Happy Birthday, John!!

Today is my dear husband's birthday!! He is a wonderful husband to me and a loving father to the three children in our home.  Sometimes I'm gobsmacked as to how I got so lucky to have such a wonderful person as a husband and best friend. 

We're so grateful for his life and hard work!  The kids said they would like to have party hats and wanted to eat birthday cake on the way to childcare.  Looks like we'll have a snowy evening when we celebrate tonight!

Oh Happy Day!

E & K's baby was born this morning! They are on their way to the baby's birth state right now. Please pray for their safe arrival, and please join me in giving thanks for the baby's safe arrival.  Birth mom and baby are doing well.  Little girl, we can't wait to see your beautiful face.

Precious one,

So small,

So sweet

Dancing in

on angel feet

Straight from Heaven's 

brightest star

What a miracle

you are!

Michaela is ONE!!!

Happy birthday to our youngest goddaughter, Michaela!! Can't believe that a whole year has gone by since she came into the world.  What a gift you are, little one.  We are so happy to be in your life and hope to spend more time with you this year.  Your chubby cheeks and ever-present smile light up the room and our hearts!

We are blessed to have such wonderful friends in your parents as well.  God bless you, Michaela!!

(Photo courtesy of The Hartsell House.)

Gifts of life

October is a busy month in our family.  As I posted earlier, my youngest sissy, Mary, turned the big 3-0 on 10/10/10!

Our niece, Claire, celebrates her birthday early in the month and turned 9 this year! She is our goddaughter, so she holds an extra special place in our hearts.

Today, there are three of us who have a birthday.  My brother-in-law, Kurt, and our nephew, Eddie who is a whopping 5! Happy, happy birthday to them!

Since Kurt has been in the family, I have enjoyed a call from him and Ellen where they serendade me and then we serenade Kurt. 

Kurt does not live in WA, but Eddie and I have a family birthday party together which has been fun.  Getting a new nephew on my birthday 5 years ago was an awesome gift!  This year is extra special because we have two little ones living with us and making our lives fuller.

Thank you, Lord, for my life and all of the people in it.  I am truly blessed.

10\10\10 = THIRTY!

My sister, Mary, turned old yesterday!  She is now 30 and it happened on 10/10/10.  Happy birthday, Mary! We hope you had a wonderful weekend and a blessed year! You join illustrious people such as myself, Matt and Kate in the 30s club. :)

Birthday Catch Up

Where did September go?  I've missed posting the family birthdays in July and September, so here they are.

My nieces, Madeleine (affectionately known as Madge) and her sister Guadalupe aka Pita turned 4 and 2 respectively.  They also got the nice birthday gift of a baby brother, also born in July. Welcome Caleb Jr!
My mom also had a birthday at the end of July.  She was away in our hometown of St. Louis at the time, so we had a little celebration when she got back.

On the other side of the globe, my niece and goddaughter, Lili turned 4!

In September, my sister, Kate celebrated her birthday! She is so far away in Australia.  Her son, Nicholas, turned 6.  I can't believe he's in first grade already.  What the heck?! 

Kate looking stylishly 1940s at a party.  Nick ready for a school spirit race day.

Wrapping up the September birthdays are my father-in-law, Jim, and our nephew Daniel who turned the big 7!  We had a family birthday dinner last night to celebrate the birthday boys.  I could not ask for a better father-in-law.

                                 Dad C on a recent backpacking trip.

                               Daniel on the ferry headed to Orcas Island.

                                Happy (belated) birthdays to everyone!

Happy 4th birthday, Lili Girl!!

My niece, Lili Pea, is 4 on the 4th! She is way over in Australia and celebrated her birthday with family and friends.  She is a doll and a tomboy wrapped in one cute package. I remember getting the call from her mom, Kate, and telling me that a Yankee Doodle baby had arrived.  A week or so later, I was flying to Australia to meet you.

 I love you so much, Liliana, and wish we could be there to celebrate with you and give you big hugs and kisses.  Aunty Lou and Uncle Third send our love and prayers for a wonderful year and life for you.

Happy birthday, Peach!!

Today my niece, Pita, (aka Peach, birthname Guadalupe) is 2 years old! Even though you're on the other side of the country, you are in my heart and thoughts, little girl. You are such a fun, goofy, sweet kiddo and I love how you march to the beat of your own drum. And now you're a big sister to your little brother who is arriving in a couple of weeks!

We hope that you have a wonderful new year of life and know that you are loved beyond measure.

Aunty Lou and Uncle Third love you bundles and bundles! (and we're sorry that you're gift is late!) :)

September Birthdays

Before the month is over, I want to wish happy birthday to several beloveds. My sister Kate celebrated her day on September 4. Her son, Nicholas, turned 5 (!) on 9/14. Dad Campbell reached another year of wisdom on 9/16. Our nephew, Daniel, is now a whopping 6!! God bless you all. We are so blessed to have you in our lives!

Birthday Girls!!

Happy, happy birthday to my dearest girls in the world! Pita turned one on July 1, Lili turned 3 on July 4, and Maddy turns 3 today, July 17!

You three little ladies make my world brighter with smiles, laughs, funny-isms and sheer presence. We love you so much and hope to see you soon.

God bless and protect you all. Love you!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is Mom C's birthday! We are so grateful for your life and for the blessings we've received from you being in our lives. God bless you this year and always. I could not have asked for a more loving mom-in-law and friend. We love you very much. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday, Christina!!

Today is our sister-in-law Christina's birthday! Her presence in our family has made our lives richer through her example of hard work, perseverance, faith, and her talent of making delicious desserts which we all look forward to at family gatherings.

These last few months have been more than challenging for Christina, Jeff and their kids since her diagnosis of an aggressive form of breast cancer in November. She has shown us all that although life will throw a person a curve ball, we must remember that Jesus is with us and will bear us up under our cross as He bore his.

Christina, we love you and are praying for you and are so grateful to call you ‘sister’ and ‘friend.’ God bless you on your birthday!

Happy Birthday, Caleb!!

Today is our brother-in-law Caleb's 28th birthday! We wish you a very happy day and a year full of blessings and happiness. It is a blessing to have you in our family and we are grateful for the gift of your life. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you, but instead will hold you in prayer and our thoughts. Happy, happy birthday, Caleb!!