Derek's Team

Here is your chocolate pie.  I didn't know how much you liked chocolate pie until you missed dinner at Carl and Karen's one evening because you were sick and I told her not to send pie home, that you weren't a lover of sweets, and when you found out you shouted, "WHAT?!" and then very pitifully, "You didn't bring me chocolate pie?" Oh sweet Derek, here's a pie all your very own.  (except I put the meringue on for me...because I love meringue.  Not sure if you love it as much as me.)

Birthday boy stats:
33 years old, 6' 2", hazel eyes, 170 lb (on a good day), married 7 years, 2 sons, owned two houses, a business degree, a BA in Theology, and a Masters in New Testament, driving a minivan (oh, you are so old!), member of Grace Mennonite Church, living in Winkler, Manitoba, working at WBS Construction with your dad.

Remember when you told Luke you were going to the office to help Papa out and Luke asked, "Why is Papa stuck?"

I took this photo of you and the boys on the front step of our yellow house on your lunch break on your 33rd birthday - today!  Seamus smiles when he hears your voice, and Luke bounces off the walls, the couches, the gate, and would run right out the door when he sees you pull up on the driveway if I didn't restrain him.  I know sometimes my back is turned while I wash dishes, stir something on the stove, chase down the 3-year old or nurse the baby, but I hope you notice that when you walk in the door I can't help but smile.  I've loved you for years, and now you've got a whole team cheering when you walk in the door.  We're your biggest fans.  Happy  Birthday, Derek!