Letter to Baby Boy As He Marries His Bride

Where did the time go? Somehow we got from 1991 to here in a blink of an eye. In the weeks after you were born in August 1991, I held you and rocked you… and I prayed. As I rocked you, I would push your sweaty little bangs back from your forehead, and I would sing, “I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I’m living your mommy I’ll be.” I prayed for you, for a brilliant wonderful, meaningful life, where you would live for Christ, where you would love your family fiercely, like mine loved me, and that God would always guide your decisions. And I remember… very clearly, praying for the woman that would become your wife. Wondering if she had been born yet (little did I know she was already the OLDER woman… by a full THREE MONTHS). I remember watching you with your childhood friends at Montessori…. And wondering where your sweet bride might be growing up. I would pray, LORD, please watch over the woman’s heart that you have in mind for him. Keep her safe.. and I would imagine what the rest of your life might be like… Unfortunately I have had a habit of wishing for the next milestone before I enjoyed the moment I was in… and the moments… they have flown on by.

 Andrew, just five minutes ago you sported a blond bowl cut… You were known as a bull in a china shop that NEVER slowed down.. with the shiny sparkling personality to match your energy level. As both of your siblings were born, you became FIERCLY protective of them, but you also played the know it all older brother TOO WELL at times. But the best part of all of childhood with you three, is you didn’t carry grudges. You fought briefly, you moved on and you continued to love each other FIERCLY… just as you still do. It is incredibly meaningful to me that you and Brittany chose to put Carson and Alexandra in places of honor beside of you tomorrow. That loving heart and the relationships you share mean everything to your mom.

But back to you, Andrew…You blew through your kindergarten work so easily, we just knew you were the next Einstein… And then you HIT  7^th grade, and at the orientation speech, your teachers insulted me by saying, “this year your child will turn into an alien.” And my pretentious, 35 year old self, was taken aback. NOT my perfect child. Well, about January, Kevin and I were called into a meeting with Andrew’s team of teachers. Guess what… they described all the issues they were having with messy and missing work, and lack of focus, plus slipping grades… and without thinking, I said, “It sounds like my son has become an alien… that just doesn’t sound like him.” Slowly…. After noticing the smirks on their faces… it hit me. They were RIGHT at the beginning of the year. They definitely understood the seventh grade mind better than me… the young, first time mother of a child becoming a young adult.

Isn’t it ironic that my son is now TEACHING seventh grade? Who knew?

As the years of high school flew by, he was blessed with great friends, wrestling and football teammates, and amazing experiences. During that time, Andrew felt the pull to become a teacher, and he announced that the perfect school to pursue that dream was Appalachian State. And as his senior year came and went in a flash, I remember a full year of anxiety over every decision… was he choosing the right major? The right school? Would he keep Christ first when he went to school? Would he take the wrong path and make poor decisions when he got to App? And I would pray… and pray some more ….

And then, as Karen Kingsbury said in her book, “Let me hold you longer,” that bright shiny fall day came when college life beckoned in a brilliant sort of way.. and you shooed us off as quickly as you could, as you began to make a life apart from your precious family. And your future began to take shape.

Right from the first month… I knew something special was happening in Coltrane Dorm…. Moms just KNOW these things, don’t they? All of the sudden, I could follow Andrew’s entire life through FACEBOOK… and it wasn’t HIS Facebook. Every game, every dance, all the amazing new friends, every event at Coltrane, played out online. And in almost every picture, with Andrew, was this pretty blond with long hair, and a beautiful smile. And somehow, I knew. After two months, and the first App football game, Kevin and I drove home telling each other that there was something between Andrew and that pretty blond. But still he denied it. Funny enough, by November, she made a trip to Winston with Andrew. At Christmas, I asked if they were a couple. No mom, we are NOT officially dating. At Carson’s black belt program, in February, there was that sweet Brittany again… and still… “we’re just friends, mom.” But every time I looked at them together, I knew. I knew she was the ONE. The one God had been shaping and molding and bringing to this point to be the perfect match to my son.

By March, it was finally official. They were A COUPLE. It was Facebook official. ;) But as the weeks turned to months, and the months to years, and we shared vacations and beach trips, New York City and Atlanta, sunshine and rain, funerals and birthday celebrations, we all knew. SHE WAS THE ONE. The yin to Andrew’s yang. She balanced out the wide open little boy with some calm, and then they changed and he became her calm voice of balance as she graduated and moved into the stressful journey to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Everyone that knows them sees in them what we both see. Two beautiful souls, not a bit of malice in either heart, two people that got knit beautifully in their mothers’ wombs so that one day, they could join together to form a beautiful family together. God has protected you both. He has brought you both close to Him. I love that Andrew moved back to Winston and immediately came back to Pinedale, getting involved in youth ministry. As a mom, it’s a true joy to sit back and watch God working in your lives, experiencing each joyful step and decision with both of you.

