The Airport

It was so sad having to say goodbye to SanFran S at the airport yesterday. We had such a great visit! It was nice to have everyone back together in Darlington! Our new location made it possible for us to spend lots of time together. We watched movies (and Mickey), played, ate delicious meals and shopped (for Baby B's first pair of "big boy" sandals). Baby B and Barkley thoroughly enjoyed having their Tia around to spoil them all weekend.

Although our family has been through many changes in the past 25 years, one thing remains the same... We are very blessed to have each other.

We had a great time with you SanFran S. Love you!

~Mommy M

...Showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. - Exodus 20:6

...From everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children - Psalm 103:17

March Visit to South Carolina

I had such a great time visiting my family this past week. I took more videos than pictures this time of my Baby B. I think because he is now walking and really on the move. I'll upload some on youtube later. I did manage to get a few really good pictures from my mac. These I took when I was babysitting both my nephews while Mommy M went to run some errands. I love pictures with them together! It sure will be nice when I live closer and this happens more often. :)
Have a great week Pam's Girls!
Love,
SanFran S
P.S. This blog was created on the plane back to San Francisco!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK, MOMMY M!

It is such an amazing thing for me to look at current photos of Mommy M & Baby B when it seems like only yesterday that these baby photos were taken and Mommy M was a tiny, delicate gift from the Lord that filled all of our hearts with quiet yet overflowing thankfulness.

She is a lovely woman now – accomplished, beautiful and sweet – a loving wife, devoted mother, affectionate daughter, fun-loving sister and beloved niece.

I can remember so clearly the first time I saw Mommy M. I was 23, living on my own in Nashville, Tennessee and newly embarked on a career in the music business that would send me down a bumpy, hairpin-turned road leading through record companies, recording studios, publishing companies, and even a between-music-business-jobs stint at a Tennessee wildlife park (the music business is just a different kind of wild life, right?)

There was a crazy-early morning call with my mother giddily telling me that my older sister had given birth to our happily-awaited new family member… a little baby girl. And when my big sister does something, I am here to tell you, it is going to be exceptional, it is going to be perfect, and so it was with this new little niece of mine.

After a plane trip back to the home state, my mother and I drove as fast as her sturdy little Chevy Nova could carry us out to the pine forested subdivision where my sister and her husband lived and I crept up carpeted stairs and into the baby room to see Mommy M for the first time. She was asleep. As I gazed down at her – her peaceful, perfectly exquisite face, tiny shell-like ears and quiet breathing captured my heart forever.



I dedicated myself to attempting to be the best aunt anyone ever had. I had never felt very close to my own aunt and wanted Mommy M to have something that I never had. I can’t say how well I accomplished this daunting goal, but I will say that I have a happy, cascading succession of memories of Mommy M and her equally delightful sister, SanFran S, that slip through my memory like burnished pearls gathered into the most exquisite necklace - unwound into a jeweled box.

I have loved the God-given opportunities to enjoy different personality traits, enjoyments and talents of Mommy M as she has grown through the years - from LEGO sets & crayons, to acting out Bible songs with motions, to picking out little girl’s clothes that were fun and cute and now sharing our enjoyment of oil painting. Not to mention the wonderful Daddy L that she has brought into our family and now precious Baby B!

Both of my sister’s daughters have grown to be remarkable women in every way and I am so proud of them. If you leave me out of the equation, they come from a line of women in our family with the same mix and quality of character - a paradox that stirs together indomitable spirits with gentle, tender hearts. We are thankful for each other and grateful to have been born where we were and with the heritage with which we have been blessed.





















And yes – we recognize that it is a blessing. Not a random universe moment, but a bounteous gift from the Giver of all good things. He is the thread that knits us together and bends our paths toward the hope of being together forever.

Thank you, Lord, that You love me. Thank You, Lord, that you saved me. And thank You, Lord that I’m Mommy M’s and SanFran S’s aunt.

Love to the Pamela's Girls!

Auntie J.

Our New Home

Thank you to all of the Pamela's Girls for my sweet birthday wishes. I LOVED reading your blogs this morning!

We are finally getting settled in our new home. Although we have had our ups and downs during the last few days as we have discovered all the joys of moving into an older rental home, it is good to finally be settled. It is so nice for Daddy L to be able to come home for lunch and get home for the day at 5:00 instead of 6:30. It is also wonderful to be so close to Cici and SS.

Baby B has adapted very well to his new home. He is enjoying having a playroom with lots of shelves and cabinets for all of his toys. He has also been sleeping really well in his new bedroom. Barkley, on the other hand, is still adjusting. He keeps following me around and staring at me with REALLY big eyes as if he's saying, "Why are you doing this to me? I just got used to our last house!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EheULuy_b2s

All in all, it is good to be moved. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers over the past week! I am looking very forward to seeing SanFran S tomorrow!

I love all of my Pamela's Girls so much!

~Mommy M

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY M!

Have a wonderful day!

With love,

Auntie J. (Uncle R. too!!!)

Happy Birthday, Mommy M

MARCH 2, 1979

March is the month we celebrate the births of our two beautiful, cherished daughters. Each of them is so talented and special in their gifts, and we have marveled at how God creates two babies with the same parents and upbringing, yet each comes into the world with her own unique personality. We realize as parents that we are only given brief custody to guide and direct them as they grow and develop, and we have been so blessed to have Mommy M and San Fran S as part of our lives.

Mommy M's birthday is March 2. Being the go-getter that she is, she surprised us all being born eight days before her due date of March 10. Since then, we had had such fun watching her grow and develop. We've had a lot of fun birthdays. Her first birthday was a major snowfall, so that poor Auntie J who had flown all the way from Nashville, was unable to make it across town to see her - nobody could come, so we had to have a delayed birthday.

Since then we have celebrated birthdays at many places - McDonalds', the skating rink, Pizza Hut.... And had many themes, Raggedy Ann, Big Bird, Strawberry Shortcake, and who could ever forget "A Very Brady Birthday!"

Through it all, Mommy M has grown in wisdom and character, and as her daddy alway likes to say -

"She's as sweet as she is pretty."

Your daddy and I wish you a very Happy Birthday, Mommy M, and many, many more.

Thank you for the 31 years of happiness you've given us - we love you dearly!!

Love to all the Pamela's Girls,

CiCi

Don't be sad, Mommy M!......

It's almost your Birthday!

Hee-hee!

Love you!

Auntie J