Thankful

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you for having me. I know that expecting number three when number two was only 7 months old must have been a shock. But I never felt like I was a burden in any way. Thank you for teaching me about life, this beautiful world, about love and what it means to be part of a family. Mom, thank you for carrying me, for nurturing this body I use every moment of every day. Thank you for giving birth to me - for going through the pain and struggle that is part of giving life.

Thank you for helping me with homework, paying for my piano lessons, taking me to the doctor and dentist. Thank you for my siblings who danced on the furniture with me while singing to My Turn on Earth and Saturday's Warrior. I know that you spent many hours and tears and worry over me when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at 11. I am so thankful for your prayers and fasting and priesthood blessings in my behalf. I'm sure that there were days when you were sure that at age 49 I would be in a wheel chair, quite disabled. Thank you for your faith which produced miracles.

Thank you for countless meals, clean clothes, a roof over my head and family games of Rook and hide and seek (even when mom cheated and hid on the roof). I have such wonderful memories of sitting in the tangerine tree and eating tangerines, sneaking chocolate chips from the always open bag and canning all kinds of fruit in the kitchen. I remember Dad sitting on the bed with his arm around me one evening as I cried - having just had my heart broken for the first time.

Most of all, thank you for teaching me that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and provided a plan so that I could return to Him with my family; a Savior who atoned for me - who made it possible for me to repent and change and who can comfort and guide me no matter the issue; and the Holy Ghost which can guide and direct me everyday and remind me of God's love and my eternal worth.

I love you more than I will ever be able to express.

And THANK YOU SO MUCH

love,

Karen

Amy

Amy Michelle...

I loved the name the first time I heard it in college.

I hoped that my future husband would like it as much as I did. 

He did. I love it even more today because of the person that has this name.

What a blessing Amy has been in my life.

Beautiful calm peaceful baby,

happy content child

and now a completely amazing woman, wife and mother.

Parents hope that their children will be better than they are and Amy passed me up a while ago. I feel truly blessed and privileged to be her mom.

Happy Birthday Amy!

I'm a day late and a dollar short...

but there's always next year.

Happy late birthday.

I love you!

53 years young

This man has blessed my life and the lives of so many...

A wonderful husband, father and grandfather,

great cyclist, professor and servant of the Lord. 

He has incredible integrity, strength, kindness

and just gets better every year.

So glad you were born 53 years ago.

So glad you're mine for eternity.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

x

Jennifer

Jennifer turned 17 on Tuesday.

Time is a funny thing. 

Sometimes I feel like I was so busy with older siblings I somehow missed her childhood.

And now here she is. Finishing her junior year in just two months.

One more year and she will be off to college.

This is an extraordinary young lady.

While she is not perfect she is bright, kind and very level headed.

She is fun to take shopping and is a great source if you need a good book,

some one to go with you on a bike ride or to yoga.

She loves to laugh, watch movies, play games, tutors children in reading,

still babysits because she has families that just can't give her up.

If you need to know where a certain scripture is... chances are she can tell you.

She can play a lively tarantella on the piano and makes a flute sing.

This may sound a little bragy and if it does I apologize.

Really, there's so much more I could say about her.

When I sit back and think about the person she is becoming I know that it's the blessing of being influenced by so many good people. Especially her brothers and sisters and her dad. 

Jennifer has been very loved from the day she was born and seems to easily radiate that love to others.

Happy Birthday Jennifer

Sorry I was late!

Late, late, late!

How could I be late  What else is new.

Happy (late) Birthday to Aaron. My first born. The child who experienced the full on ineptitude of my motherhood and lived to tell the tale. Not only survived but somehow thrived anyway. The nurse at the hospital had to remind me to burp him after I fed him. When we got home from the hospital I was almost soaked by a little fountain when I changed his diaper the first time. How did I not know little boys did that? That event dissolved me to tears. The reality hit me that despite my years as an older sister and babysitting so many children, I had never been a mother before. Never  been THE ONE responsible for the life of another. If a child had a problem in the past, all I had to do what hold on till the mom got home and she would know what to do. Now I was THE MOM and I didn't know what to do. It was that moment I realized I could not do this alone. I just didn't know how to be a mom. But I did know how to love - and part of my fear was there because of the overwhelming love I had for this new little boy that was my son. The thought of making mistakes and ruining him petrified me. I'm so glad I had a wonderful husband  - who also was new at this - and a loving Heavenly Father to support, guide and encourage me every step of the way. 

It seems to have worked.  

Because he is now eight years older than I was when he was born. Married to a wonderful woman with a delightful little girl and one more coming in March. He is bright, talented, devoted, funny, spiritual and a great dad and snowman maker. I couldn't be more proud. While I realize that I did play a part in his upbringing, when I look at the person he is today, I realize that only a small part of that was because of me.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Another year!