But tomorrow, the time comes for dad and I to take a step back. At your Eagle Ceremony, we told you it was time to let you fly as an adult. But now, at your wedding, you become a husband. And Brittany, your beautiful bride, becomes your wife. And together, you become a family. As Alexandra and your Mimi always like to say, “it’s the circle of life.” And I’m so excited and proud to watch your lives unfold. I wish for you a joy-filled life… know that there will be peaks and valleys, but it’s in navigating the valleys that God will shape your character. My advice to you is that when you wake up each day, after thanking the Lord, you first think of how you can make your spouse’s life easier and better. If you always put his or her needs before your own, your marriage will flourish. If you both continue to keep Christ first in your life, you will continue a long legacy that began many generations before both of you. 

You both know that I love the book, Let Me Hold You Longer, which ends every time with “let me hold on longer, Lord, to every precious last.” But today we celebrate firsts… and I Iook forward to a lifetime more of first with you. I love you both more than you will ever know, and I’m so proud to be your mom. 

From Preschool to Graduation Day, from Northwest Mustang to North Davidson Black Knight to VALEDICTORIAN to Wolfpack Red - My Midway Boy Accomplishes ALL of His Goals!

I am elated to officially announce tonight that my sweet baby boy is 

VALEDICTORIAN of North Davidson High School's Class of 2014. 

Carson, For all the times that your friends were having fun, and you were at home alone, studying...

THIS IS YOUR DAY!

You have achieved every goal you have ever set for yourself. 

You have only and always brought great joy to our home.

You have made it to the top of your mountain. 

Since the first year they started giving letter grades (3rd grade), you weren't satisfied with any report card that didn't reflect all 100's... in fact, you were crushed. So you set out to always reach 100, and you achieved All A's.

Seven years ago this week, your fifth grade principal, Angie Kiger, gave you "The Principal's Award," at 5th grade Graduation. And on that day... I wondered if you could keep up the pace. 

You wanted a Black Belt after the first karate class in 2nd Grade. By 8th grade, you were an adult Black Belt with Bill Daniels.

At eighth grade graduation, they named you the top math student, and I knew you were on to something... but could you continue the pace when you hit the AP classes?

High School Engineering courses kicked you into looking to the future and you knew you had found your true love. Math became your best friend and you won the school's AMC! With all that love of math, it only made sense that you would attend NC Governor's School for math. 

In the midst of all that academic rigor, you followed your heart and started every July and August's gut-wrenching, hot drilling season, to earn your spot as a BOY OF FALL. A true BLACK KNIGHT! And you ended your junior season a member of the CPC Championship Football Team and runners up to the State Championship game. It gave me great pride to watch you play with all your heart for your community on Football Friday Knights!

As that awesome junior year ended, you were named Chief Junior Marshal. 

You loved Cub Scouts at Midway Methodist, and campouts and Boy Scouts in Welcome, hundreds of service hours, and I KNOW you loved all those hot camp weeks at Cherokee and all across this great state... and as the calendar moved swiftly towards your senior year, you knew you had to crest that final mountain and become an Eagle. And again, with great pride, we watched that happen last fall.

Last month you were recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction, the highest level. And we figured out you are on track to enter NC State with potentially FORTY AP credit hours.

By senior year, your class respected you enough to name you their 2014 Senior Class President and Most Likely to Succeed. Can't wait to watch you fly after being named a Park Scholar at NC State University, and by the way... thanks,  Carson, for covering your cost for your four year education! 

And finally, as you have reached the end of your high school career... you have been named Valedictorian. 

Of course, as a proud mom, I had to relive all of your accomplishments above, which I'm sure will embarrass you... (I don't care). 

But the most important thing I want to mention, amidst ALL of your accomplishments, is this title:

God's child. 

A young man after God's own heart. A young man with a heart of gold. 

A young man whose parents, siblings and grandparents are very proud to call our own. And baby boy, we are so proud to watch you fly!

A Dedication to Every Person that is Working towards a Dream!

1 Timothy 4:12  “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Joshua 1:7-9  “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 105:4  “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own.  And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets.  Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any

you'll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there

in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don't worry.  Don't stew.

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too.

OH!

THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!

You'll be seeing great sights!

You'll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.

You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't

Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so

but, sadly, it's true

and Hang-ups

can happen to you.

You can get all hung up

in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.

You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch

with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,

you're not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted.  But mostly they're darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!

Do you dare to stay out?  Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...

or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?

Or go around back and sneak in from behind?

Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,

for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused

that you'll start in to race

down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or a No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

NO!

That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape

all that waiting and staying.

You'll find the bright places

where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,

once more you'll ride high!

Ready for anything under the sky.

Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored.  there are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame!  You'll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.

Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times

you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win

'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something

you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance

you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go

though the weather be foul

On you will go

though your enemies prowl

On you will go

though the Hakken-Kraks howl

Onward up many

a frightening creek,

though your arms may get sore

and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike

and I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You'll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!

Going for the Gold Medal

  So we just dropped our 18 year old son off at the Park Alumni Center at NC State University. The sound of his hands quickly rubbing back and forth in the car means he's super excited. As I watch him exit the Highlander, he's rocking the whole sharp-dressed man thing. But, as his mom, I still see my curly-headed toddler, with that beautiful smile at the ready, eager to please.
  So I'm holding it together pretty well.... Until... We walk away from the Alumni Center hand in hand, and Kevin says, "this is the moment. Just like the 18-year old young woman standing atop the ski slope last night. She has spent her entire life waiting for this moment. Because she's in first place, she's the last to go down the mountain. With a good run, she will win the gold. If she falls, or even just catches her skis, she will not. The whole world is watching. It's not unlike Carson going to this interview today. He's lived his whole life to make it to this point.
   He's studied hard to get good grades each and every year. He's worked on Scout projects, and school projects, and clubs. He survived the senior project, a dozen AP courses, 4A football and his Eagle Scout. He's now at the top of his mountain. We know as parents that if he slips or stumbles today, he will still be just fine."
   For all those evenings taxi driving from one ball field to the next, and all those endless hours of homework, for all the weekends filled with games and a house full of locust boys, for all the mornings filled with Kevin playing "Reveille" at top volume to wake him up for school, and rushing to make sure kids were fed and backpacks ready, and as of late, for all the essays written and scholarship applications sealed with a quick prayer and a stamp.... The finale is near.
   Carson's about to win his gold medal. This is his time. Whether or not he wins the Park, he's already won. He's won because he never quit. He's won because he's finished strong. He's won because everyone that knows him, loves and respects him. He's won because he has a heart for service, for those in need of help, for good and for what's right. Congratulations, baby boy! You've made it and today is your day! Go ski that mountain! - Jeremiah 29:11

   We love you son,
    Mom and Dad

Update: February 28, 2014 - Carson has EARNED his gold medal!!! He has been named to the NC State Park Scholarship Class of 2018! 

The Life-long Benefits of Scouting

    We've been a scouting family for 16 years. From Cub Scouts, thru Pinewood Derbys, to Raingutter Regatas, car washes, skating, outings, barbecue chicken fundraisers, from popcorn sales to Camporees, from Bobcat to Webelo, arrow points, from Arrow of Light to crossing over to Boy Scouts, sewing on a million patches, finding the neckerchief and slide for the hundredth time at the last minute, washing and ironing uniforms for the gazillionth time, learning knots, living by the Scout Oath and Scout Law, going on campouts, rafting, beach trips, snow skiing, battleships, fishing, kayaking, jet skis, summer camp, Order of the Arrow, Tsoiotsi Tsogalii ordeals, Cherokee to Raven Knob to Boddie, Eagle projects, courts of honor and receptions, from new scout to Eagle, from troop guide to senior patrol leader to Eagle, it has been a character-building, life-changing, boys to men experience. One we will never, ever forget. Carson's Eagle Scout Ceremony was held Sunday, January 5, at Pinedale Christian Church. I wanted to post the letter I wrote to Carson and read at the ceremony.

      Soar like a Bird. Fly like an Eagle.  Hit the peak and continue to strive for the top in all you do.  We as parents urge our kids towards independence and excellence because after all, we want our children to be better than we are.

Carson, you have always set yourself apart. I mean that in the best of ways: from the time you were a toddler until now you have observed, considered and then taken action.  You truly have always marched to the beat of a different drummer. And in all you do you display integrity and excellence. It is who you are.

     As an Eagle Scout you are expected to be a leader for the rest of your life. You will forever carry the title of Eagle Scout and be expected to represent your fellow Eagles with pride and dignity. And as you have already acknowledged at your young age, a true leader must first gain the respect of others before he can truly lead. It means adhering to your values, applying your knowledge and striving towards the goals that are meaningful.

     The fact that you, Carson, have never followed the convenient path of conformity is in itself,  leadership. Your classmates respect you, and have called you to leadership as their senior class president and voted you “Most Likely to Succeed.” Your fellow scouts respected you enough to elect you their senior patrol leader as a freshman. You have set yourself apart academically by being ranked at the top of your class for three and a half years. You earned your adult black belt at 14. A finalist for the Hugh Shelton Leadership award at NC State, even a university recognizes your potential for future leadership.

     Those things said, as your mom, you know how proud I am of you. I am proud of you for being interested in such a variety of intellectual, athletic, musical and religious pursuits and for never being satisfied with the ordinary, but rather staying in pursuit of the extraordinary.

So in your honor and to truly commemorate this occasion, I want to challenge you to NEVER lose that thirst for knowledge, and to stay true to your sense of integrity, right and wrong, and to never lose your faith even when the easy choices could take you in opposite directions.

     As the sun sets tonight, so ends the youth chapter of your life and adulthood begins just as a new sunrise.  I charge you, Carson, to undertake your Eagle citizenship with a solemn dedication.  Be a leader, but lead only with careful consideration.  Lift up every task you do and every office you hold to the highest level of service to God and to your fellow man.  So lead and serve, that those who know you will be inspired to live their best life.  We have too many who use their strength and their brains to exploit others and to gain selfish ends.  I charge you, Carson, to be among those who dedicate their skill and ability for what is good and what is right. I will forever be proud to be called your mom. I love you forever, my sweet boy.

