My Three Sons: Part 1; Todd

I have three of the finest sons ever put on this earth. They have married three wonderful women from three equally great families. They all are different in many ways but alike in so many as well. They are all very generous, tender in a manly sort of way and Cub fans. I'm going to share a bit about each of them, one at a time. Let me start with Todd.

Todd married his high school/college sweetheart Jaimie. Together they have two of the neatest kids, Carter and Morgan, my first two grandpeople. He is from my vantage point, a terrific husband and a great dad. Why? Because he is purposeful about cultivating those relationships. He and Jaimie and his brother Tim and his wife Katie take turns watching each others little people so the other can have a date night with their spouse. What a great idea! Tim and Katie kind of get a better workout, chasing after 4 year old Carter and 2 year old Morgan than do Todd and Jaimie with my third grandbaby, Macie who is only months old. Plus Todd makes sure he has a date night with Carter and Morgan too. If you want to get to know someone you have to spend time with them. Todd is doing that with the people God has given him as his family and he takes that responsibility very seriously. I am so proud of him and Jaimie for that.

Todd is the oldest of the three. He is a juvenile probation officer. Todd loves what he does and the kids he is involved with, but he is a no nonsense officer. He has to be. These kids come from some of the worst conditions imaginable. For most it is kind of like you get what you have put into them. Were they born that way? No. Were they given chances? In most cases, tons. But extra chances don't equate into changed lives. Caring people do. And that is where Todd comes in. He cares enough to hold them accountable. Do the next right thing and things might begin to change. Continue on the same path and the time gets tougher and the people you're in with get rougher. It is their choice and they know it. But his story doesn't end there.

What he does with his brother-in-law Matt, tomorrow.