In a dream long ago, was a young baby boy. The answer to hopes and a prayer. I love that baby boy. He is to me, the smartest and the best. I will cherish the moments with him til my last breath. I will cherish the moments to the last beat of my heart.

I just wanted him to grow: just to talk, walk and throw a ball, and oh, how time has taken wings since then. He loves to collect his stamps, cards, coins, and knows his dinosaurs too. I will cherish the moments with him til my last breath. I will cherish the moments to the last beat of my heart.

He was just ten years old when he preached like an old time pro. At fourteen he did the work of a man, learned to love a girl, the military, his country, and all things crazy or new. I will cherish the moments with him til my last breath. I will cherish the moments to the last beat of my heart.

He battled the issues of life to know. What career? Is love real? Who can you trust? Is God true and are people a fraud? He lives life big and in a hurry. He is comical and kind, but if crossed could become a firey fury too. I will cherish the moments with him til my last breath. I will cherish the moments to the last beat of my heart.

Well, Son, you have been to Bosnia and back again. You partied hard, laughed, had a good time and made others smile. You didn’t waste much time with your passion to make a difference in the world. You put it all on the line, going from the guard to Army full time, knowing you were bound for Iraq. I will cherish the moments with you til my last breath. I will cherish the moments with you to the last beat of my heart.

You’ve gained a wife, lost a friend in combat never to be forgotten, and now you have a dream come true: not so long ago. He is formally known as “the JJ man”: your dream and your baby boy. They’ll surely say, he looks like you, walks like you, and talks like you just like they told me about my baby boy. You’ll cherish the moments with him til your last breath. You’ll cherish the moments to the last beat of your heart.

No doubt my son, you are wondering what to do next. Don’t worry son, time has that all figured out and I know the vision I saw of you. You know it’s true and will come to pass. Dreams are a mirror with which you see what a treat God has in store and exactly what you are to be. Only know this along the way, I will cherish the moments with you til my last breath. I will cherish the moments to the last beat of my heart.

Son, thanks for you, your service to your country, your wife and your wonderful son. Most of all, I missed you while you were in that foreign land of Iraq, but I am so glad my new dream came true and my baby boy is back. Many others don’t have that good news, so live your life for real and not with the blues. I will cherish the moments with you til my last breath. I will cherish the moments to the last beat of my heart.