It's Allison & Brian's Birthdays!

My beautiful daughter and her husband have a very unique situation in that they share the same birthday. When they started college there was a gathering of the students to get better acquainted. They were separated into groups according to the month they were born. As they mixed and mingled with others who were born in May, they discovered they had the same birthday and possibly discovered each other then too.

Robin and I had the honor of babysitting their three precious children while they went to dinner to celebrate their mutual birthdays. This picture of them was taken that night as they prepared to leave for dinner.

I didn't have the privilege of raising Brian so I can't share any sterling moments from his childhood. I will say that I admire the man he is, I love his sense of humor, and I will forever be thankful for the loving husband and father he has become. He lives with four people who are so dear to me and I feel confident knowing he is with them. Thank you, Brian, for your part in this beautiful family.

May 10 stands out so vividly in my mind because on that day I welcomed my first girl. At the time, I thought I would just have the two kids so it was important to me that a daughter followed my son. I awoke in recovery and my doctor was there checking on me. He asked if I'd learned the gender of my baby. I told him I hadn't. He said, "you have a little girl". World War III could have erupted, my hair could have fallen out as unsightly warts covered my entire body and it would still be the most glorious day of my life! "I get to buy pink!", I squealed.

Allison continued being a joy all the days that followed. Not only was she a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed doll, but she was funny, easy-going, agreeable, and so easy to raise. She has never given me a moment of concern as to the direction her life was going. If we said no, she accepted it. If we gave advice and instruction, she lived by it. One of the greatest compliments I've heard her give me when she was talking to someone else was, "I loved it when my parents grounded me because I got to spend the weekend with them, doing what they were doing." How many teenagers can say that with any conviction? Those words meant the world to me and still do.

Today, Allison is, of course, still a beautiful woman inside and out. I admire her strength, I admire her as a mother to my grandchildren, and I admire her character. Her children are so fortunate to have such a loving, fun mother. The rest of us are fortunate, too, to have her in our lives. She's so family-oriented and her nurturing extends to us all. I thank God for her and for blessing my life with her sunny presence.

Happy birthday, Allison and Brian. May this special day find you happier than ever, and counting your blessings for all God has showered upon you. Just as we, your family, praise God for the wonderful people you have always been and continue to be. Have the best birthday ever, with all my love.