To my grandkids

Dear Naomi and Kingston,

As I think of this issue's focus on youth and families, I want you to know you bring joy to our family. Kingston, you surprised us July 5 — born five weeks early. Naomi, you celebrated your fifth baptismal anniversary Aug. 6. Only a few weeks old at baptism, you experienced what we adults sometimes forget, Naomi: Life is a precious gift from God nurtured with prayer, love and care from others. From your first breath, your very life depended on others because you were born without a connected esophagus. You experienced God's healing hand at 10 weeks when the surgeon stretched and connected your esophagus to your stomach. We thank God for your caregivers then and your mom's love.

Ione Hanson (left), Kingston, Naomi and Mark Hanson.

Naomi, you love to help Grandma Ione with her garden. You carefully plant seeds and water. At baptism the seeds of faith were planted in your life. They will grow as you worship and hear that God loves you and Jesus died and was raised for you and the whole world.