Happy 40th Birthday, Ron!

My firstborn has reached 40. This blows me away. Has it really been forty years since I first looked into those blue eyes? I just knew that had to be the prettiest baby I'd ever seen in my life. But he's no longer pretty. He's downright handsome!What do I love and admire about Ron? For one thing, he's loyal. If he cares for you, he is there for you. He will never turn his back on you. As the pictures here show, he loves his family very much. And there was never a time when he was too big or too old to hug his Mom, Nanaw, or his aunts.

I love his sense of humor. He has cracked me up on numerous occasions. He can imitate anyone's speech or walk, and get you rolling in the floor. Our big family is known for its sense of humor and Ron got a big dose of it himself.

These two women have always loved those tight hugs of his. He knows how to make us feel special.

I love Ron for all he has done to help me with the business. He can manufacture perfect parts. Give him a blueprint and he is on it. His Grandfather called him a genius. I'm inclined to agree. I thank him for sharing the daily grinds and struggles with me. Did I say he was loyal?

I love Ron for the three oldest grandchildren he has given to me. They are beautiful, sweet, and loving and he set the standard for the six that followed. I love him for being an active and involved father, and a loving uncle to his nieces and nephews. I love Ron because he is Ron, and he was the first one to ever call me Mom and I love being his Mom.

Happy birthday, Ron. When I return from my cruise, I will cook your favorite foods, and celebrate with you the 40 years I have been blessed to have you. Just know that my love and thoughts will be with you on your big day. I love you dearly.

Happy Birthday, Cheryl!

It's always a pleasure to honor Cheryl on her birthday. We continue to enjoy an amazing friendship that only deepens with time. She not only is one of the best friends anyone could have but she coined the word friend. What a privilege to live in her heart.I've always loved this picture of Cheryl, even though she's in Piggly Wiggly. It's a Bandera trip and you can see the pure, unadulterated joy in her face!

The reason for this big smile is that she just arrived at the airport for our annual Bandera trip. Those huge grins are impossible to control. How I wish it were today!

Allison is smiling because she is with her two moms. Cheryl adopted all my kids and enjoys her role as Mom II. She has such a big, welcoming heart.

These smiles are all about three friends about to hit the road for Bandera. Life is grand.

BB, I wish we were celebrating your special day in our special place, Bandera. We will get there, hopefully in October. But even though I'm not with you to treat you to lunch, or throw a few dice with birthday coffee, or laugh ourselves silly, you know you are in my thoughts and my wish for a super day is real. Happy birthday! I love you, friend!

Happy Birthday, Deb!

Another Texas Diva is having a birthday! Deborah, aka Diamond Deb, and my sister Donna go way back to the 3rd grade. Deb has been in our family around 47 years. She is so much fun to be with and has played a major role in putting together the fun group of women we call the Texas Divas. She is responsible for adding Paula P. and Paula F. to our group. And what delightful gals those two are!

Here's the birthday girl in her crown. She hasn't changed a bit from the babe in the high school pictures above.

We also celebrated Patty's birthday, also in February. Deborah had to share the crown and the spotlight.

Jan, our 8th and newest Diva, was unable to attend due to an illness. We missed our other red head and hope she is feeling better soon.

Gifts are always fun!

Patty's delicious slice of cheesecake with her magic numbers.

We inverted the 9 for Deborah and somehow came up with her age. Yeah, we're cheap.

Happy birthday, Deb, and enjoy another round of festivities tonight with another group of friends. Party hearty! We love you.

Bon Voyage!

This Sunday is the day Patty and I have anticipated for a few months now. We set sail in our snooty luxury suite, complete with a balcony, for a glorious week at sea. We even have VIP check-in. I'm tooting Patty's horn here. Those who know me and my business well, are aware of the slow and lean times, and it's obvious that Patty is treating us both to this needed vacation. Actually, Patty and her husband. Dave offered us a cruise as a Christmas gift to Patty. Gotta love that man.

We took a day off and shopped for summer clothes, flip-flops, and treated ourselves to a spa pedicure. Our toes are now sporting a French pedicure. It's a good neutral look that will go with our extensive cruise wear. I say that tongue in cheek, as we aren't packing for the formal nights. Been there, done that, and the food isn't that great in the dining room. Who needs formals when we have a big balcony, books, and room service?

We will be stopping in Jamaica, Grand Cayman Islands, and Cozumel. This is the same ship and route we took two years ago, but we expect a to have a better time since I haven't just had surgery. Patty keeps telling me to stay well.

There will be a few blog posts that will appear here in my absence. I hope you will check them out. I will share pictures when we return. And, yes, we're excited!

Look at The Jude

Just one month and one day before his 7th birthday, Jude finally has lost his first tooth. It is not a true snaggle tooth since the new one is right behind it. Some cute quotes from Jude:

"I gotta call Ashton and Thomas! We are the lost tooth boys!"

"After all these years, I finally lost my tooth!"