25 Blessings of 25 Years Together

Sitting in the quiet of the last day of 2013, I am reading Ann Voskamp, my new favorite author, and reflecting on her book, One Thousand Gifts. She encourages you to write every day of the year until you fill your journal with all of your blessings. Looking back to December 31, 1988, and fast forwarding until today, I think there may be 100,000 blessings... but this morning, my 25th wedding anniversary, I'm at least going to address my top 25. You would think that I might concentrate only on Kevin this morning... but because of the love of my life, I have ALL of these beautiful blessings. Because of our life together, because of his dedication to his family, because.

1. A Christ-Centered Marriage - A long time ago, this very young couple sat before John Attaway in counseling sessions at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. He told us, "if you'll put Christ above each other, always," your marriage will always be blessed. 25 years later, I selfishly think I have the best marriage possible because GOD is in the very midst of our life. When I breathe, He is there with me. He is my rock, He is my shield and He has made the tender strands that bind Kevin and I together become the strong cords that will keep us tethered until one of us joins our Heavenly Father in that beautiful promise.

2. A son with a heart for others - At the 2 year and 8 month mark of our journey as husband and wife, God saw fit to bless us with one of the greatest gifts he gives, a small soul to raise and teach and love. Over the next 22+ years, that little blond headed boy has become all that I had hoped and more. He loves God, he loves his family, he loves Brittany with a love that is beautiful and right, and he loves coaching and he loves children...he shows it each day by patiently teaching 7th graders and trying to make an impact for good on each of their tender lives. I couldn't be more proud.

3. A daughter that can light up a room with her smile and the most beautiful soul you can imagine - After 5 years and 5 months, the prettiest little bundle of joy you can imagine was placed into my arms and I knew that life would never be the same. A baby girl, a toddler son, life was very good. Alexandra changed our household for the good, as she has continued to do for all those in her life for nearly 20 years. If you know her, you love her, and that's the best description I can give you. She brings her smile and kind heart to all she touches. She loves deeply and relies completely on God in all she does. The joy she brings my heart is absolutely indescribable.

4. A golden-locked, perfect baby boy - In April of 1995, I was unexpectedly forced to take a pregnancy test at a doctor's office because I was having an x-ray, and I UNEXPECTEDLY got the surprise of my life, I was EXPECTING a third child. Wow. But God, in his infinite wisdom, gave us the challenges early on, and with his third blessing, delivered to us a child that would spend his entire life serving to please. Carson has quite simply, been an overachiever from day one, (his siblings call him the perfect child). He has an insatiable desire to learn and to improve the lives of those around him. His loves deeply, he cares deeply, and if he is your friend, you are blessed for life. My sweet third baby will forever have his mom's heart.

5. A love for travel - Most who know Kevin and I are probably surprised I'm not sitting on blue water somewhere in the Caribbean. For you know we have become travel bugs over the last 25 years. A Honeymoon cruise started it, and we've never stopped. Together we've seen Germany, Italy, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the British and US Virgin Islands, most of the Caribbean, and more than half of the states. They are ALL indescribably beautiful, made more so by spending those cherished days with the love of my life, but, today, I'd rather be right here, cradled by those we love so much to celebrate a life that has been blessed beyond imagination.

6. Friends in Cary/Chapel Hill/Raleigh, Spartanburg and Winston-Salem - We've been blessed to live in three areas (four if you count our month in Summerville) and we've made lifelong friends along the way. We were blessed to have a great reunion with the college crowd earlier this month and it was like a day hadn't passed. Most of them were involved in our wedding day 25 years ago and how awesome it was to get to spend time with them again this month, especially. We have a few couples still in Spartanburg that I could call today and they would be here if I needed them. I will always miss them and those were some of the most special years in our marriage, as we were young marrieds with small babies and those couples were our lifeline while away from family. After 16 years in North Davidson, we feel we are home, amongst all the friends that have become family, watched us raise our children, and been there for us through every celebration, and now, as we have celebrated eternal homecomings of those we love dearly.

7. Speaking of North Davidson, our community is one of the top 25 blessings of 25 years. - Who knew when Kevin got his first job in the area after nearly 9 years in South Carolina, that we would land in the world's best community? Kevin couldn't understand why I wanted to live in Davidson County... but I insisted it was a great school district filled with .... MY FAMILY whom I had been able to visit over the years, but never the chance to live where my parents were raised. I can now say that was one of the top best decisions of our life. Our community plays together, prays together, supports each other, celebrates together, and has left an indelible mark on me that no matter where I go from here, I will ALWAYS love the North Davidson community.

8. My in-laws who I don't consider in-laws -  What girl doesn't marry into a family and worry that she will be accepted into her mate's family? Well, I don't have in-laws, I have a second set of parents that have blessed me beyond anything I thought possible at the tender age of 20 when I married their son. Elton and Thelma have been there through every up and every down, faithfully supporting us and modeling the most beautiful marriage for their nearly 57 years together. Every day they are in our lives is another blessing. Thank you for being there for us. We love you. And thank you for sharing Bretta with us. She was an amazing great-grandmother to my kids and the coolest 99 year old I ever knew. I will miss her always.

