The Most Beautiful Mom In The World!

Today my mother is 86 years old. I am absolutely NOT going to write anything mushy. My mother is known for crying very easily and that is the last thing I want her to do on her birthday! I have this picture in a frame in my living room. I'm pretty sure it was taken when she was 20 years old and I think it's the best picture I have ever seen of her.

Unfortunately it has some ripples in it. I have some photo software that will fix it but I haven't figured out how to use it.

Lucky as I have been to have such a wonderful mother, I have become even luckier through the years to have her as a best friend. I'm trying not to get mushy mom! We talk on the phone everyday and never cease to run out of topics. From television shows to world politics and we have all the answers to everything. Together we are so smart! She never ceases to amaze me with her wisdom and she has a way of "telling it like it is". I should write some of her comments down and write a book. It would be a best seller I am sure. Enjoy your birthday today and tomorrow. (We're celebrating at the Cheesecake Factory tomorrow!)

Happy Birthday Mama!

Loving You "Always".

Happy Birthday Molly

Today is Molly's birthday! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. It seems just a short time ago since the day she was born. My labor was loooong and preparing me for an emergency c-section the Dr. decided to try forceps first. I heard him say "I knew that was a stubborn little girl". They placed her in my arms and I remember she wasn't crying just looking at me in a bewildered sort of way. When I looked into her dark brown eyes my world and the purpose of my life changed forever.

The last couple of days the words from the song "Turn Around" has been playing in my head.

Where are you goin', my little one, little one?

Where are you goin', my baby my own?

Turn around and you're two, turn around and you're four

Turn around and you're a young girl, going out of the door.

This picture was taken on her first birthday. When I put this picture in Molly's baby album I wrote underneath "On My Way". I never knew how true that would turn out to be. Time has flown by so fast since the day she was born. She has filled our lives with joy and we are so proud of the young woman she is today.

Turn Around

Turn Around


Happy Birthday Molly!

On September 27, 1985 you got the "Birthday".

We got the "Present"!

Love You Dearly,

Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday Steve

Brothers and Sisters

My brother wasn't real thrilled when he found out he had a new baby sister. Dad was going to visit mom in the hospital and asked Steve if he had anything he wanted him to tell mom. Steve said "Tell her I hate her." I'm sure glad you got over that and I know mom is too. In fact I think we always got along really well.

Being a "traveling" family brought many adventures for us to share.

We survived blizzards in Alaska.

Fought Cuban Rebels

Even marched on the Capital in Washington, D.C.

We survived numerous road trips in the back seat of a car that did not have air conditioning. The most memorable being a trip that started at 4 am in Winslow, Arizona and ended about 11 pm in Stockton, California. We took the scenic route passing the Hoover Dam (I think Dad pointed to it) then hitting a grocery store in Las Vegas for lunchtime bologna sandwiches. We went through Yosemite Valley which involved the scariest ride I have ever been on, Tioga Pass. This is a back road through the Sierra Nevada mountains and I just remember looking out my window at a bottomless drop from the road. I know I left hand prints on your leg that day.

We played real games like "Red light - Green light", "Mother May I" and "Freeze Tag". Hide and Seek" was a biggy but playing it in the Arlington National Cemetery at night was not a good idea. As I recall you and Bobby hid and I was the one who had to find you - for a long time. (I told mom). When we were young you were always telling me stories. I remember ghost stories (bloody bones) and adventure stories that you made up as you went along. You were quite entertaining.

You have become a devoted husband and father.

Still a teller of stories but the theme has changed from fiction to the "Word of God" and you're reaching a much larger audience now.

I'm so proud of you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE