HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY, SHELBY!

Child of my child, heart of my heart.
Your smile bridges the years between us...
I am young again, discovering the world through your eyes.
You have the time to listen and I have the time to spend,
Delighted to gaze at familiar, loved features made new in you again.
Through you, I see the future. Through me, you'll see the past.
In the present, we'll love one another as long as these moments last. ― Author Unknown


Granddaughter Shelby celebrated her 14th birthday today, July 18, 2015 with a party at her house. She broke with tradition; instead of birthday cake, she had birthday pie. Three of them! She made a Snicker/Caramel Apple pie, her aunt Kelly made a fudge pie, and courtesy of Mrs. Smith, an apple pie. Each pie was to die for, and we just might since we sampled all of them. In another break from tradition, Shelby also requested her Grandpa’s yummy home made vanilla ice cream to go with the pies. We sang the Birthday Song, she blew out 14 candles [all in one breath ~ I didn’t even have time to snap that picture] and after we stuffed ourselves with pie and ice cream, she opened her gifts ~ beautiful clothes and shoes, iTunes gift card, the novel Paper Towns, a Daryl Dixon keychain and a home made card from her brother, Elijah, with a dollar attached. Yesterday, she and her mom went to Nashville to shop, and they visited the Bluebird Café, something Shelby has been wanting to do for a long time, but tickets were sold out and the lines were long, so they plan to go again another time. She had a fun birthday, and we loved helping her celebrate. Happy Birthday, Shelby!! Our first grandchild and only granddaughter, you are so special to us in so many ways. We love you always!! Wishing you a wonderful year!

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, SARAH!

My sweet niece peep Sarah, one of my most favorite people on the planet and maybe in the entire universe, left her teenage years behind on July 13 and celebrated this milestone with cousins at Six Flags in Kentucky and then again this evening with pineapple upside down cake, ice cream, punch and assorted aunts, uncles, cousins, sister and parents who all love her dearly. Happy 20th, Sarah Catherine! Love you always.

Psalm 37

3Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

I’ve been blessed with 61 fabulous years ~ another birthday is always reason to celebrate. My awesome hubby Neil made sure I enjoyed a happy birthday. He decorated our dining room with balloons and streamers, ordered this beautiful and yummy cake from Baskin-Robbins [chocolate chip ice cream/chocolate cake], made delicious punch and took me and the family out to eat a birthday dinner at Outback. What’s not to like about being 61?

Son in law Kerry had some fun with the birthday balloons. KerrBear, you are a hoot!

Grandson Knox would not sing the birthday song when everyone else was singing it which cracked me up because he had this frown on his face. I guess my laughter was contagious. I love this picture.

I think I forgot to make a wish. Doesn’t matter. Getting to celebrate my day of days with family is always my wish come true.

Grand daughter Shelby strikes a gorgeous pose

These were the only birthday napkins we had on hand ~ still hold true even a decade or so later.

Niece Julia waiting for cake. Grandson Elijah is ready to dig in to his piece. It’s tradition in our family that the birthday person cuts and serves the birthday cake.

This is what happens when you put daughter Kelly [right] in charge of picture taking with mom’s camera ~ selfie with her cousin Sarah’s eyeball. Nice shot, ladies.

That’s daughter Holly in the back [wearing her pretty heart scarf and most likely waiting for cake] and sister Jane and brother in law Don [taking one down and passing it around]. Love that horn growing out of Don’s head. Sorry, Don, those kinds of pictures are usually reserved for me.

Knox would not sing the birthday song, but he didn’t hesitate to boogie down a birthday dance.

Knox could not wait for me to open my presents. And not one ‘flat’ present this time. My daughters and their families gave me a bread maker [looking forward to making fresh bread], sister Jane’s family gave me The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler [which I’m looking forward to reading] and a Decomposition Book [love the clever name and also looking forward to filling it with deep thoughts], and Neil gave me a most awesome clock [three stacked clocks which I can set for London, Paris and New York time~unfortunately I don’t live in any of those time zones, but so what, it’s a really cool clock and he knows I love clocks]. And of course I loved all the birthday cards. My family always picks out the best cards [I think it’s genetic (thanks, Mom)]

Here’s my cool clock

The birthday party gang! Thank you all for the birthday love and for making me feel so special on my special day! I love you all!