Joyous Birthday Wishes

This day, 14 years ago, I gave birth to my second child. For three days, this daughter of mine remained nameless, Wes and I struggling to agree on a fitting name. Finally, when the time came to fill out the official birth certificate form, we negotiated an agreement: Abigail-"my father's joy"- agreeable only if the middle name was Faith.

Wes was convinced our baby girl would not like the name Abigail, and thought Faith was a great back up name for when she expressed this inevitable disdain.

It's funny now to imagine calling our sweet Abbee "Faith." Our sweet Abbee who now stands 5' 8 1/2" tall and is too old to be comfortable with my disclosing her weight!

The grin she carried plastered upon her face as a toddler is still intact. It blesses me daily.

Abigail has lived up to the name that spoke of joy. She not only delights the heart of her father, but fills her mother's heart as well. This joy bundled up in one Abigail Faith is contagious! Her laughter often erupts, lifting a mundane day and spreading to all those around her.

Happy birthday, my precious Abigail Faith! May your fourteenth year be extraordinary as you continue to mature into the beautiful young lady God is shaping. And may the joy you exude continue to bless all who are privileged experience it!

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

No one told me when I married a man with two children that blending a family would be one of the hardest things I ever did. Not that it really mattered. I wouldn't have listened anyway!

But, blending a family was one of the hardest things I've (or rather "we've") ever done.  

However, this beautiful young lady (and I'm NOT referring to Wes) is one of the reasons it was SO WORTH EVERY MINUTE!

Please excuse Wes's cap hair!

Today, Sarah turns 23.

God has been gracious and over the years and despite the struggles, Sarah and I have become really close. She is my BONUS daughter, and I love her as my own!

Here are TWENTY-THREE lovely things I love about Sarah:
1. Sarah loves family. She works to make sure we all stay connected, and she comes by to visit even if she DOESN'T NEED ANYTHING!!
2. Sarah loves kids. She is like America's Most Wanted Nanny!
3. Sarah loves dogs. This I will never understand, but she actually thinks Max is CUTE!
4. Sarah is responsible.
5. Sarah makes me laugh.
6. Sarah and I make fun of Wes. It really annoys him!
7. Sarah likes crafting.
8. Sarah appreciates a great pair of shoes. Or, FOUR-HUNDRED GREAT PAIRS OF SHOES!!
9. Likewise, Sarah appreciates a great purse.  Or, you know, a thousand great purses!
10. Sarah LOVES to cook.
11. Sarah is an AMAZING COOK.
12. Sarah cooks for us sometimes!
13. Sarah shares my addiction to Pinterest.
14. Sarah shares my addiction to queso.
15. Sarah shares my addiction to wine! (just kidding. sort of!)
16. Sarah always has a great selection of nail polish.
17. Sarah lets the kids spend the night with her.
18. Sarah has a stellar voice. I love to hear all of the girls singing together.
19. While Sarah pierced her cartilage and her nose, she will NEVER pierce her tongue. (Right? ...Sarah? ...HELLO?)
20. Sarah has PERFECT taste in music.
21. Although Sarah is a TERRIBLE painter (if you don't believe me, check the baseboards in her former room!), she does enjoy re-arranging, re-decorating, and re-painting as much as I do! For that, I have to love her!
22. Sarah is studying to be a teacher. Sarah will be the BEST TEACHER EVER.
23. Sarah is beautiful INSIDE and out.

Sarah, I hope you have an amazing 23rd birthday. And, I hope your year just keeps getting better from there!

Happy Birthday, Jordan!

Just yesterday, that FIFTEEN year old on the left was the same age as that TWO year old on the right.

JUST. YESTERDAY.

See?

I just took that picture YESTERDAY!

How did this happen?!

No. really.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??!!!

I love having a teenage daughter, but it also makes me so sad that my babies are all growing up SO FAST.

