It’s Jeff’s 30th birthday today. A friend wrote on Jeff’s Facebook wall this morning, “Thirty years ago, the legend name Jeff Youngren was born.”
And the world was never the same again…
Jeff was the first grandchild in his family, and he was born on his grandfather’s 60th birthday. Every year, Jeff’s grandmother calls and tells the same story. They were all sitting around the dinner table in Minnesota, eating birthday cake and waiting for the news to come from the hospital as to whether it was a boy or girl. Was it going to be a Katie or Jeff?
As we all know, it was a Jeff.
So Jeff’s birthday is a very special day for the Youngren family because it reminds them of not just the growing man that is living today, but the man that came before him, Grandpa Don. I never knew Grandpa Don, he passed away when Jeff was only six years old, but I’m told that you can see a lot of Don in Jeff’s persistent charm, endless wit, boyish face, and bright smile.
Grandpa Don would have been celebrating his own milestone today, his 90th birthday, and I’d like to think that the more we celebrate Jeff’s life, the more we’re celebrating those who have made him the amazing man he is today.
These photos are the three Youngren boys – Jeff’s dad (left), five-year-old Jeff, and Grandpa Don (right). Jeff hasn’t changed much from his little boy looks has he? But I’m pretty certain that’s why we all love him so much. At least, that’s why I do.
Happy Birthday Sweetie! You are the funniest, most handsome, loving, caring, and charming person I have ever met. You are my life and my world. Nothing matters except spending my days by your side. Here’s to the next 30 years of never growing up together!
Hugs,
Erin
