Happy Birthday Marlee, June 24th!!

Marlee celebrated her 22nd birthday on June 24th! Hope you had a wonderful day!!

Happy Graduation Beanie!

Congratulations on your high school graduation Beanie! We had fun celebrating with you at your graduation party on June 20th! You are on to a new chapter in your life. Seize the Day!!

Happy Graduation Maddie!

Congratulations on your 8th Grade Promotion Maddie! I can't believe you are now a high school student!! We had a great time at your party on June 20th!

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma GG!!

Today was a milestone birthday celebration for our mother (in-law), grandma, and great-grandma! Happy 80th Birthday!! We had a wonderful time celebrating with you!

Happy Birthday Cara!!

Hey Friend!! Happy Birthday! I wish I could be there sitting on the beach with you to celebrate. I miss you, but I'm so happy you love your new home. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your friends and family.

The Robin Family

(Just to preface this entry: I can't seem to figure out the picture thing. I'm going to have to go to my "blogging guru" [that's you A. P.] The pictures are in reverse chronological order.)

Somewhere near the end of May, I noticed the nest in the Bradford Pear tree in our front yard. It was built securely on a low branch. A few days later, I noticed the owner sitting on guard in that nest. It was a robin, Mrs. Robin I presumed. I'm not sure who actually sits on the nest-but I do know from watching, it took two parents to raise this family. I caught the first glimpse of the little tykes on June 2. I needed to get closer to take a good look so I brought out the little step ladder and climbed up with camera in hand to document the arrivals. There were four of the cute little things. I only say cute, because I don't want to hurt their mother's feelings. It has been part of my daily routine for the past 10 days to check on these little guys, take their pictures, and comment on how big they were getting. Well today was the big day! They left the nest-all but one, who will probably be gone tomorrow when I go out to check. They were seen around the yard today. On one occasion, mom or dad was giving a lesson on "worm finding". In another sighting in the backyard, one of the babies was resting on the lawn chair. I can't believe in a matter of 10 days, these little ones were ready to leave the nest! I'm glad my babies took 20+ years to leave the nest. The best part? They come to visit the nest with their own little babies!!

Happy Graduation Hannah!

Congratulations Hannah on your 8th Grade graduation! Welcome to the world of high school!! We had a great time celebrating the occasion at your party on June 5, 2009.

Happy Birthday Ronda: June 5th!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister-in-law! Hope you had a great day. Here's a snapshot of the girls who share the same birthday.

Happy Birthday Megan: June 5th

Happy Birthday to my magnificent daughter! We have been celebrating your birthday for a few days now, with the culmination occurring on Family Sunday. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

Happy Birthday Susie!!

Today, June 1st, marks the birthday of the fourth in line of the siblings, Susan Ann! Happy Birthday Sister! I hope you had a wonderful day.

Family Sunday

It has been well over two years since "Family Sunday" started. It began shortly after the birth of my first grandchild. Her daddy was actually the one who termed it "Family Day" after several Sundays of the family coming over for dinner and then to watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Today was no exception. On the menu for today's meal was:
Grilled Marinated Chicken Breasts
Barbecued Chicken Legs and Thighs
Jack Daniels Dippin Sauce
Baked Regular and Sweet Potatoes
Winter Salad
Italian Bread w/ olive oil, parmesan cheese, and balsamic vinegar
Oreo Cake (store bought) and Ice Cream
Those bright little faces entertained us as usual. And yes, she did actually tie her shoe today!!

Happy 8TH Grade Graduation Austin

Today's celebration was in honor of my nephew Austin, a recent 8th grade graduate of SMS. His parents hosted a party at their house to celebrate the occasion. Lots of food, drinks, bean bag games, music, swimming pool activities, swing set fun, "fourwheelin" and family camaraderie made this a day to remember. I'm sure everyone left the party with full tummies and ready for bed!! Congratulations Austin!!

Who Sows the Seed

"Who sows a seed beneath the sod and waits to see believes in God." This is something I have memorized from childhood. I can't, for the life of me, remember where it was. I do know that I saw it often, maybe it was a friend's house or even my own. It was on some sort of plaque or sign. Obviously, I saw it often enough to remember it. And somehow, it must have made an impression on me, because each springtime, when I plant a seed in the ground, I say that little quote to myself. The truth is, I really believe it! God's miracles of life continue to amaze me.
This is the seventh year I have shared the planting of the family garden with my dad and various siblings and family members. I vow to take good care of it, to keep it watered and weeded, but I never quite manage to live up to my vow. Despite my neglect, the plants grow, and the abundance is there for all. That miracle occurs every time. I anxiously wait in anticipation for that first promise of what is to come. Another tie that binds this family together. God's promise of life.

Happy Truck Day!!

After 54 years, the day has finally arrived! A dream has been fulfilled. My husband, the father of my children, the love of my life, finally owns a truck. I'm not talking about one of those little trucks he always said he'd be happy with. Oh no, he doesn't have to settle for a little truck. He has waited long enough and sacrificed enough for his family. My man deserves the Silverado, Quad Cab, 4X4 he finally drove off the lot today! This was an occasion deserving of a celebration. So, that is just what we did!! Happy Truck Day honey!

A Blogger is Born

I have always loved reading that email forward that discusses the value of the different people who come in and out of one's life and how one should forward these wonderful bits of wisdom to all the people who have made a difference in one's life. I would have forwarded the email to all of those wonderful people, but I didn't want the bad thing at the end of the email to happen to all of those people who really mattered to me if they failed to forward it. It really does make me start thinking about those people who have made a difference in my life and why they have made a difference in my life.
My first post is about one of those special people. The actual cause of the meeting was "flood". We were actually forced to share space because the room she was located in had flooded and she was relocated to the room I occupied. During this time I learned about her family, friends, interests, and all of those general things you learn about people you work in proximity with. But, I also learned about the kind of things that change the person you are for having known someone. I learned about how much she adores her family, immediate and extended, and it made me want to be a better wife, mother, grandma, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, and aunt. I learned about the dedication and commitment she has for the profession she has chosen and it makes me work harder at mine. I have also learned that if you stick your neck out a little bit to make a friend, people do respond (and become your Facebook friends-she does have 136 as of this date!) And, sometimes I think she might even listen to some of the unsolicited "gems of wisdom" I give her (and of course that makes me feel needed and important!) This list does go on, but I really want to get to this last one I'm going to include in this post. And that last point being, she taught me about blogging!! I'm not sure where this is going, but this first one is for you Amanda! It has been my pleasure getting to know you this year.