35 YEARS AGO... It's a boy!

Barely married a little over a year, just moved 4 days earlier, away from both family and friends and it was time for you to make your grand entrance into this world. Don-André Samuel Roseberry - 8 pounds - 20 inches.
We named you after both your grandfathers and your maternal great-grandfather, my grandpapa.
The first baby in the family (on my side) and a boy!

My Grandpapa was just besides himself when you first visited him in Switzerland. He was delighted that we gave you his name! He had a unique way of pronouncing Don André - like in Don Quixote. It always made us laugh. He gave you "horsey rides" on his knees. You were like a dazzling sunset in his last years.

I didn't know much about motherhood... your Grandmaman was a lifesaver! She adored you and baked special apple pies for you... little bitty ones. When we were on this side of the globe, she sent you "Made in Switzerland" shoes and huge Lego sets, and hand knitt sweaters.
My father, your Grandpapa, loved to take you (and your brother) to the Café and let you order your own grenadine "une rouge ou une verte?" You always choose the same kind, but it was a big moment for you every time. He taught you how to use a knife to sharpen a pencil, how to light a match... away from the body.

And you had a Tati... she was also my Tati. Not having any brothers or sisters, I shared her with you :)
Now, Tati thought you were the most beautiful baby, and later the most handsome little boy. She spoiled you with fancy clothes, fancy toys, fancy food... and a little transistor radio. During a stay at her house, every day after lunch you sat in the highchair at the table while we washed the dishes. And every day you took this little radio apart and put it back together again. No, it didn't work, but you would fit all the pieces inside to where you could place the back panel on and close it. "Remarkable" she would say.

And a remarkable little boy you were. Puzzles, books, Legos, marbles, small cast iron cars were some favorites things. Off course they were daily walks, daily time spent together over an activity or a game. And talks about nature, faraway places an people. And talks about History and family history. And book reading, just the way I was raised.
I could I forget those fun times with your bicycle? When you first learned, you didn't have it quite down how to stop... so you hollered "Attention!" and jumped off!!! Amazing you never got hurt!
Now you pull one of those contraptions with a little girl sitting inside... And your two boys ride their own bikes with Mommy.

There were difficult times in your childhood and later in your teens... But you stood strong in your morales values.

I thank my parents and my whole family for instilling in me what I tried my best to teach you.
I thank God for keeping us until by His Grace we found our way to His House and a new life began.
I thank God for your, my son - son #1.
I thank God for the day He filled you with the Holy Ghost and you took hold of the Truth.
I thank God for the desire He placed in your heart to serve Him.

35 year ago I gazed into your eyes and I was proud. Today I am proud.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON-ANDRE SAMUEL ROSEBERRY

With all my love,

Mom