Just One Thing...Wonder Woman

Letter to my daughter on her birthday.

 Dearest Suzy, Happy Birthday, Wonder Woman. Who knew that wearing Wonder Woman Underoos would be a self-full-filling prophecy? You truly have grown up to be a wonder woman.

I know you "wonder" if you'll ever get a full night's sleep. I know you "wonder" if you'll ever have a house with a backyard. I know you "wonder" how you'll ever get everything done. I know you "wonder" if you are a good mother. I know you "wonder" how things will turn out. 

 I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You are a beautifully talented woman who is so creative, thoughtful, kind, and loving. You truly put others before yourself and worry about the smallest detail. You make every day an occasion to celebrate. Your smile brightens up the gloomiest day and your imagination is boundless.

 I'm always amazed at the items you make from felt and your organizational skills are incredible. You get more done in a single day than anyone I know. If I could change just one thing about you it would be," to stop being so hard on yourself. " Perfection is not obtainable and it's really hard to live with people who are never satisfied no matter how well things turn out.

 If I could challenge you with just one thing it would be, "to cherish this time." You'll never get it back and as hectic as it is you'll look back on it and miss it.

If I could charge you with one thing it would be, "don't listen to all the negative talk or take it personally". There will always be people around you that will criticize you or try to belittle you. Don't listen, don't become discouraged, and don't dwell on it.

 You truly are Wonder Woman. You make everyone wonder how you come up with all these clever ideas. You make your husband wonder how he ever got so lucky to be married to the most wonderful woman on the planet. You make your parents wonder how they ever got so blessed to be grandparents of two active little boys. You make your friends wonder how they got along without you in their life. I love you Baby Girl!

Happy Birthday Mr. Wonderful

Happy Birthday to my sweet husband, old Dad, and Poppa. I know it's been a rough day today but it's almost quitting time.

On to Red Lobster for your birthday dinner.

Love you.....so glad you were born and you chose me to share life experiences together!

Your Loving

Emma turns two!

The Divine Miss Em is two years old now. She had a Blue's Clues Birthday Party with her friends. For those of you who have forgotten or never knew...Blue is an animated dog that leaves paw prints (or clues) to her owner Steve. (Yes, gentle reader we prefer Steve videos to the current host Joe.)

Blue has animated friends.....Magenta (a pinkish version of Blue only with glasses) Periwinkle (a bluish cat) , Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper and their children Paprika and baby Cinnamon, Tickety -Tock (yes, a clock), Green Puppy, Mailbox, Shovel and Pail and many other friends. Em knows all the songs, and motions and loves to watch the show.



Her very talented Momma fixed a Blue's Clue Cake. A big blue paw print. Emma loves cup cakes so you know she enjoyed digging into the blue iced cake. I have to laugh at this picture of Emma with blue lips!

Happy Birthday To Our Sweet Girl Emma!

Happy Birthday to my sister Bobbie!

Letter to my sister on her birthday!

Dear Bobbie,

Happy Birthday to someone who has been with me all of my life. We shared a room together as kids, as well as secrets, threats, giggles, gossip, dreams and aspirations. As my big sister, you took on the thankless job of being my advocate with mom and dad, as well as a social director when it came to raising my coolness factor in junior high.

I learned early in life to run toward you even though I often found myself chasing after you. I was the pesky little sister that wanted to do everything you were doing and I thought I was every bit as big as you. You were my hero back then and although you didn't wear a cape or have an invisible plane like Wonder Woman , you still rescued me from near disasters that would have destroyed me ( or at the very least been really embarrassing!).

Our lives have taken different paths, but I still know that you are always there to advise, fix, alter, or cheer me on. I know I can count on you for prayer support or life experiences. You always make me laugh and have taught me that my problems are really only inconveniences.

I've grown used to you always being there. So here's to you living forever.....cause I don't think I could do life without you.

Your Sister,

Daisy

Happy Birthday Suzy.....

