I have a wonderful family that I love very much.

It became a little bigger Friday when my great niece Lola Ann Crine, daughter of my dear nephew Billy and his wonderful wife Amelia, came into the world. She weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces.

Lola Ann’s sister, two-year-old Evangeline Mary Crine is also the apple of Great Uncle Joe’s eyes.

My dear niece Jennifer Roberts is the mother of my great nephew six-year-old Samuel Lincoln “Linc” Roberts. I also have a great younger nephew Matthew Crine who I am very proud of.

Billy, Jennifer and Matthew all have very good jobs. Billy is a mechanic with Delta Airlines and Jennifer and Matthew are both accountants. The heads of this great family are my brother Tom and my sister in law Cheryl, both of whom have always been there for me.

When I was unable to work for eight months following my accident in March, Tom and Cheryl, who live in Sharpsburg, came down to be with me. Tom took me shopping and to see the doctor and Cheryl came down to be with me during a cataract surgery at Memorial Hospital.

Tom and my nephew Billy came down one weekend to bring me a new mattress   for my bed. Whenever I needed something to be more comfortable or recover more quickly my family was always there to provide it.

Tom is just a year and a half older than me and we were always very close growing up.

I am really looking forward to Christmas when I get up to Sharpsburg to see all of my family. I am especially looking forward to holding little Lola Ann.

Families are very special and I thank the good Lord for blessing me with such a wonderful one.