9. My parents - As I stood there on the steps as the sun had just broken through the rain, on the steps of First Baptist Church in Jonesville, 25 years ago this afternoon, with my arm hooked through his, my dad said, "Are you ready to do this?" knowing that of course I was... he was the one who knew I would marry Kevin before I did. For nearly 46 years, my parents loved each other deeply, and loved us deeply as well. With every child I added, they doted even more. God saw that my dad was tired and his health issues were more than he could bear, and took him home in this, my year of celebration of our 25th year. The last 6 months have not been easy, but knowing where my dad is worthy of a daily celebration. And the blessing of having a mom that still calls daily to check-in on me is priceless. Every day we have her in our lives will be another blessed day in our journey.

10. A sister - Jordan married my brother about 11 years ago, but it feels like she has always been a part of my life. She has a gentle spirit and kind heart and all who know her love her; much like Alex. She loves unconditionally, and is raising two other great blessings in our lives, a niece and a nephew whom I love dearly. She even accepted my brother with ALL of his flaws ( ;P ) and loves him anyway!!

11. And while talking about my dear sister, I must talk about my brother. - I have a brother that will listen, will consider and will love unconditionally, no matter the situation. Chad got all the good qualities of my mom and dad and just makes me happy to be around him. Chad & Jordan are celebrating with us tonight at Chateau Morrisette with the McRaes, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

12. The Lay boys and family - I also married into a family of THREE boys... three Lay boys. Boys that are now (OLD) men with beautiful families that are both reflections of the family man that their dad has been for 57 years. When we get together, it is comfortable, is is fun and it is home. I love to talk with Greg/Bill and listen to his take on every current issue. I love to talk to Anna, my super-smart sis-in-law, that is a dean of social work at USC, and can make any topic interesting. Listening to Steve and Kevin banter back and forth each time we're together, you can see that they enjoy just being around each other. Jolie is like the older sister I never had. She is the calming soul with the great advice always. I have super nieces and nephews that complete our families and bring us all joy.

13. The extended Lay family in Alabama - Although we only get there every other year or so, one of the most looked forward to times in our marriage have been going to see all of Kevin's Alabama family. I love my father-in-law FIERCELY, for his heart is a reflection of my husband's heart... and I see it reflected amongst all of the family in Alabama. For B.J., the patriarch and Kevin's grandfather that we lost in 2012, was an amazing man that raised an amazing family with sweet Mama Jewel. The family loves deeply and are accepting of all that come into the fold, and have taught me many things, especially the importance of each other in our lives. B.J. wrote in a journal every day of his life, and those journals were the prized possessions when he passed. I thought of that when I started this blog this year... and I only got to 8 posts... but he is my hero. Maybe one day....

14. The extended Nifong family - We moved back to North Davidson BECAUSE of the love that I felt my whole life every time we visited my family growing up in Davidson County. To this day, I can show up at any of my aunt and uncles or cousins' homes and they will say, "pull up a chair and talk for a while." I know I am home. And that completes me.

15. Our Fancy Gap home - For the first 15 or 17 years of our marriage, we spent the week after Christmas and July 4th week at my parent's mountain homes. Many good times were spent together and great memories made... and when they sold the last one, my heart broke a little. So we then spent five years or so looking for the perfect place to build memories with our family. We looked forever for the perfect spot where you could see for miles and miles... and when we found it, we put our heart and soul in planning our cabin and planning for many years of family gatherings, memories and togetherness. And for the last four and a half years, we've made memories to last a lifetime already. When I am here, I am truly home. And I thank my incredible husband for catching my vision and letting me run with it. For that, I am forever grateful.

16. Pinedale Christian Church - I'm feeling like I'm being too wordy... so I'll try to be more concise. I can walk through these doors, and feel I am at home. Those I know welcome me and love me as I am, and those I don't know become new friends. The blessings here are too numerous to count, and this place and the people behind the doors have shaped the entire lives of my children and my family. The families of our ministers, the McKenzies, Sinks, Earharts, Hausers, Maurers, Marks, Lewis, and now Martin & Ryan... wow, no words. Thank you God, for bringing us to this place.

17. Our friends - I could be so wordy here you would quit reading now. So many families have come in and out of our lives and left their footprints there. You know who you are... your last names are Mustin, McRae, Mukamal, Blue, Rose, Johanec, Barbour, Nifong, Shumate, Lilly, Strickland, Smith, Cockerham, Tester, McCormick, Gillespie, Hucks, Morgan, Day, Andrews, Wilson, Darrow, Cook, Nicholson, Vest, Kahl, Fashimpaur, Johnston, Pack, Sutor, Fishel, Sain, Hall, and many, many others that I should have typed, but remember, I have half-Heimers at the 25 year point and sometimes my memory just stinks. You have all been there in the good times and the bad and I will forever be grateful for all of you and all you have meant to us in these 25 years.

