Happy 15th Birthday to my sweet girl, my Princessa, my Emmalee.
Happy Birthday to my Emmalee {Photo Reflection}
birthday
Happy 16th Birthday To My Oldest Son {Thoughts From Me}
Today my oldest child turns 16. Let me start by saying this Momma is in NO WAY ready for that. My sweet BABY is almost a man. I shudder just to think about it.
I can remember when he was a tiny baby, with brown curls and a cherub grin. Everyone who saw him thought he was the prettiest baby boy and yes, some even asked if he was a girl. I didn’t mind. To me, he was the most beautiful baby ever.
The day he was born, he looked like a tiny little wailing alien. He loved to be held and his Grandmother and Papa were always toting him around. He was well-loved by us all.
He was my emergency c-section. His delivery was a traumatic one. The doctors almost lost us both. I remember feeling the pain and feeling myself begin to float as they prepped me for his delivery. I was put to sleep and when I awoke it was all over.
The first thing I saw of my newborn boy was a photograph. I wasn’t able to get out of bed and he wasn’t able to come see Mommy for 6 long hours. His tiny body had suffered so much stress that he had to go into the warmer and be monitored right away. I remember just being thankful he was alive and well.
The first time I held him, I was in LOVE. He was the sweetest little thing. He loved to nuzzle and he refused to sleep alone. I don’t think he slept one time in his crib.
Isn’t funny how I can remember that period of time like it was yesterday? Time passes so quickly. Soon that little baby is going become a man. Time is too short.
I’ve watched him grow every day. I chose to homeschool him because I couldn’t bare to pass these moments that God blessed me with to someone else. Selfishly, I wanted to keep these years all to myself and I am so glad that I have. These memories will last us both for a lifetime.
This young man who has blessed me these past 16 years is like no other. I used to wonder why I had a son first and not a daughter but now I know. He’s been my rock, my supporter, my strength through so many things. He’s quiet and a true peacemaker.
I honestly could not have made it through these past 16 years without this wonderful young man by my side. He’s helped me with his sisters, our home, keep up with everything and just been a friend and a loving son to me all the way. I tell him all the time that one day he’s going to make some girl a wonderful husband. A lucky one she will be and yes, I plan to let her know that!
So here is to my soon-to-be 16 year old. May we continue to enjoy the short time we have left together and many years afterwards. I love you my son – more than you can ever know and I thank God every day for the blessing you have been to my life.
Five Becomes Six: Happy Birthday to my Laycie Bug, the Kid {Thoughts From Me}
Tonight I put my five year old to bed. Tomorrow when she wakes she will be six. It doesn’t seem possible and yet it is.
Laycie Elizabeth has brought so much joy to our lives. Her sister, my Emmalee, dubbed her our Angel on the day she was born and she has truly been just that to us all. She brings happiness and joy to our days that was unimaginable before she was born.
I could never have imagined being a Momma to four beautiful children. I never expected to find so much happiness in my life as they bring me. I am blessed and I am thankful every day for the love I receive from each of them.
This weekend we are having a Grand Birthday Bash and Oyster Roast. It’s Laycie’s birthday party and a raincheck party for our older kids who didn’t get to have a party because of all the cold weather we had this past Winter. Spring has finally shown her beautiful self and we will be taking full advantage!
I’m not sure what our weekend will bring, except that it will bring together so many that we love. It will bring our eight beautiful children home together (I hope). It will bring our friends here to celebrate and enjoy each other once again, both new and old friends.
It is a celebration for me, their Momma, who loves them dearly and could not imagine this great Earth without them, even though I never imagined I’d have been blessed by the eight of them. My loves, my heart carried in eight separate pieces outside my chest, these beautiful children who make me whole. This weekend will be wonderful and I look forward to enjoying every moment of it along with them.
So Happy Birthday to my Laycie Bug, the Kid and Happy Belated Birthday to my Win and Emma. Here’s to many more years together, growing and loving each other forever. God bless you for the love you give me. I am thankful every single day.
Winston’s Turning 12 {Thoughts From Me}
Christmas is finally past and we move onto the last birthday of the year, which starts our birthday season around here. Winston turns 12 on December 28. I can hardly believe he’s already 12. My baby has grown up way too quickly.
Every day he comes one day closer to being a strong, patient and loving man. In a few months, I expect that he will be taller than me. In a few years, he will be grown and moving on. Momma is sooo not ready for all of this.
I’m proud of my baby. He’s always supportive of me. He does all I ask with very little attitude. He’s a servant and a man of strength. He’s kind to his siblings. He enjoys working hard.
Recently, he’s discovered a love of nature. He enjoys hunting. For Christmas, he shot his first gun. One of his presents was a starter bow set to learn archery, something he requested to do.
The years are getting shorter and I am trying to make the best of the time I have left with him as my child. Children grow up way too fast. They leave the nest before Momma is ready to let them go. But every precious moment and memory they bring us is worth the process of going through it all. I will never forget a single day, I’ve spent with my handsome son.
