Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s so easy to take for granted the opportunities we have to spend time with family and friends.
Today, I return back to work.
[Okay, so what's the big deal]
Thirty nine days ago (April 18th, 2011 to be exact), my wife woke me up at 4:00AM needing encouragement and assistance because she was having increasing labor pains. After a long, long day and night (48 hours total in labor), she finally gave birth to our daughter, Sophia, on the morning of April 19th, 2011.
Everyone has their own thoughts and opinions about what it means to be a parent, so I decided to sit down and reflect upon the 39 life lessons that I have learned in the 39 days I was on paternity leave.
I’m sure you will be able to relate to at least a few! :-)

Where do you turn when your priorities get out of whack?
On July 19th, 2007, I was anxiously driving to Wilson, North Carolina to visit my grandmother. Nine days prior, her legs gave way while attending a funeral, so my family had her rushed to the hospital to undergo testing.
We were shocked to learn that my grandmother was diagnosed with having a brain tumor!