Graceful Ashley

 I just spent a couple of days with Ashley, cleaning, packing, and my favorite part,  holding Jet so she could get some things done.  As I watched her patiently pack a few boxes between nursing and taking care of Eli and Ivy,  I must say I was a bit in awe of her.
She is graceful with life.  She is able to be smack dab in the middle of total chaos and stay above it all.   She always remembers what is important.  Happy birthday.
I love you, always.

See That Look in Her Eyes

We can talk fabric for hours.

Or talk about God.

We can talk about children, being a mom and food, especially food.

I love you, Katy.

Thanks for talking.

Happy, happy day!

It's Your Birthday

Love Jordan's smashed nose against Craig's cheek.

Love how Craig is always there for her.

Love how Craig is always there for his children.

Love how Craig is always there for his friends.

Love how Craig is always there.

Happy Birthday, Doctor.

You're fantastic.

When Ben was young he had a collection of

succulents.

It was the beginning of his love for plants, his talent for arranging flowers and his eye for design.

I love these things about Ben but mostly I love his heart.

He is kind.

He wants to do what is right.

I am grateful for his respect for me as his mother.

I love you, Ben.

Happy Birthday!

Honest In Heart

I believe that integrity is one of those qualities that is usually between you and God.  He knows your heart.  But it has a great impact on those around you.  For if you have integrity you treat others how Christ would treat them.

And this is one of the many qualities I love about Olivia, her honesty and love of other people.

She has taught me about service, gratitude and being true.

Happy Birthday!  I love you.

And that cute guy you brought into the world is pretty wonderful, too!

Unrelenting Quality Control

You know what makes someone a great artist?  One of the qualities is that of understanding yourself, above all else.  Not in a narcissistic way but a deep down this is who I am way.  And trusting your instincts, not unlike trusting the spirit. I am convinced that they do go hand in hand; do not lean on the arm of flesh.  This is one of Kurt's great gifts.  One, I admit, I have always envied.  He never gives in or compromises because of lack of time and energy.  This is his approach to creating and better yet, this is his approach to God:

O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arms of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

Happy Birthday, Kurt.  Thank you for your forever example.  I love you, always will.

Wise

Happy Birthday to a very wise and gentle man.  Such patience and love are exhibited, I am sure, daily!  And since we now live so close I get to see it often.  I hope you have a wonderful celebratory day of you!  I love you!

Listening With Real Intent

Is this the best picture ever--reading the scriptures with all those cute bare feet? I am grateful for Ryan--for leading his family in righteousness!  I am thankful for Ryan's desire to be better.  I love how he always wants my advice or input on raising a family, being a father and being a good follower of Christ.  And with all of this he is also the best ever listener!  Actually, he is one of my favorite people with which to share a story.  Happy Birthday, Ryan!  I hope it is the happiest of days.  I love you lots!

A Salute to Courage

I truly believe God knows our trials before we come to earth.   He so completely knows who we are that He will not give us difficult things that we cannot handle.

Ann handles life with grace and faith.  Those are the two words that for me best describe her approach to life.  I always tell her how blessed Mary Deane and Clark are to have her as their mother.  For it is through her faith and the grace that she exhibits everyday that makes life really good.  It is exhausting, frustrating, sad, happy but mostly just good, life is really good.  How grateful I am to be able to watch this miracle she is performing everyday! 

Happy Birthday.

I

Love

You!

King of Cool

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OK.  So I realize I have no pictures of Jacob.  Have I used this picture every birthday?  Well, this will certainly change now that we are moving into the Utah neighborhood; pictures galore!

And I am so excited to have him right down the street.  Jacob is blessed with a sophisticated sense of EVERYTHING.

Don't you think?

He has an instinct of what is cool before it is cool, what it hip before it is hip, what direction the trend will be before there is even a trend.

So.  Needless to say, I am happy we will be in the same neighborhood so I might be just a little more cool because we will rub shoulders, often.

I love you so.

I really do.

Happy Birthday.

Mom

Pure Love.

It is not possible to prepare your children for all the hard things that will surely come their way.  But it is possible to teach them that God can prepare them.  Today is Jordan's birthday.  Last year I watched how God prepared her for a very hard thing.   She was brave, strong, had faith and the most amazing part was watching her sacrifice showing all of her feelings so Lucy could look into her eyes and know everything would be all right.  I am convinced God prepared her long before she was in my arms for this role she plays as a mother.  It is a gift of the spirit, a Godlike quality, that of putting someone elses needs before yours, a pure love.  A privilege to watch, it was.  
Happy Birthday, Jordan.  I love you 
Mom

Oh! The Spices!

 We think these towers of spices are the curry mix.

Cardamom pods and frankincense.

 Let's drink to saffron, the most expensive spice on earth.

 Egyptian candy.

 And my favorite, sesame candy, everywhere!

 Luckily, an Arab woman helped me out with translation and told me this was Sumac, my surprise spice for Benjamin.  How beautiful is that pink?

 More towers of spices!

The colors.  I mean, really, those colors are perfection.

Beautiful Doha Arabic

 Can you guess what logo this is?

 If you guessed this, you are right!

 Applebee's across from the Venice like canal in the mall.

 Our most gracious hosts!

Any guesses?

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia

 Kurt and Olivia indulged me in going to this incredible cemetery in Savannah on our way home from Jacksonville

 It was such a beautiful day in Savannah--the perfect time to be there without the damp heat of the summer.

 This grave was particularly touching and evidently a popular stop.

 The south is like its own country and culture.  I love the draping spanish moss which adds to the mystery of a cemetery.

 

 It sits right on this water inlet.

Thank you K and O for the lovely tour to satisfy my unending love of cemeteries!