Letter to my daughter

Happy Birthday Baby Girl....
Who is soon to be a first time Mommy.

Dearest Suzy,

Today you are celebrating your last birthday as a child. Next year you will be celebrating this day with a precious little boy who most likely will help you blow out the candles. Today you are celebrating your special day looking at swollen feet, aching back, and wondering if you will ever catch up on your sleep. Next year at this time you will wondering where the year went and finding it hard to remember what life was like before "Tiny Tim" arrived.

Today I want to celebrate you.....the tiny wide eyed baby, the spunky tender hearted child, the skinny reluctant athlete, the artistic sullen teen, the shy coed, the beautiful bride, the great big sister and the wonderful woman you have become.





Momma's little blue eyed baby girl.....Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating your first birthday! You were so different from your sister. I remember well your first sentence, said with your little hands on your hips and in a tiny little voice that was angry....."I tell MOM!" You were always a Daddy's girl and I see so many characteristics that you both share.






Here's the little spunky tenderhearted child who would entertain herself in her bedroom for hours. One of my favorite memories of you at this age is finding you rocking Becky's doll Mandy and singing to her at 2 o'clock in the morning cause you said "She just looked lonely mom."




The skinny reluctant athlete.....You hated softball and you only scored a goal in soccer whenever dad wasn't there. You always gave it your very best whatever the sport.






The sullen artistic teen.....we survived your teen years! It was hard on both of us. You wanted to grow up much faster than I wanted to let you. I remember how traumatized you were at getting your first job at "Chick-fil-a"






The Shy Co-ed who captured the heart of "Prince Charming". I remember how you used to pick up your tray in the cafeteria whenever Tim came and sat down next to you because you were so nervous.







The beautiful bride....the butterfly emerging getting ready to fly or as one little girl said in awe, "Can I touch the fairy princess?"




The big sister, best friend and mini "me" to your baby bro. Who would have ever thought that the two of you would ever be so close watching you two fight your way through childhood.





The wonderful woman and soon to be mom.....Old Dad and I have watched you grow, mature and become the smart, talented, hard working, creative wife and woman that you are today. Dad says no matter how many babies you have, you'll always be his "button".

We love you Baby Girl,

Momma

Happy Birthday Floozie!

Today is my friend Floozie's birthday. What can I tell you about her?

I can tell you she is one of the kindest people I have ever met.

She has a very tender heart and and a contagious laugh.


She is a wonderful hostess, mentor, and friend.

She is genuine and loving. She loves the Lord Jesus and is a walking example of His Grace.

Any time I am with her, there will always be laughter and fun.

She is my sister in every way that counts and I know I can always count on her to pray for me, encourage me, be my cheerleader, or be my butt-kicker when I'm being stupid, prideful or wrong.

She is the first person I call when coming to Savannah and the only person I stay with.

She has literally given me the shirt off her back, (her favorite leather coat), and puts up with
our horrible speaking schedule.

She always sees to it that I get to do all my "favorite" things
and see all my favorite people.

She likes me and I adore her and thank God for her daily.


Give her a shout out......You know you want to!

Happy Birthday Mr. Wonderful

Happy Birthday Mr.Wonderful!

Today is Mr. Wonderful's birthday and unfortunately it will be spent taking me to get lab work, seeing the dietician,getting a chest x-ray and writing a very big check to the hospital. (Gulp!)

Saturday is the day of my surgery (Lord willing) depending on my lab work, ekg, and chest x-ray . I'm not anticipating trouble but you never know till they tell you to report for surgery.

For his present he gets to take care of me all next week. What a lucky guy. Please keep him in your prayers too. When I'm alright he will be too.

Thank you for being my playmate, my soul mate, my lover, the father of our children, my provider, my handy man, my protector, my strong arm to lean on, my companion, and my best friend for the last 34 years. Love ya babe!

Happy Brithday Beeks!

Happy 30th Birthday to my "Brown-Eyed Girl!"

