HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!!

37 years ago today, November 27, 1972, Joseph Albert Class made his appearance into this world and mine has never been the same. From the moment he was born, Joe was on the move. I'm telling you I remember well he was the only baby in the nursery with his eyes wide open and looking around as if he was VERY aware of his surroundings. He was crawling before he was 6 months old and running by 9 months. By 12 months he could get out of his crib and climb up on anything he was around. Looking back on it now I believe the Lord knew just what He was doing (imagine that) when He decided to bless me with him at such a young age. I don't think I could have kept up with him had he been my last baby instead of my first.

Joe is a very unique kind of a guy. Growing up he did VERY WELL in school and excelled in every kind of sport. He made going to his various different games and such soo much fun, as he was always a main contributor to whatever he was playing. Pitcher on his baseball team, point guard on the basketball team and quarter back on his high school football team, he was just a natural athlete. However at the age of 12 I think Joe finally found the sport he couldn't live without and that was karate. I will never forget as we walked into the first martial arts studio where he trained, Joe looking around and saying to me, "Mom, I am going to own one of my own of these one day, you just wait and see." And sure enough, 10 years later, at age 22 Joe made that dream a reality. Over the years he has won more first place trophys then we could ever count up, and held the California State featherweight championship belt in mixed martial arts as a young adult for a little over a year and a half. He is now a 5th degree black belt and has gone on to train many more champions himself. His teaching abilities are excellent and his ability to influence and guide sometimes troubled young people is truly amazing.

Joe is a family man. He has been blessed with 5 children which makes for a very large family in today's economy, but Joe is a very hard worker and does very well staying on top of things. Joe has a big heart and he is a great dad and all of his kids enjoy playing with him, and I would go on to say both of his daughters Annabel and Lindsey, have him firmly wrapped around their little fingers.

Joe is a very generous man and I would venture to say there isn't much of anything he wouldn't do for any of his loved ones that is within his capabilities of doing. He and his wife Leah and his family live just about 10 minutes from us which makes for frequent visits from this Grandma and Grandpa.

As my first born child Joe will always hold a very special place in my heart. We enjoy a connection and a relationship that has stood the test of time, and even though we have had our moments of course where we have seen things VERY differently, nothing could ever come between us. I love Joe beyond reason, he was brought more joy and happiness into my heart then I could ever begin to explain, and I wish him a HAPPY HAPPY birthday...

May the Lord bless you Joe and make His face to shine upon you now and forever more!

Love you always and forever,

Mom