23 Years Ago

23 years ago today I was introducted to unconditional love! I welcomed into my life my first born Michael. Over the past years he has taught me many things, love, patience, frustration, stress and many other things. I just hope that I taught him half as much over the years. We have had some rough patches, but that unconditional love bridged the gap. I reflect over his life and I set back in amazment at the man he has become. He may not have done it the way I dreamed of years ago, but he did it his way. Which in my book it the best way. I am one PROUD Momma.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favorite SON! Thank you for making me a Mom and being my test child.

She is ???

Seventeen years ago on a beatuiful Palm Sunday I head off to the hospital to see what if it was going to boy or girl! Well we had the little sister that Michael had been telling everyone he was going to have for 9 months. That day I had my Stephenie Wren named after to of the most special people in my life my Daddy and his mother. I am still wondering where the last 17 years have gone. She has gone from my little red headed chubby baby girl to a wonderful young woman. I think she is the most beautiful girl in the world and has become a very strong young lady(used loosely:)). Happy Birthday my baby girl I love more than words can ever express.

She has had a very diffucult year. As she had to at a very young age say good-bye to Papaw, has had the flu twice, mono, only will have had about 16 weeks of her junior year spent at the school and maybe facing surgery in the next few weeks. So I am trying to do some extra special things for her this year to make her birthday weekend fun. She had dinner with her Dad last night at Nagaski, on Saturday for lunch we will be having lunch with Michael, Emily, and Brittany. Sunday well I have a few things planned, but can't reveal today as she might just read my blog. Monday she will be having a message, her first and I am sure if she is like her Mom not the last.

But as with all that has happened over the past 8 months it is a bitter sweet celebration. As this will be the last birthday that she will be celebrating at Ninie and Papaw's house. She had her first one there and pretty much had the last 17 there. Mom has sold the house and will be moving to Arlington by the end of the month. So as we prepare to help Mom move on to another new phase in her life, I am sure there are going to be mixed emotions.

**Photo by Marci Lambert

Birthday Thoughts

rEven at 44 you must keep up with the trends. Cupcakes are it. My girls(Stephenie, Emily and
Tori) made me a giant one to celebrate my birthday. Mom took all the family out to Steak and Shake for dinner tonight. There are sometimes that a burger and fries with a coke is so good. Tonight was one of them.

Yes they let us light this fire risk in the restaurant. I have you know that I blew out all 44 candles plus the ? in one breath while making a wish! And no spit on the cake. So I guess this old girl still has it.

Here are the 3 bakers. They were so sneaky about making this to surprise me with it.

As I look back over the past 44 years there have been good times, bad times, tough times and times that I would not like to repeat. But I have been blessed with many great things, family, friends and that is what I plan to focusing on this year. So tomorrow on 01.10.10 I will start the 44th year of my life looking for Sunshine and Sliver Linings.

PS! Even though I am trying to look for the positive in everything. I am still learning to live with out my Dad here to be apart of it. The positive side is I had 43 year 7 months and 28 days of love and memories of my Dad and no one can take them from me.

21 years ago today......

I was blessed with this precious gift! Just in time for Christmas Michael arrived 4 weeks early to celebrate it. He has blessed my life in more ways than he will ever know. As I wonder where the past 21 years have gone I remember the good and bad times. I will be the first to admit he and I have faced a few trails over the past 21 years but not to an avail. I think he is finding his way in life. He may not be doing the way I had planned for him 21 years ago, when I first welcomed him into this world but he is doing it his way. As we all know we must do it on our own. He has turned into a wonderful young man with a love for live that makes me envious. He has the looks of the other most special man in my life my Dad. I look at this handsome young man and wonder how did I get so luck to be blessed with this most SPECIAL young man. I am honored to have him call me Mom. Happy Birthday my first born and FAVORITE son. I love you and am proud of you! So now go out and celebrate your life and keep doing for many more years!

**Photo taken by Marci Lambert.

SWEET SIXTEEN

Stephenie is 16 and full of life. She amazes me each day as I watch her grow in today a wonderful person. She loves life and wants to enjoy every minute of it. Loves her family, friends and herself.

