Twenty four years ago today at 12:45 AM, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in Camden, New Jersey... it happened.
I became the mother of one of the greatest people to ever walk the planet.
And, I met my first blood relative.
It was my first time to ever look into the face of a relative who resembled me in any way.
I will never forget looking into his little face, and seeing something of myself. This was that moment...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaMQCV4hCTar7Y5xOvgyAp32LFzpH1wJEuh-zvmXnuPbd_Tmqhd28Kc5avLU35j5Eai5GbFbpbXujbf3YGWD77xvwLx-xWRTgo2Opg2pHzb63ufQ5NEcZagy48nfBhR2_ty42Rw/s320/Dustin+Birth.jpg) |
Looking at my newborn son while the cord is cut... |
The wonder.
The awe.
Life with him has been the best experience, ever.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJx_N9pxr1SDnJ1mcL89KJ3q23u9o9dqSrTMRLKCGi5k6dswJ_zGiRfdIeeDQZMkNapYKGBtAiO2E80xqO1ydmaEHNpqZc3irbmxq3Xc7nd0Eq8x6KxnZxk2AJwYIJhmT6GYNng/s400/Dustin+and+Larry+birth.jpg) |
With his Daddy after getting all cleaned up. |
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Our new little family, a few days after he was born. |
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His first Sunday in church, one week after birth. |
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He has always loved pizza. This works out well now that he's a youth pastor. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOTyGj1IoGNwpZF9xPeSD6ufIyK-o9MoeUBDNoCmsuTFKk3qG2XWfEkjMY0UI72kbbWCKoql7pXF1fNf9MPhyphenhyphenPTEzQNrRCpox94LEn-9IuRuGY0GMnVOU7CEHEn4hhxZeHxMWmQ/s400/Dustin+sleep.jpg) |
He has always loved to sleep. He rarely gets to these days, he's so busy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxEzhRGCB1BVXcwUzhnoMHNMNwoqMGU7GEELrKeFONDD175jTw6DfsBZfz9RxU-XXp35k7t0vWYKWVzWWRW8Lxklx1b4Bh15rqeLsn9l-26Y96JlaACjAH2cM2mCbUieZg8rj-w/s400/piano+dustin+1.jpg) |
He has always been drawn to music, and gifted at it. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY2lvqOf2vZ2aZkRmpYER1u-bWUP6B8pbpVchpmtWtAHmBisNnjz7qdKJaLU_zp6kLoeO48aQ0R4LyZkWo3KLTfzSQARJmnDz8r3nZYLmd-vTO7k0cqSPT4IzN6WuPr3HppEN_g/s400/dustin+keyboard.jpg) |
He figured out how to program the keyboard when he was two. |
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He couldn't wait to drive! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkdXkUWqdF8vyOv_5AqAMVgG5AojwGhA_iqY6AxNMthjzMaAJ19RkS3PpRoCcpiSWY2Bwm-hoYEEqcNmx3H797HHYuCaDMsqq4sRNsbaY_3az4k2AIkYCflSmPKqr445i9vPa0g/s400/Dustin+Smitty.jpg) |
Has always loved dogs. This was his first, Smitty, who we had when he was born. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhVaIcevX4cUdHwmuevLTUJFLYgmLiQZaeKiH9RyJKFn2nJtHNNMmaR1oQ5jRo63EnBPvDGWuXaa9pUvKpQnLOfI2R1q7nTuWYftaEdn9dM4rEn5I8vY7JHxfCe9jk5j5LVDULw/s400/Dustin+laughing.jpg) |
He has always loved to laugh. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vaf3NtPL3FES9MOsWgsHoQYB2kgeME8-xEkQmr4q86X6mhs9DWbsd9ov1ojYCIOXUNPg_Xf0lKA1fETuPPZ1F9gfWpLPlsFXas9hW9VUfr6zDsHuEX7sJsbyc42lYHh_fG-yMg/s400/Dustin+spiffy.jpg) |
He always looks so handsome dressed up. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsgqPC5NI6cJ3TbKLrC_EQNnmYAPFJogpBnEWaas1eZmBkfWHeKHfZuYkmXXhyphenhyphenLC4upfJMqGynaGdnpFptSCdL34WlfDOIbkbx0TU1szix34awTCykwzM9rHHik8Y8c2xnX0xOw/s400/Dustin+cookies.jpg) |
He's has always loved cookies. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH6B_l2-vfF6aaFBf4JXlInW8EVLx9YkjkUP-XxIKWcyJuNoQy-h2oSNcAi09zTHNZ9ABmbgMCA8NJQMRv5vDugkAVoHY1WVsTFerwEyzXhzscXFshgjeP0dDLJ322svScqNKaA/s400/Dustin+Graduation.jpg) |
He has always made us proud, every day. |
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Happy birthday, Dustin! You will always be my baby no matter how old you get.
~Momma
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