "chick-flick." Thanks for being able to shed a tear. Thanks for burying the occasional pet. Thanks for playing soccer in the backyard with the kids. Thanks for being the greatest coach our boys could have.

We all want to wish you a very Happy Birthday.