Yesterday was her day and it was all about her for 24 hours.(truth be known it is that way most days). It start at about 6:45 for me getting ready for a Surprise Lunch Party for her.(I am sure that it was not a surprise as she and her 2 friends come home looking cute). With all the actives for the weekend we had to do lunch. There were about 35 people on hand to wish her HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I decorated the dinning room with pink and green, made cheese dip, Grandma got meats and cheese for sandwiches, made a strawberry cake(which she has had strawberry something since the age of 2), soft drinks and you have a party. Susan can over and helped me for about an hour to help me get things together. (yes an hour is a lot time for her,as she really doesn't have time to spare with 3 kids, working full time, house, husband) The first order of business was for Princess Stephenie to receive her Princess Tara, blinking Princess Pin and basket of pamper supplies. Of course even at 16 year old birthday parties you have goodie bags complete with candy, bubbles, pin wheels and water guns. Which were the hit. But when Stephenie decided to squirt Aunt Jessica the fun was on, as Aunt Jessica borrowed a water gun and was out for revenge and got it.(btw we maybe old but we still have a little child in us)

Then it was time for a little shopping with the gift certificates from the local shops here in Arlington.(just love to support the small shops here in town) Back home and ward robe change for the big night out on the town. We all looked cute and my outfit was approved. Hooters here we come for fried dill pickles, wings and crab legs. Someone over heard that is was her birthday and they put her on a chair, gave her a cup for a beck and menus for wings and sang Happy Birthday to her. Off to the mall for desert. Bowling was the next adventure on the list for the night. We went to Billy Hardwicks for Cosmic Bowling and a lot of laughs.

Mommy thoughts on the day: I am so blessed to have been given this WONDERFUL, FUNNY, BEAUTIFUL person. I still wonder where the first 16 years for her life went so quickly. How did she turn in this wonderful young women. My nerves are on edge about the driving. She is a good driver, but has a little bit too much confidence with out much experience. Wonder what the future has in store for her and what opportunities will be out there for her,

Terri's Birthday

Last week my friend Terri at DST celebrated a birthday. Well thanks to UPS she got to wait until Friday to get her gift from me. I got the inspiration from my friend Cyndi and her sister Shelby a few weeks back. I was one of the lucky ones to get one of the metal Valentines from her. This piece is embossed metal, colored with alcohol inks, the Dresden foil strips are from Rock Candy Studios. I saw the saying a few months back and thought of Terri and know that was what her present would be designed around. She told that it is hung in her new office. That means a lot to know.

Soul Sisters

Well here is a piece that I did tonight. It has been in my head for months.(yes there is something up there other than air) Every since the day Candice and Roxi showed me the Sisterhood College Sheet from RockCandy Studios and told me to design something using it. Well the Muse can home with me tonight and we got to work after Sophia's birthday party. I had a little fun with the nuns. (Roxi I hope you don't hold it against me, I am sure that since they were your aunts that they had a sense of humor, I hope) I just had to add glasses to the one and the bingo numbers were a must also. The church in the back ground is actually the church that my Grandmother Murphy attended as a child. I am giving this piece to a special art friend for a late gift. Yes that I was to give her back in December. Sorry it is so late Robyn, hope you understand.

Also, I must say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Joseph who turned 11 on Thursday and Sophia who is turning 7 today. I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!

Carol's Birthday Present

This piece I did for my friend Carol for her birthday. I was a little late getting it to her with all the things going on at work and having to ship it to the otherside of the US. I did think of her on her Special Day and let her know that I was thinking for her and my other friend Kathleen that shares the same birthday. I sent Kathleen a piece as well with trying to get it to her I didn't get a picture, but it turned out really cool too. I saw this saying and though of Carol and so the process began. I did a background in red(her favorite color and mine too), added some flourishes, RockCandy Studios and you got the finish project.

HAPPY BIRTDAY TO ME!

I slept in late 6:30 am that is. I got up and took myself to breakfast. Read a little and enjoyed a couple cups of tea and breakfast. Went back home for a long hot bubble bath which is such a pleasure and treat. Especially this time of year for me. But since I took the day from work I indulged. Went by the post office box and found a card from my DST buddies with a great happy. I also checked the my emails. had many warm wishes and ecards.