In honor of her special day, here are the top 15 reasons the teenage version of JP is even better than the toddler version:
1. She wipes her own bottom.
2. She no longer leaves sippy cups filled with milk in the car for who knows how long.
3. She has better taste in music... and by that I mean, we are no longer listening to Barney!
4. Her tantrums are much quieter (especially in public!).
5. She dresses herself, feeds herself, and BLOWS HER OWN NOSE.
6. She no longer spits disgusting stuff out IN MY HAND.
7. She has stopped eating dog food and crickets.
8. She talks like a grown up about grown up stuff.
9. She loves to shop and doesn't need a bribe TO NOT EMBARRASS ME in the store!
10. I'm no longer afraid to leave her alone with the scissors! or a sharpie! or HER SISTER!
11. She's no longer BITING her friends. (I hope.)
12. She appreciates a good nap as much as I do!
13. She still gives me a big hug and squeals when she's excited.
14. She still has that same great smile and beautiful blue eyes.
15. She still makes me feel blessed every single day.

Happy FIFTEENTH Birthday, JP. Watching you grow into a beautiful young lady is one of the greatest joys of my life... even if it makes me a little sad!

Pretend this post was written on November 13th...

So today (not really.  I'm just pretending I actually got this done in a timely manner.  It makes me feel better about myself.  Self-deception is my specialty!)  my second born turns 13.  I have teared up every time I've considered the profundity of this fact over the last several days.  And it's not just because I now have TWO teenage daughters living inside my house (Lord, have mercy...for real!), but it's more the reality sinking in that my time with my kids is fleeting, much more quickly than I could have ever imagined.

Abbee is just as special at 13 as she was newly born. She still makes me smile.  She still makes me proud to be her mom.  (The exception to this may be when we are eating.  That girl's table manners are lacking in every way!)  But, for the most part, Abbee's personality hasn't changed much in the last 13 years.

As I've considered being thirteen again, I began to think of all the things I wish I had known.  I feel certain someone shared these thoughts with me.  I didn't listen.  But, oh the despair that could have been avoided had I!

In hopes that maybe someday, Abbee will at least be able to look back and say, "Mom, you were SO RIGHT," here's a list of the 13 things I wish I'd known at thirteen:

1.  You will (for the most part) grow into your feet.
2.  Shaving your legs is over-rated!
3.  Zits suck.  And you will always get one the day before pictures, or parties, or prom.  It's natural teenage law.  I'm sorry.
4.  Procrastinating always comes back to bite you.  I don't recommend it.
5.  Enjoy the ability to run, jump, flip, and physically exert yourself in all manners.  One day, it will hurt  for days afterward.  You will wonder why this has to be.  No one will know!
6.  At the risk of sounding like Martina McBride, dance.  If there is music, you should dance.  It's completely normal no matter how many people may be staring at you!  Everybody wants to dance.  Be brave enough to do so!
7.  Don't believe anything another 13 year old says about you.  Their perspective is skewed.  It's not their fault, but it doesn't change anything.
8.  The people who love you most will still be around 20 years from now (give or take a few deaths).  Most of your friends will not.  Consider this when friends are urging you to do things from which the people who love you most would encourage you to abstain.
9.  Dressing like a slut is dumb. It makes you look trashy and easy. Neither of which is Christ-like.
10. Beauty really does start on the inside.  Outwardly beautiful, hateful girls are a dime a dozen.  Inwardly beautiful girls are rare.  Dare to be in the minority!
11.  All other 13 year olds feel just as insecure as you. Thirteen year olds that bully are usually even more insecure than their peers.

12.  While you may be smart, you are NOT WISE.  Thirteen years is not nearly enough time to gain any sort of useful wisdom!  So, listen to those who have lived much longer.

13.  When "no" is the answer, there is probably a good reason that comes from our overwhelming desire to protect you.  When you can't understand that, trust how much we love you.  And, know that our decisions, even when they are wrong, are motivated by a love you can't possibly yet understand.

I love you, Abigail Faith.  May thirteen prove to be everything you'd hoped!

