Ella crawled right into my life from the moment I first saw her chipmunk cheeks. They reminded me of her mother, my oldest child, Elizabeth and a more beautiful, athletic and strong willed child there has never been. Pops needs a hug!

All that I am now, I owe to Genevieve Garcia Mayes. She gives me the strength to follow through. For 44 years, we have shared a beautiful life. Each day is a blessing and we thank God for our journey together.

Analia, my first grandchild, is beautiful beyond description. Every grandparent remembers when they were told the news. It changes everything. And, yes, you do count the toes!

I keep just a step or two behind. Trying awful hard to stay in line. Kenneth Orville Mayes was the example every son and grandson could look up to. He has paved the way and his footsteps continue to lead us.

Nothing more for her to do at last. Mama's finally going home. Tommie June Hunt Mayes, my mother, was a Lamesa Tornado from West Texas who was known as Mammaw to her 9 grandchildren. Raising children in Abilene and spoiling grandchildren in Conroe, she and Pappaw set the standard and their legacy will live forever. She's finally going home.

She's grown into a woman now. Beautiful and confident. Every dad still sees the little girl he raised when looking at his adult daughter. Memories flood back as time moves on. Time will never erase those memories.

"I’ll never act that way again. I promise you I’m gonna change." My 6 year old son uttered those words, but, I was thinking the same thing, ultimately. This poem/song describes how parents learn more from their children than the children learn from their parents!