Well now on a summer night in a dusky room came a little piece of the Lord's undying light crying like he swallowed the fiery moon. In his mother's arms it was all the beauty I could take. Like the missing words to some prayer that I could never make. In a world so hard and dirty so fouled and confused... searching for a little bit of God's mercy I found living proof.

-- Bruce Springsteen


Land of Hope & Dreams

This sure is. Dream it and it can come true...that's what Mommy has taught Daddy over the past 18 years...and especially after the past few years. You see, Evan comes to us through some unique and interesting circumstances. This little guy was a distant dream back in the summer of 2003 when Mommy and Daddy had all but given up hope of having children. After seven years of trying and with almost all of their resources exhausted, Evan's mom and dad decided to give it one more try and ventured to McMaster Hospital to begin the long process of In-Vitro.


Counting on a Miracle

The journey began in September of 2003 when Mommy and Daddy would venture from Niagara to Hamilton for Mommy's appointments. On the way home Daddy would slip in Bruce Springsteen's The Rising CD and flip to track 5 - "Counting On A Miracle". This, along with Bruce's "Leap of Faith" became our good luck anthems. And though this was Daddy's wacky idea, Mommy sooned joined in and embraced the ritual. Well, wouldn't you know it, by late September, after many trips to Hamilton, a lot of prayer, and the care of some great physicians that miracle happened - little Evan was created. From that day on we were praying and counting on that miracle.

I truly believe that if you have faith you'll find that life is full of miracles and now, thanks to Mommy's strength, faith and perserverance (she gets all the credit for this one), we have living proof - Evan James Rotella!


May You Stay, Forever Young

There are many songs that come to mind when Daddy thinks of his new bundle of joy, however, none of them sum up what Daddy wants for Evan as one of Dylan's masterpieces. In 1974, Bob Dylan wrote the beautiful "Forever Young". I want to dedicate this to Evan from pops...who still remains Forever Young (at heart).

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

-- Bob Dylan, '74