Why we named you Charles

Good morning Lil' Charlie. You've only been with us for a couple of days but it seems like I can't conceive of a time when you weren't part of our family.  I wanted to spend a moment to tell you why we gave you the name we did.  You see we didn't need to consult a magazine to pick the most recent name du jour; we have had your name picked out for a long time.

Your name has great significance in your father's family.  It was the name of a great man who passed away many years ago but whose legacy is still fresh in the hearts and minds of all he touched.  It was the name of your great grandpa Charles Otterstrom.  He was also known as 'Chic'. 

The world sometimes measures men by a different scale then we do.  Sometimes it values wealth, power, and notoriety over things like character, selflessness, and love.  You see Chic wasn't noted for those former qualities but he had the latter ones in spades.  His character will last far longer than when all the gold of the wealthy man has been spent.

I never met my Grandpa Chic.  He died before I was born.  In fact he passed from this life on the same day that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the famous first moon landing. My knowledge of him has been passed to me by those whose lives were touched by him.  Here are a few things they mentioned.

• He was a humble man who always put the needs of others over his own.  He was never a wealthy man but that never stopped him from sharing what little he had with others.
• He was a creative man.  He worked for the great Walt Disney and helped animate some of your soon to be favorite movies like "Cinderella", "Snow White", and "Pinocchio".  Some say he never got the credit he deserved for his work because he was so humble and he never sought to put himself over others.  
• While he never had the opportunity to serve a mission he was always sharing the Gospel with others.  Most of his best missionary work was done through his Christ-like example.
•  He was a man who never succumbed to anger.  He never needed to.  He was able to educate and communicate without having to raise his voice.
• He was also a great photographer.  He was so good that the Government used him on top secret missions to photograph the tests that took place in the remote desert to capture the tests surrounding the feared and powerful atomic bomb.  This work ultimately led to the cancer that took his life.  In spite of this he never complained.  Actually he still remained more concerned about the needs of others. 

We will continue to gather stories of this great man so that you can follow his example.  This shouldn't be hard because there are still so many people who have so many wonderful stories to share.

Soon enough we will tell you about the person behind your middle name, Don.   He is also a  great man and he has also created a wonderful legacy for you.