Happy Birthday to McKenna and Sydney!!!!!

I am blessed beyond measure as a mother.

I have three amazing girls... and I had the incredible joy of celebrating two of them yesterday and today. (The 30th is McKenna's birthday and the 31st is Sydney's.)

First off... Happy Birthday to McKenna!

When I gave birth to McKenna WAY back in 1992, I was just a young thing... a mother who really didn't have any idea what it meant to be a parent. All I knew was that I loved this little, almost bald, a little bit blonde, beautiful child more than I ever thought possible. It was hard for me to ever imagine her being a teenager, but I do remember saying a prayer and asking God to guide me as a tried to be the kind of mother I needed to be to raise her into the kind of young woman I dreamed of her being.

And let me just say that she is EVERYTHING a Mom could pray for! I can honestly say that I am amazed everyday by the 16-year-old that she has become! She amazes me daily with her wisdom and faith and feeling and loveliness. She is an absolutely joy, and I learn so much about life from her. She makes me a better person!


McKenna...I love you beyond words. Happy 16th Birthday!!!

And then... Happy Birthday to Sydney!

Sydney was our "surprise" child and, although we were a little unprepared to be parents again after a break of 8 years from Delaney being born, we fell in love with this child as soon as we knew we were having her. And then we met her!! and we fell in love even more! Sydney keeps Gary and I young; she melts our hearts; she makes life interesting; she has us wrapped around her little fingers; she has made our family complete.


Sydney... I love you more than you will ever know. Happy 4th Birthday!!!
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And, yes, we DID celebrate those birthdays this past weekend (how could you imagine that we didn't? lol). You'll remember that Sydney had a party for friends last weekend, and McKenna will be having a Sweet Sixteen Bash with her friends two weeks from now. but we had to celebrate closer to their birthdays. So, last night we had a little family gathering with Gary's parents and grandmother; cousins; and a few of McKenna's friends. There were also cupcakes, which always makes for a good celebration!

(just take a moment and look at Sydney's face in these first three photos. Boy was she ever feeling the joy!!! I just LOVE the expressions of happiness and excitement on her face in them!)





I * heart* birthdays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!