I can't believe it's been 24 years. Every parent knows that each child comes with their own distinct personality and Robbie is no exception. Despite having asthma, eczema, food and airborne allergies as a very little baby, Robbie was happy most of the time. That's how Robbie is. He finds the joy in life. I love to hear him laugh, I always have. I love to watch him figure out how to overcome and work through the challenges that face him and come out smiling. Robbie knows how to work hard and have fun in the journey. I'm glad that he will have Cecily by his side for the remainder of his journey. Happy birthday Rob.

Strings Attached

photo courtesy of Amy

Tuesday morning Jenn and I went running with our neighbor, Karen. Mark would be leaving soon to fly to New Jersey for a business trip and would be home Friday evening. Amy's Jordan had been out of town the week before and had left again on Monday for another business trip. Last week was a rough one for Amy and this week would be her birthday. We had looked into airplane tickets to fly her and the kids out here but they were too expensive. Still... my heart ached at the thought of her being alone with two little ones on her birthday. There had to be something we could do. I began to assemble a package to send to her with some new fun things for Ruby to do and a little something for her too. As we were running I lamented to Karen about wanting to be with Amy, and Karen said, "Well, drive out there!". Duhhhh! why didn't I think of that! Jenn and I got back from our run around 7:45, talked to Mark as he was heading out the door and arranged to take the Mazda. We quickly packed, I taught Kindermusik from 10:00 to 10:45 and we were on the road by 11:15. We called Amy about two hours into our drive and told her to break out her air mattress. We were all very excited! We arrived that evening and got to see Ruby for a few minutes before Amy tucked her into bed. Two glorious days of giggling, chasing, baby kisses, imaginary play, coloring, snuggling and bliss. It seemed like more of a gift to me than to Amy in a lot of ways. It was really fun to make her some birthday cupcakes, get her some balloons, dinner and cool candles, as if she was 16 instead of 26. Jordan came home that night (Thursday - her birthday) and they went out and saw Harry Potter. Yesterday Jenn and I went running with Amy and the crew and then packed up again and headed home. 

I know about cutting apron strings and the importance of allowing children to grow up and become independent. I know they need to be able to live their own lives and right now Sacramento is where Amy, Jordan and their family are supposed to be. But what about the heart strings. No one seems to talk much about those. The aching I feel when I leave that sweet family... being able to still feel the sweet little hugs and hear laughter in my head and know it will be a while before my cheek is able to rest on their silky hair again. What about that tugging on my heart when, like Ruby and Olivia, I too want to be able to go through the screen when we skype and be wrapped in their arms. Then there's the pull I feel that makes me so willing to spend two days driving to see them for two days. So totally worth it. In many ways this trip was empowering. It was easy to throw a few thing in my bag and just go. Aaron and Celisa better settle within a one day drive too, because even thought the apron strings have been cut, the heartstrings are still firmly attached.

I just hope...

...that when I'm 52

 ( way way down the road ;)

I'll be as awesome as you are today!

Happy Birthday!

I love you.

One Good Kid

  

Strike that... One amazing young man

He's fun....

Bright...

Creative

Happy

Hard working

Loving

 sensitive to others needs...

the people of Argentina will LOVE him.................and I will miss him.

But I wouldn't want it any other day.

Happy 19th birthday Christian. I love you.

The whole wide world

 

It seems today that the count down begins...

...suddenly my time with this young lady is limited.

 

Time with her living under my roof, needing me in a daily pack your lunch, 

help with school projects, take me to the store kind of way that is. 

I suppose it always has been limited from the day she was born 

but somehow turning 16 begins the countdown. 

Being 16 means new freedoms and privileges

as well as greater responsibilities...

although it seems that she's been so very responsible for a long time already.

I truly hope we will always be close friends.

She has worked so hard, learned so much and come so far.

I am confident that she will continue in the same path and in doing so 

will discover a whole wide world opened up to her.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER

 I love you!

This video was supposed to post with this... oops

27

 

It was 27 years ago but I remember it so clearly; the day Aaron was born.

My very first baby. 

They placed him in my arms and I marveled 

that this little human being was mine, I was HIS MOM.

No one was going to come in and take over for me.

No one would tell me how he likes to be held or tucked in at night.

He was ours to protect, nurture and provide for.

I was so glad Mark and I were in this together.

What is it about first children?

They are the teachers that help parents know how to be parents.

You can read and study and even take care of other children,

but it's really on the job training that does it.

It's the first child that teaches you about patience, sacrifice and love.

I think Heavenly Father sends especially resilient spirits to be first children.

They need to be a little extra forgiving and flexible as parents figure things out.

It looks like he wasn't harmed too much by our inexperience. He is a wonderful young man who is married to a wonderful woman and has an adorable little one. In his second year of a 5 year PhD program and working very hard, doing very well.

 Happy Birthday Aaron!

WE LOVE YOU!

Birthday wishes for MR Z

 

  One of the challenges of a birthday post is to adequately honor the birthday person without repeating what you've said in past years or using the same pictures over and over again!