The Month of Birthdays is Over

Both I and my waistline are glad to see the month of January come to a close! Between family and friends, we celebrated TEN birthdays (with an additional two "in spirit!").

The "month of birthdays" began January 10, when this cutie and Heather both celebrated their special days!

Although we didn't get to join this sweetie on her birthday, Randee Hope turned four on the 22nd, beginning a long string of uninterrupted family birthdays!

Jake is the 23rd...

Jordan the 24th...

Sarah the 25th...and last but not least... Daylee the 26th!

And just to keep the cake coming, we interspersed several of our friends' birthdays into the mix as well!

Our friend Luke had a birthday...

Our friend Emily had a birthday...

Our friend Malleri had a birthday...

Our friend Gabbi had a birthday...

And Emma would have given her right leg to join Lexie for her 10th birthday!

In light of all the wonderful January birth extravaganzas, I will be spending the month of February on my elliptical. The entire month.

Except for JW's birthday. I'll have to get off to eat some cake!

Happy Birthday, Jordan Rae...

This little Spitfire turned 13 way back on January 24. What can I say? January is a busy month around here, and I was too busy being cold to plan a party! So, Friday night, we finally celebrated.

JP decided she wanted a slumber party (also known as...the party that goes on for-eva!!).

The guest list included these lovelies...

And these lovelies....

And, this lovely...who made me re-take her picture until she was satisfied with the result! For some reason, this one pleased her!!

Wes, JW, and Uncle James were also brave enough to show up. I just have no pictorial proof!

We spent a couple of weeks planning the menu, the snack list (which needed to be gluten free for one of our guests!), and the games and activities (no nail polish...that is SO dumb!). I thought we had all of the details covered until it was time to sing happy birthday! That's when we realized that we (and by we I mean me) didn't have any candles. So, we (and by we I mean me) improvised!!
The official game of the night was "NINJA"...if you haven't played, just walk up to one of these lovely ladies and say "NINJA!" It's easy to figure out from there!!


I think everyone had a grand time. It was hard to tell from all the giggles, squeals, and craziness (that was still going strong at THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING!!). But, we survived (and by we I mean me!)

JP, you continue to make my heart smile just as you did the very first time I held you in my arms. I pray that God will continue to work in your heart and life in such a way that all that you are and all that you do will always point you back to Him. I love you more than Dr. Pepper!! And that's A LOT!!

Happy 11th Birthday, Abbee!

Abbee turned 11 this month and to celebrate, we invited some of her favorite people over for some nerky and laser tag!
Here is Abbee and the nerky ball! I love this picture...it highlights one of Abbee's most unique features, her two different color eyes!

Instead of a cake, Abbee opted for cake balls. It was a fantastic idea right up until the candles ceremony! Being the "every obstacle is an opportunity" kind of mom that I am, I improvised!


The gifts seemed to have a definite theme!





We found these plates and napkins and believed they were quite appropriate for a celebration involving Abster.

Apparently, we were right!

Here are eleven reasons why Abbee is a super kid:
1. She is seldom seen without a smile.
2. She is kind and compassionate.
3. She is easily entertained!
4. She loves to please.
5. She often lets others have their way!
6. She enjoys all sports.
7. She doesn't mind folding laundry!
8. She gives 110% to everything except keeping her room clean!
9. She will go to Wal-Mart with Wes even if she doesn't feel like it!
10. She has a super sense of humor!
11. She has a heart of gold!
Happy 11th Birthday, Abigail Faith! I'm especially grateful that God has blessed me with you!

Belated Birthday Post

Way back in June (for once BEFORE my kid's actual birthday) we threw a High School Musical sleepover for Emma's 8th birthday!

When Emma asked Glory if she was coming to her birthday party, Glory said, "Yea! And I'm gonna eat cok [aka "cake"] balls!" I totally busted her snagging one!

There was eating, presents, and crafting.





JW wanted in on the Mod Podge!

Then, at some point, for some reason, the party got COMPLETELY out of control!!










For some, it became unbearable!!


But, in the end, we were all smiles!