18. Morningside Baptist Church - This place welcomed in this newlywed couple way back in 1989, and made us feel at home. We fell in love with the ministers, the McGhees, who have now been home with the Lord for years... they became second grandparents to us. We loved David, our choir director who could will forever live in my memories at Christmas every time I hear "Oh Holy Night," and we loved Jackie, our choir director, who became one of my all time favorite people and who I LOVED when she became a second mom figure to me while I was raising babies. And Dr. Kirk Neely became the steady, thoughtful man of God at the helm that I still admire to this day, and love to read his posts.

19. North Davidson schools and our preschools - Northwest Elementary, North Davidson Middle and High Schools; Montessori in Spartanburg and Midway Methodist - Yes, I know many people feel strongly about the actual schools, but I'm talking mostly about the people. The PEOPLE who touched my children's lives and shaped them, who spent hours teaching them and loving them. I'll always remember Mr. Carpenter, best principal ever. We came to love Mrs. Kiger and then really respected Mr. Fishel. The teachers are too numerous to name, but some that stand out are Decker, Caldwell, Patterson, Sink, Boyles, Robbins, Sanders, Allen, Proctor (s), Vaughn, Nazarro, Greene, Daniels, Hodge, Woosley, Israel, Redmond, Truell, Brinkley, Primiano, Piatkowski(s), Fordham, Holcomb, Burcham, Crotts, etc. SO MANY GOOD TEACHERS that made a difference for my little starfish. For the preschool years, it's been so many years that some of the names escape me, but the way they made us feel does not. These two schools readied my kiddos for "big school" and loved them and I remember being so very proud at each little performance and every time they sang and our kids thought they were "so big." Our years at each of these are remembered with fondness and wonderful memories. Mrs. Sally McNabb... I will never forget that name, as I'm sure Andrew will not ever. What a gifted and PATIENT woman. ;)

20. Real Estate Career and Kevin's job - Eight years ago I found a family of people that I really enjoy working with... Carol Hudson and Jodi Tate made a huge difference in my life by encouraging me and teaching me to love real estate. It is there that I have found a true career that has both helped to support my family and allowed us to live a life we love. I am forever thankful to those who have been there along the way... Renea, Josh, John Mc, Lili, Carol, Jodi, Beverly, John H, Lisa, Chris, Cathy, Terri, Vicki, Jim, Sharon and so many others.... you know who you are. Just thank you. I am also truly appreciative to all the clients that have come through my life. You have enriched me! And to all those we've come to know and love through BGF, it has been a pleasure. You keep my husband happy, busy, productive and fulfilled, and that's so important.

21. Out of the Box - In our recent four years, we've found a church home when we are in Fancy Gap... we ride the country road up to Hillsville and worship with our little small church that brings a smile to my face as soon as we drive up. The message is real, the people are kind, the minister, Ronnie Collins, makes all feel welcome, his family is AWESOME, and the music is fantastic. This place makes me happy and feel close to God... simple as that.

22. WBFJ and WLFJ - The Christian stations in Winston-Salem and Spartanburg... why a radio station you ask? Because music shapes my life and the message playing at these stations has accompanied me along my journey and started and ended my day where I need to be so often. To those great people, like Wally Decker and Bonnie Hilton, who have made this their passion and life's work, I thank you. Because some of my favorite memories are Friday mornings singing the birthday song with my young children on the drive to school each week.... priceless.

23. Troop 238 - As I prepare for Carson's Eagle Scout Ceremony, I have been thinking about the DOZEN years my family has spent with this Troop. We are definitely the family that has been involved the longest and there are SO MANY MEMORIES that are held for all THREE of my boys, Kevin included. Cherokee, camping, ski trips, battleships, beach trips, etc.... For all those that have played a part, Kight, Weber, Tucker, Pack, Crotts, Jarvis, Wooten, Waisner, Jones, Dempsey, Barringer, Newman, etc.... thank you. Thank you for shaping my boys from kids into men. Into Eagles.... once an Eagle, always an Eagle.

24. Brittany Hall - On a fall day in 2009, I moved my boy into Appalachian State University and that day he met a beautiful blond girl with a heart of gold. By Christmas, I knew what he did not... that he was crazy over this girl. By spring, she became his girlfriend. After a Christmas trip that December in 2010, I knew she was his forever girl. One day soon, I hope to watch her walk down the aisle into our family forever because she has already become my second daughter, my own daughter's best friend, and... become the one closest to my Andrew's heart. She will always be one of my children. (And she's about to be a Doctor too... so proud)! It's exciting for Kevin and I to grow our hearts and include more kids. Can't wait to see what the future holds with these two.

25. Jeremy Baker - As my daughter was finishing her sophomore year of high school, she started talking a lot with one of her good friends... and I could see the mutual admiration blossoming. I respected this young man for who he was, a quiet non-assuming young man with a heart for Jesus, a love for music and a people pleaser. Everyone who knew him told us what a gem he was... and the perfect one for my daughter. Since that day, until this one three and a half years later, he has made my girl happy. And that is what is important. He is there for her, he loves her unconditionally, and all I can say is I can't wait to see what the next couple of years hold for these two as they finish college and perhaps begin a life together.