Happy Birthday to my precious boy. May his life be all he wishes and his dreams come true. He’s been a blessing to my life and I pray he always knows love and happiness in his future.
Happy Birthday to My Birthday Girl!! {Thoughts From Me}
April 8, 2012
Happy Birthday to my sweet baby Laycie. She’s 4 year’s old today. I can hardly believe it. Time has passed so quickly.
It seems like just yesterday I was being prepped for surgery in anticipation of seeing her precious little face for the first time. Due to complications, I was put to sleep and the first time I saw her face was in a photo. She had thick dark hair and a scrunched up baby face. Within an hour, I was holding her tiny body in my arms loving on my sweet girl. It was as if we’d never been apart.
The first time Emmalee saw Laycie, she told me “Mommy, she’s our Angel”. And she surely has been. She is a true blessing to each of us and fills our heart with Joy every single day. She is the sweetest little girl I know. She’s thoughtful and fun and filled with God’s light. A precious gift of God.
The older she gets, the more her personality shows and it is such a strong and triumphant personality. She has strong opinions and a strength to overcome so much in life. Nothing seems to get her down. She loves everyone, loves to ask questions, sing, dance and read. She has a hard time choosing between Mommy and Daddy’s girl and that’s just fine with us.
She loves playing outdoors, riding in Daddy’s truck helping him do whatever he needs, getting dirty, and looking for life at the pond with Mommy or Daddy of course! I fully expect she’ll be a logger just like her Daddy and Grumpy when she grows up though Daddy wishes a different life for her.
She’s definitely no longer a baby and my Mommy heart is a bit sad to say goodbye to her little days though I am overjoyed to watch her become a little lady a little more each day. God blessed me with each one of my children and my Laycie is certainly a blessing to everyone she comes in contact with. She is a true gift from God and I could never imagine life without her!
So on her 4th birthday, I send my little girl lots of love and joy, just as she’s given to me. I pray for her to grow into the young lady God wishes for her to be and she seems to be well on her way.
Life Lessons from my Children {Thoughts from Me}
Today is my niece’s 11th birthday. I remember the day she was born. There was actually snow on the ground in South Carolina. I remember her having a large head and tiny fists and sweet little toes. I remember her sweet smell and her rosy pink cheeks. Seems like it was just yesterday. She latched onto my heart and has yet to let go.
Her birthday is the reminder that December is here. December brings the birth of Christ, Christmas the holiday, celebrations, fun times and memories. It also begins my children’s birthday season. December, February and April. Each month blessed me more than I could have ever imagine.
December brings my son’s 11th birthday this year. I look forward to it. I love watching him grow. I dread the day when he leaves home. I pray he’s more man that I could have ever wished for. I want so many things for him but I know his life lies in the hands of God where I placed him and his sisters long ago.
My children have been such blessings to my life. They have each taught me so much in their own rights. I could never have imagined how much of a gift they truly are on the day of their birth. I can only imagine how much of a blessing and gift we each are as children of God everyday.
My son has taught me what love is. Unconditional, patient love. The kind that never gives up, never judges and never stops. That’s his kind of love and how he lives his life. His immense patience with me and his sisters always astonishes me. His kindness is beyond belief. My son at 11 is already more of a man than most men I know. I’m thankful for that. When he was born I didn’t know what our relationship would be, what blessing he would bring me but every day my eyes are opened more.
My older daughter has taught me strength and patience. I have learned to let go and pick battles with her that are worth the fight. She is strong – strong willed, strong minded and strong in heart. She’s brought me closer to God with her love for him and her strength in her choices and opinions and will. She’s blessed my life, driving me to the edge of anger and switching my heart with a quick, innocent smile. She, too, shows me what God sees in each of us every single day when we push him to the edge of anger only to feel him gracefully bless us with another day of forgiveness. I will always love her, I will always forgive her, I will always be with her as God is with each of us. Nothing she can do will change that – she has my heart, this girl.
My baby girl has taught me joy and filled my heart with it abundantly, as well as her brother and sisters. Emma deemed her our Angel at her birth and that she is, sent straight down from God’s arms in Heaven. Her laughter warms us, her smile brings happiness to us. So many times she’s come close to returning to Heaven and I am always thankful when He blesses us with another day to see her joyful smile and see her sprite-like innocence bloom into a bright, beautiful, angelic child.
Together the three of them fullfill my life. They bring me so much joy and happiness, so much love and strength and honest light. I see God in their eyes every single day. I’m thankful to God above for them, for only He could create someone so precious as these three are to me. Only He knew what joy and purpose they’d bring into my life when He chose me to be their Mother. How could I ever doubt His will for me or for them? I have Faith that He takes care of us all, that He planned this life for us to Honor him and His love for us. I know He has a plan and thus far it’s been better than I could have ever known! For that I’m forever Thankful.
