Five Years Ago Today . . .

our granddaughter Veronica Katherine was born.

She was named thoughtfully but hastily—she was baptized almost immediately. She was born at 23 weeks and 5 days and for the longest time her parents could not hold her. Marcie soon went home and she and Andrew took it in turn to drive from Rockville to George Washington Hospital to hold her. Before long they were able to hold her against their bare skins to let her know how much they loved her. Gradually her precarious health improved, and after 118 days she went home.

Today is Veronica's fifth birthday. She will be starting school in September. We all look forward to seeing her in Ohio in August—she'll be able to hold her own against everyone.

Happy Birthday, Veronica.