Whew.... that's a long list. There are many other things I could include, but these are 25.... for our 25 year journey. And I've spent each day of the walk beside the man that completes me... that loves me unconditionally, that puts me first over everything and everyone but Christ, who we put at the center. He wakes up and lives the book, "The Five Love Languages." He learned mine early on and he lives to speak mine. He is the most incredible father to my kids and he has modeled the Christian father and husband for them so that I know will also be the kind of man he has been. I hope I have done the same for Alexandra. We have been blessed in this journey immeasurably, and I hope to be blessed with at least 25 more or even 50. Thank you, Kevin Lay, for picking me, for making this incredible life. I will love you forever. Thank you, Lord, for these.

Anniversaries and Milestones

Sigh... I thought I would be able to blog at least once a month and it's August and this is number six. 

It's August 2013. 

11 years ago this month, in August of 2002, my oldest child started middle school. I remember the feelings of apprehension as we too, became middle school parents. The angst, the anxiety, the changing of classes, lockers, the physical and mental CHANGES, the realization that our child was no longer a CHILD. 

Eight years ago this month, our eldest moved to the high school. Yay! High school football Friday nights, fall carnivals and Homecoming, plus PROM! But also, more angst over understanding every grade counted towards college admission, choosing the RIGHT honors and AP courses, while making sure you could get thru football practices and the  Eagle Scout project too!

Then that bright Fall morning arrived, four years ago this past Friday... And we dropped that same oldest child off at his dream college, Appalachian State. As first time college parents, we were positive he was "grown," and we had prepared him for "adult" life.... Well, almost. After a VERY rocky first year (grade-wise), that handsome oldest boy began to hit each goal and milestone... And do quite well. He also met the sweetest gal ever freshman year, and has managed to build a beautiful relationship with her and both our families. And even get a history education degree in the process!

Finally, its August again... And this past Thursday, four years almost to the day since he started college, and 11 years since middle school, he got his first job. Ironically, Andrew gets to go back to... MIDDLE SCHOOL!  :D  

As his mom, I find an absolutely ironic humor in this.... Middle school, and seventh grade in particular, was quite possibly Andrew's most challenging year growing up. Maybe that's why, we noticed, every summer lately, he was a rock star on campus with the middle school boys at Cherokee Scout Reservation. He relates and uniquely understands them and understands the angst of the middle school even more than most. So tomorrow...as Andrew begins another milestone in his life, as his mom, I know he'll succeed. God has uniquely and quite purposefully, put him exactly where He needs him to be. He made that quite clear this past week. 

And once again, on the day that he begins at South Davie Middle School, I'll be on my knees praying for his success, because that's what moms do... Even when those great big boys grow up and begin their adult lives, we moms continue to pray. Because that's the best job I've ever had the pleasure of doing, being a mom. 

And so the craziness of August and its milestones begin again. Alexandra moved into her very first apartment last Thursday to start her sophomore year at UNCC. And maybe most gut-wrenching of all for me personally, my baby boy, Carson, begins his senior year of high school in a week. After years and years of "first day of school pics," we've finally reached the last one. 

Thank you Lord, for this moment. My crazy, insane boys, their dad, and Andrew's friend, Kendal, are currently gathered around our table laughing hysterically, throwing cards and insults, as their dad loses miserably at a game of Yugio... Pulled back out of the recesses of Andrew's middle school years. Guess Drew's getting in the mindset....love them. ;)    BLESSED.

Life Lessons and Being a Daddy's Girl

Wanted to share what I read at my Dad's memorial service. Hope you have a Happy First Father's Day in Heaven, Daddy....this sure is hard without you, but it's such a blessing to know you are whole and in no more pain.

Life Lessons and Being a Daddy’s Girl

I want to talk to you today about Stan’s life lessons and being a daddy’s girl. We’re gonna laugh together, and most assuredly cry together, and at the end… I promise we’ll all go home happy.

When my daddy smiled on you, you felt like you could MOVE a mountain, even if it was you againstMount Everest. Stan EMPOWERED you. It was his gift. His words encouraged people, built them up, made them confident and strong. And he was generous. He tried to help people less fortunate, and to empower others to succeed. He was the epitome of the old saying: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. TEACH a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

I want to share with you the life lessons I learned from my daddy.

1.

Put God first in your life.