Okay I was going to spend the whole day by myself but who could resist this great smile and wonderful daughter. As it was raining, she couldn't go do what she wanted and under that great smile her teeth were killing her(she just had a orthodontist appointment on Friday and had a ton done to her braces). I invited her to hang out with her old Mom. Of course her take on it was: it's your birthday and I need to drive you and keep you company and there is food and you are buying. So off we went to Collierville a small town about 30 minutes away with a great town square, one of a kind shops and great family owned restaurants that serve food other than burgers and GREAT service. Found a couple of little treasures. Yes I have a problem with spending money on myself.

This is where we had lunch at the Silver Caboose. I really enjoy eating here. The atmosphere is relaxing and very enjoyable. Yes I had great company. I do love having time to just talk with Stephenie. She is so funny and full of life. I like to hear the stories of what is going on in her life. Which just makes me realize that not has much as changed everyone thinks. I am very blessed with a wonderful daughter. Then went to a couple of shops in Arlington to look and I did get a small piece of pottery that matched a tray that I got for Christmas of course Stephenie a treat as she calls it. My friends Renee, Steffen and I went to Macaroni Grill for dinner. Lets just say that the service was not there but the great conversation and friendship was. Steffen got me a really cool set of drill bits and a ratching screw set. I just love my handy woman tools. We had a great time just talking and getting caught up. Then is was to home and bed. Got to work on Sunday, but my birthday was all mine.

Well the birthday treats did start out on Friday. One of my co-workers took me to lunch and had them bring me a piece of cake with a candle. NO SINGING! I am not the one to have the whole restaurant to be looking at me. Then I got a cheese cake and necklace from a couple of my other co-workers. The biggest surprise was the tool box with my name on it and all the tools inside. My god-sister Christy, husband Nathan and Taylor, Samuel and Caleb(which shares my birthday) brought me by the office on Friday. I do know that it is very weird to hear a woman get excited about tools but I do know how to use them and will. My Mom, Susan(sister) and I went out to eat on Friday and had great time just talking uninterrupted.

This is picture of how I would really like to celebrate my birthday. Yes I know it is snow. It is on the list to just go and play in the great white stuff, drink warm drinks by a big fire and relax. You must have dreams! Thanks Lisa S for the great picture of your back yard!

20 YEARS AGO

at 8:41 am I delivered my first born. When we came home on Christmas Eve they brought him in this stocking for me take him home.He was so tiny that he didn't even fill up the stocking. Now 20 years later we still use it for Santa for him. Each year as I unpack it the memories flood back and I always wonder where the time has gone.

I am glad to say that he has gone from a precious little bundle in a stocking to a handsome and wonderful young man. Michael has had some great trails in his 20 short years but he has taken them and turned them into life learning experiences and is making his way in this world. I am sad to say that my first born has had some tough times in his first 2 decades, but has come thru them with flying colors!! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY my FAVOR TIE boy. Mom is so PROUD of you and LOVES you with all her HEART!!

Big 3

Well, here is a few pictures from the big 3 party today. We had a blast at Ms Abby's birthday. All of us kids enjoyed the slide. We had food, fun, presents and a plain old good time. The weather was great it is really starting to feel like FALL in the south. Let's just hope is stays this way.

Baby Sis is Turning 40

DISCLAIMER: THIS MAYBE A SAPPY POST!!!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday my DEAR SIS

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!

My sister's 40th birthday is hitting me harder than my own. It is one of those finality's in live. The youngest of the family is now in the over 40 club. She and I were talking the other day that we are now our parents in the family group and our parents are our grandparents and our kids are us. It makes the saying that LIFE GOES ON so real. I know that she and I have had our years of totally hating each other and then the years we kinda liked each other. Now she is my BEST FRIEND. I so look forward to our walks every am to just get caught up on each others lives. If we didn't have this time even though we live less than a mile apart we would hardly talk to each other. She has turned in a GREAT Mom, Wife, Teacher, Daughter, Friend and Sister. I know that I don't tell you enough I total LOVE and ADMIRE you as a person and am glad to call you my SISTER. Okay enough I am going to have to pull out the tissue if I don't stop.

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!