Someday we will get Rob's baby pictures digitized from slides and then I will have a TON of new pictures to post 

- just hope we can still afford the internet after getting them converted.

It's been so fun to have Rob home from his mission

and I've enjoyed spending his birthday with him.

He is an amazing young man.

Very smart - straight A's since he's been home.

He's a great server at LaHolla Groves resturant

and it has inspired him to cook like a real chef...

He's so sensitive to the needs of others

but won't be walked all over - even if it means failing a cleaning check!

Rob is very comfortable in his skin and has the ability to make all those around him feel at ease too, and he can always make me laugh. 

I realize this only skims the surface but hey,

I need to save some of the good stuff for next year!

Happy Birthday Rob

Love you!

One good woman

"...the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution invented by man. Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially throughout the eternities." Julie B. Beck

Finding just the right quote to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Amy's birth was challenging but I think this one fits her quite well.

At 25 Amy has done most of the regular things most kids do:
attend school, take piano lessons, had a few pets, played that flute, taken gymnastics lessons (and competed too), cheer leading, high school color guard, graduated from college with a degree in teaching, taught kindergarten for one year.

Amy has done some extraordinary things too:
worked at an orphanage in Haiti, spent two semesters working at an orphanage in Romania, married an incredible young man in the temple, given birth to a beautiful daughter (and is expecting another baby).

While the last few things may seem ordinary Amy understands the influence one good woman can have and cares for her family in an extraordinary way.

It's hard to believe that 25 years ago I held my second baby in my arms and today Amy is a few months from doing the same thing.
(cue "Circle of life" music while I grab a tissue)
Sorry for the cheese but I can't help it.

I stand in awe as I watch her.
Amy, you are amazing.
I am so blessed to be your mom.
I hope your day is totally awesome!

I love you!

PS Amy also takes fabulous pictures, check out her giveaway here.

I promise that the next post will not be so gooey

22, 2-fortysomethings, 28 and 51

Wow, I've been AWOL for a while and while I have a few other posts in the works this one is most timely (and most are late, sorry)

July 16th
Greg! I don't even know if you read this ever but Happy Birthday!
You've always been one step ahead of me and I sure love you.
Hope your day was great.

July 21 - Happy Birthday Celisa
We are so glad you are part of our family.
You are an awesome mom and an amazing person.
Hope your Birthday was wonderful.July 29th
Lisa, Happy (late)Birthday!
When we were little we weren't that close,
(cause you were Mom's favorite and I was a bit jealous:)
But I really admire you and glad we are sisters.
Love you!
July 31st
Happy Anniversary to my best friend!
So glad I'm yours and you are mine.
So happy we get to be together forever.
I love you.

Today - August 7 - Mark's birthday
51 years old. Wow, can you believe you are 51?
Where has the time gone?(not to imply in anyway that there isn't still lots and lots of time left cause with the shape you're in I expect maybe next year you'll be half way to the top of the hill). Each birthday you have I secretly hope that in four years I will be as healthy and wonderful as you are and so far I've never made it, but maybe by the time I'm 51....?
Hope your day is wonderful and that you feel the love so many have for you!
I love you!
(did I mention that already?)

Mom

Dear Mom,

Thank you for singing to me at night and teaching me about the power of the atonement. Thank you for cheering for me at many softball games. Thanks for teaching me how to cook and how to be a loving mom. Thanks for teaching me how to serve in my callings. Thanks for teaching me about the importance of education. Thanks for you patience while raising me. Thanks for your love and support in my life. I'm glad we are sealed as a forever family. Thank you for teaching me to love the temple. I'm glad you were born when you were. Thanks for your love and example in my life.

Happy Birthday Mom!
I love you!

18

Last week after Christian's graduation we went to dinner at PF Changs.

The restaurant was filled with graduates and their families.
One of Christian's friends came up to our table and said,
"Christian should get the award for the nicest graduating senior"

I think that most people who know Christian would agree.
He is an amazing young man.

He is amazing with kids.

Loves to create and figure out how things work.

Even though he hates snakes, he is always willing to "escort" them from the yard to their new home. He also emptied the mouse traps for me so I could go downstairs and make breakfast. Not a pleasant job.

Christian has a love for fast moving mechanical things.

Seems to enjoy being sandwiched in the middle(ish) of our family.
He gets along with everyone - age is not an issue.

Last year he watched some of his friends leave for school and now they are leaving on missions. It's amazing to see these boys he's grown up with growing up and leaving home but he's not far behind. Christian is the first of my last two. Five years between him and Rob.

June 3, 18 years ago I was overwhelmed with joy as I held my 9lb 3.5 oz baby boy in my arms. He was sweet and calm and happy. The nurse got permission to watch him in our room, checking his blood sugar regularly - he was a big baby. I was so thankful because I didn't want him to leave my side. Will I be ready to let go this fall? I think so, but mostly because I know what a bright future is in store for him. I look forward to watching him soar.