"I'll be the first boy on the lost tooth chart at school."

He is over the moon!

Also here is Bay's new bunny - new as in Christmas. I've been meaning to share it with you all. The name of the bunny changes day to day. It is sometimes floppy, thumper, darth vader, and taco meat. Jude even holds it - so brave.

And we can't forget our little Sophia. The picture was taken at a birthday party. That would be frosting on her cute little face.

A Blessed Evening

Allison and I joined our Bible study group last Saturday evening and left with our hearts and bellies full. Sharon had a delicious spread, with the help of the wonderful ladies in our group, and we celebrated my birthday and the special 5-year anniversary of Sharon as a cancer survivor. And what a delightful group to celebrate with!Sharon leads out in our study and this time she wove together our study materials with my Dad's life, and his life living on in me. It was comforting. It was uplifting. Sharon possesses a special gift for teaching and knows just the right words to use. I've never heard anyone get the message of God across as beautifully as she does. You can't help but walk away with a firm belief that you are a treasure of God's. I'm thankful that she shares that gift with us.

The group presented me with a lovely friendship book and they signed their names inside. Sharon, also, left meaningful messages throughout the book. And they gave me a pretty magnet with the reminder, "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you." I will claim those words often.

Thank you, ladies and friends, for your love and support during a rough time for Allison and me. You are precious to us.

Donuts for Dads and Granddads

Jude's school had a special morning for Dads and Granddads to enjoy donuts with their kids. I'll always remember Jude's excitement when he called to extend the invitation. I answered the phone and he told me he needed to speak to Papa, but he was anxious for me to know what was happening, too.
"Our school is having Donut Day for fathers and grandfathers, and it will be the best day of my life!"

How could Papa Robin turn down such an invitation? He couldn't. He set the alarm for 5:30am so he could arrive at the school on time.

The students decorated their tables. There were silhouette busts of men decked out in ties, and bow ties on the tablecloth. And there was coffee, orange juice and donuts to feed a small army, which is what arrived. Lots of happy kids showing off their dads and papas.

Robin came home and told me all about the event. He said he was so glad he went. I'm glad he was there, too, and thank him for helping to make Jude's day.

Happy Birthday, Patty!

Patty has finally caught up with me in age! She's a walloping 15 days younger than me and I try not to hold it against her. Happy birthday, Patty!Although these two teenage girls might not resemble us today, Patty and I are still teenagers at heart. And still friends. We've been friends for a long, long time, dating back to the 6th grade. Do the math.

I have Patty to thank for getting me out of my funks. She encourages me to go shopping with her, stop and smell the roses, and many shared meals, talks and laughter. I would like to say I match her energy level, but I'd be stretching the truth. How this bubbly little lady who is so full of life puts up with my gloom and doom is beyond me. I'm just glad she does.

I truly believe it is our friends who keep us young. Nothing is better than being with someone who enjoys your company, accepts you as is, lends a helping hand and a listening ear, and is willing to take all the twists and turns life throws out at us. Patty and I are definitely in it for the long haul.

These two divas were photographed on a cruise a few years back and I will be able to share similar pictures in a few weeks. We are hitting the high seas again! Patty always books us in the finest room with the largest balcony, and is good about making sure room service arrives at the appointed times (which is at least twice a day). This will be a wonderful extension to our birthdays.

Patty, my hope for you is that this special day is everything you want it to be. I know your husband and sons will celebrate with you. I hope that I, also, can bring you some of the joy you have always brought into my life. I love you, friend. Happy birthday!

Divas, Chocolate, Gifts, Therapy

Being with the Texas Divas again was like a shot in the arm for all of us. We haven't been together since November due to the tragedies that hit our group. Deborah lost her brother, and Donna, Allison, and I lost our Dad/Pepaw. Being together with all the love and support felt great. We got down to business and celebrated both Christmas and my birthday. It was fun seeing who had drawn our names for the Christmas exchange. We all received lovely gifts and Paula F. had generously supplied each of us with a Christmas bag stuffed with lots of goodies.All this loot are my birthday gifts. I had a ball opening each one! I got lots of candles, which I love, and many other things that had been on my wish list. What a generous and thoughtful bunch of women!

My beautiful and sweet Allison baked one of my favorite cakes, the Texas Sheet Cake. What could be better than Divas and chocolate? The collective moans were heard all around the table as we each dipped our forks into the decadent treat. I was thankful that I only had to blow out two candles. Back home, I magically arranged the numbers to read "56" and asked Patty, "Did you ever think 56 would look good?" Then, my husband who has an annoying habit of ruining the moment, transformed the numbers to read "65" and "95". I think I'll settle for 59.

These beautiful Divas are Donna, Jan, and Allison. Don't we look happy to be together?

The two beautiful and hilarious Paulas. What special ladies!

And finally, the birthday girl has the honor of being pictured with dear friends Patty and Deborah. This was a day the doctor had ordered.