Happy B-Day...

On the 24th...my oldest daughter, Trisha will turn 30 years old!  She is a wonderful wife, mother, and daughter...creative and talented...an awesome cook, a dependable and caring young woman...and just a
joy in our lives!  I love you Trisha...Happy Birthday!

On the 27th it is my oldest son's Birthday, Jaron will be 32!  Where has the time gone???  He is a great dad, husband, and son...very talented, with a beautiful voice...a good leader, a wonderful cook, and a very busy man!!  We miss being closer to him and his family so much.
I love you Jaron...Happy Birthday!

I knew a little girl...

My Ali has just grown up!  She turns eight years old on Sep. 18th.  I think she is such a sweetheart, always willing to help with anything
you ask of her...such a caring and good big sister...and she is just so lovable!  Every time I visit, she is so quick to come give me a great big hug!  She has lots of friends and is happy and fun.  I'm so proud of her and all that she has accomplished so far.  She is a very good reader and does very well in school, is learning to play the piano and practices alot!  She will be baptized next Saturday, and I'm so happy for her!  I just want to wish her the Happiest Birthday...and tell her how much I love her, and I can't wait to see her in a week and be there for her special day!  Love you, Ali-pali!!  And Happy 8th Birthday!

5 + 6 = BRENT!

So most of my posts are what I want to say and pictures I like or want to use...and since Brent is about as different as night and day when it comes to me...I decided for his Birthday, I would post what he would like.  (maybe???)   He is a man of few words, so here are a FEW to describe him...

hard working,       mis-understood,

adventurous, 

no respect,     stubborn,

quiet,  

Rodger...

(and maybe his favorite) grandpa...

Happy birthday, Brent!

Thoughts of a normal "crazy" woman...

We don't always have life figured out...even when we look arranged and sane.  Sometimes we are going crazy trying to make the lemonade...but the lemons keep coming and coming...or do they ever really stop coming?  Life is a journey, and many of us carry burdens, even hidden burdens...not upon our backs, but upon our hearts.  I believe, or at least I hope that we all feel this way sometimes...a sweet acquaintance of mine made a comment about something she did each day, an insight into her life...and then immediately asked us to please not judge her, or commit her!  It made me laugh...it made me think of the many times I have "lost it" and wondered when they would commit me!  She has her life all together...doesn't she?  She seems like the most normal of all people...and that's when it hit me.  Normal is this...the hidden heartaches people carry, family problems, personal failures, loss, regret.  Normal is crazy...the crazy that we feel when we mess up once again, when we can't control everything around us, when we feel all alone.  Normal is grief, let-downs, stumbling blocks, sin...Normal is this world and everything around us...which is controlled by whom?  Think about it...who is the one in control of this earth?  Who takes control of our lives when we allow that?  We don't always have life figured out...sometimes we are going crazy...but can I only hope that I'm not alone in this feeling.  I imagine there are so many things out there that no one will ever know about...that every person deals with on a daily basis...or maybe even hourly, or minute by minute.  I imagine that...because I have felt that...I have experienced and still experience those intimate feelings, that you cannot share with another human being.  But there is someone that we can share those feelings with...someone that can carry those burdens of the heart...someone that knows us, and knows our "normal" and knows our doubts and fears, our mistakes and heartaches.  I can only wish that I have not heaped upon others burdens, by my actions, my comments, my own mistakes and faults.  I hope that in my insane thoughts and fears, I have not injured someone else...but that too, is only a hope.  I know that I have...unknowingly I have spoken out of turn, or been too honest, or struck out in defense...and I'm sure that I offended someone, not purposely, but even that is not a good excuse.  I wish I could change so many things in my life...this being one tiny one of them...so many others, that are huge...some that I can't ever take back, some that I probably haven't even done yet.  We don't always have life figured out...at least I don't...

Happy Belated Birthday to Tess!

Our family only
has one summer birthday...and that's my Tanessa.  On July 15th, she turned 25!  The only problem with that this year was that it coincided with our return from Europe and a huge gathering of chaos and comotion at our house!


So unfortunately, Tanessa's birthday got somewhat overlooked this year.  I'm so sorry Tess!  But I wanted everyone to know how much I love my delightful daughter, and a few things about her!

Tanessa is a go-getter...anything she sets her mind to, she can do!
She is a little slower going about things than some people...we always teased her when she was younger about how SLOW she moved...She just takes her time, I guess...and enjoys life along the way!  I think her speed is getting a little faster now that she is a mom and has to chase after two little girls!

She is a great wife to Jacob...she loves to cook and makes him all kinds of specialties!  She supports him in all his callings and his school, and loves to spend time with him.

She is a great mom to Addisyn and Brielle.  She was such a little princess when she was growing up, and now has a couple of her own!

Tanessa has always been a loving and sweet person, one who can go crazy with her imagination, crack us up with her silly comments, and has brought much joy and happiness into our family.

She is a great daughter, grand-daughter, sister, wife, and mother...she is always thinking of her family and friends and does so much for all of us.  She can cook a gourmet meal, plan a great party, decorate the coolest cakes...but she doesn't like doing dishes much!

We tease her about her potty mouth...not that it's that dirty...but she tells it like it is, and doesn't beat around the bushes much. (hmmm...sounds a little like her mother!)

She is creative...ambitious...loving...and sensitive.  She loves a good party, and for that Tess...I am sorry yours was so lame this year!

It was so fun to have her and the two little girls home with us this year for her birthday!  We miss her so much now that she is in FLORIDA!!  Happy birthday, Tessy-poo...I love you so much...you mean the world to me, and I miss you!!