I don’t have any grandkids yet, but I have two wonderful sons and a daughter-in-law. I am very proud of them, and I wake up every day in part because of them!

Nothing warms my heart more than the wonder of little children. Two little children in Mike Kelly’s world are Sage Whittaker and Liam Smith. Sage is the daughter of Chef Ryan Whittaker and his lovely wife Cheryl, who I consider a part of my family. Chef Ryan just happens to run one of the best little bistros on the planet. @116 Wine and Espresso is a unique and special place. Sage is pictured below as his sous chef in training. She is absolutely adorable and those big blue eyes of hers can steal the heart of anyone!

The second child in my life, Liam, is the grandchild of my very good friends, Pam and Ron Smith of Winnsboro, South Carolina. He is their only grandchild, and he is one awesome little dude.

Liam came up here for a week from Tampa to be with his grandparents, and they travelled everywhere. He even went to Bishopville in search of the Lizard Man. He has become one of my new best friends and if I could get away with it, I would like a haircut like his. (LOL!) He is extremely smart and is definitely going places in this world! He is pictured below, visiting me in my Columbia office.

The world may seem to be in turmoil, but as long we are nurturing the children around us, like these two precious ones, the future remains bright for them to take over our generation and make the world a better place!