It hardly seems possible that you have grown from precocious child to a mother of a precocious child. I love this picture of you as it reminds me of Miss Emma.

You were the first...the experimental child. You took two very green inexperienced people and shaped us into a family. You were very demanding and insistent on our complete obedience to your every need. Yet you were also very quick to reward our feeble attempts to please you.


We treated you as the "center of the universe" because indeed, you were the center of our universe. We were enthralled by each new skill you learned and by every syllable you uttered.


You turned your sweet kindhearted, Daddy into "Rambo" at the thought of anyone hurting you. Even now after all these years he will still think of you as the "little girl who slept under his handkerchief" and gets misty at the thought.

You were always inventive.....creating wonderful stories to entertain your brother and sister, or coming up with games that you always won because you made up the rules as you went along. You were the instigator, the promoter, the all wise Oz . You might have tormented your siblings, but you would not tolerate anyone else picking on them.

Life was not always easy or kind for you but you overcame each problem with determination, skill and just plain stubbornness . You would not let anyone undermine or devalue you . You have always been able to stand up for yourself and for the rights of others.

You are our adventurer. The one to challenge all the rules. The first to leave the nest, the first to break your mother's heart and the first to understand what agony mother's go through watching their babies grow and become more and more independent.

My prayer for you is that you will always be a role model for your daughter and that you will allow her the opportunity to smooth out the rough edges of your personality just as you did for your mother.

I miss you so much! I pray for you daily, live to hear your voice and laugh with delight at new pictures of our baby. Happy Birthday Beeks....I love you!

Emma's Green Egg and Ham Birthday Party

More Pictures of Emma's first birthday.

Green Eggs and Ham anyone?

Looks pretty tasty to me.





Baby Cakes.....cup cakes for little hands.

Emma really liked these and ate two!

I bet she got a sugar buzz from them.




It the cupcakes didn't do it....then I'm sure the Hat cake (4 layers) would have. According to her Mom she liked both the cake and being the center of attention.









She's a girl after my own heart.....She dives into her food and now she's just as sweet on the outside as she is in the inside (I stole that quote for Mom poet).










Nothing is wasted on this girl...obviously the cake was finger lickin good.

No first birthday is complete without reading her Mom's favorite book "Baby's Birthday". I read this book to Becky so often that I still have it memorized. (btw....that is the very book I read to her mom!)









Looks like the party was a success just by the pure look of joy on Emma's face. For more pictures click here .

Her mom just posted some videos of Emma with balloons, a giant bear, a new ride toy and opening presents. It's so cute to see her dancing in excitement....and giving the Bear an open mouth kiss.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Today is Emmalee Anne's First Birthday!

Her birthday party was last night and she was properly adored by those who love her.

This anxious Diva is waiting on some pictures of the event. Her birthday cake was 4 layers and iced in alternating red and white icing to look like the Hat in the book (The Cat in the Hat!)

Her Momma also had gummie fish in various colors to celebrate another great Dr. Seus classic One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

From the looks of contentment on Emma's face I would say the party was a great success. I love the way she throws herself into the celebration and the cake! Happy Birthday darling girl.....What a joy you are to your Poppa and Diva

People who make me smile!

Mom,

I should tell you more often

just how much I love you

and how lucky I am

to be your daughter-

because the feelings

are always in my heart...

Happy 81st Birthday!

Happy Birthday Jerry

Today is my birthday and I'm surrounded by my whole family except son-in-law Jerry. Jerry and I share many things in common (especially love for Becky and Emma!) We also share the same birthday! This year for my birthday he let me spend it with Becky and Emma.

Thank you sweet boy for the marvelous gift of time. Time is my love language and I couldn't have asked for a better gift. I do feel the tiniest bit guilty but I'm sure it will pass.

Emma sends you open mouth kisses and big grins. Becky sends lots of love and believe me she misses you. I'll send my birthday card and gift home with them. Hope you are celebrated today.
Know that we all miss you and wish you were here.