As a kid, my daddy was a deacon at Mt. Pleasant. He and mom used to take Chad and I to church every time the doors opened, that meant Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night. I can now say openly in this room, I was NOT happy about that. NOT ONE BIT. Because every Sunday night, a Disney movie came on tv, and later, the Hardy Boys. And I was not happy to miss that. But guess what, in between my little girl, spoiled rotten years and my preteen angst, and amidst all that Bency Smith preaching, Debbie Burton small group life lessons, and Sunday dinner on the grounds, faith wormed its way into my heart, and stayed with me throughout my whole forty-five years. Later, at Poplar Springs Baptist, as an early teen, mom and dad still drug us to church, even on Wednesday nights. My buddies,Andy Martin, Paula Stanley and I would cut Preacher Lane’s message or sit for hours hanging out together waiting on our parents to get out of choir practice while we were up to no good. As an older teen, my dad must have been missing his Mt. Pleasant roots (I think it was the amazing cooking of Margaret Walters and all her peers) but my dad was drawn back to John Attaway’s messages and good advice. He knew what he was doing because John ended up counseling Kevin and I, 25 years ago this summer, and then marrying us. It must have been good advice. It took. I’m taking you on this walk down memory lane to tell you that as he and mom drug us to church, he taught Chad and I not only faith, but the value of a church family, and being amongst other Christians in good and bad times to hold each other up. He showed me that by keeping a child in church, you keep them away from trouble. He taught me to love to sing and worship. I hate to admit this to Paula and Andy, but I liked it most when we sat farther back in the pews and listened to Hilda, James Martin, John & Juanita and my daddy make some beautiful music as the choir practiced each week. I’ve spent most of my adult life as a member of a church choir. And I will forever love a rousing choir rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Thank you daddy.

2.

There’s An Old Saying…. Home is where you treat your family like friends, and your friends like family. My dad was good at both.

We’re sitting here nearly two weeks after dad’s death for a reason. Many of you know, Kevin and I and our family travel extensively, and we have for 25 years. One of the first and best lessons my dad taught me was to take a vacation every year with your family, even if you can't afford it... go camping if that's what you can do, he'd say. Ironically, on the day he passed, my mom was waking up dad to go on a family beach trip with Jordan and Chad's family. When we all sat down to talk about them cancelling and planning Dad's services for a couple of days later, we all said, no, dad wouldn't have wanted that. And my family's trip was planned for next week at the beach. It was truly THE only week this summer that all five of my family could be together. My dad would have wanted that. Many of you may remember that my mom had her appendix out one year, but that didn’t stop us. OH NO. My dad patched her up, reserved a wheel chair, and off to Disney we went. No way were we cancelling our vacation (And oh, by the way, we got to go to the FRONT of every line because of mom). FAMILY and BEING TOGETHER was THE MOST IMPORTANT thing to my Dadwhen we were growing up. I hope I've imparted that lesson to my kids. I just wanted you all to know, that Chad, Jordan, Kevin, mom and I honored our dad by being together with our families on our vacations and then coming together today tocelebrate my dad's life and legacy. In addition to making the four of us a priority… my dad, not coming from a large family, adopted my mom’s huge brood of a 12 brother & sisters in laws, and made them his own. In 1972, my dad took my mom an hour away from her family to live in State Road when their kids were just babies. But yet most every Sunday after church, (and lunch at K&W), for my mom, we drove an hour to my grandma’s house, sat  under the trees, and enjoyed homemade ice cream with my nearly 20 cousins, and dozen aunts and uncles. My daddy loved to laugh. And he was a HUGE practical joker. I remember hanging out every weekend with my Aunt Tannis and Uncle Dallas, and they were constantly painting each others toenails when the other fell asleep, or chasing each other around the house in a water fight. My wonderful aunts and uncles have been my mom and dad’s closest friends and biggest blessings in recent years.

Dad also taught me that your best friends aren’t just friends… they’re family. I spent about every Christmas Eve growing up with Dad’s mom, his sister’s family, and his oldest friends, Ray and Janice Wilson and their family. Ray was with my dad from the time he was a boy until he stood over him and whispered “thank you Stan” as we told him goodbye. The entire weekend of my dad’s death, and at the gathering at my home of over 150 people the night after daddy died, my childhood best friend, Dawn,drove nearly two hours home and back twice to be here to take care of me, my home and my family.  When the call reached me at the mountain about my dad, my mom’s sister, Linda was there within five minutes to be with my mom. Her sister, Sandra, who recently lost my wonderful Uncle Paul, was at my house after daddy died, on Sunday morning, blowing off my back porch. She made her own hurried trip back down the mountain to take care of her sister. You see, family is there for each other when we need them. Thank you for imparting the value of those relationships,Daddy. For in the end… besides our faith, they are all that really matter.

3.

Make a House a Home… Open it to Friends, family, workmates, the ENTIRE community

My dad was known for his hospitality. We had so many gatherings. The house was always full. First, when they didn’t have a lot, he had their best friends over for cards. Ray and Janice, or Ruth and Darryl, Pat and Eddie, John and Juanita, and many others. Later, he started throwing bigger parties… and did I mention my daddy liked to cook, or more appropriately, bake? Many times he fed the choir, or his Sunday School class, or he was bringing an entire Christmas to a needy family. In Chad and I’s teen years, Dad built a pool. I thought it was for him and mom. In later years, I realized it was to keep Chad and I, our friends, and later, my family, a reason to stay close to him and mom. We were the “cool” house. He threw infamous pool parties. My engagement party was a blast… and if you were never thrown into that pool by Stan, I’m sorry. Andrew, Alexandra and Carson, the three young adults that Kevin and I have raised, definitely benefitted from their grandpa’s lesson there. While we were playing cards with the Days and the Andrews, they made life-long friends hanging out with all the kids. And from day one, my kids have had some of the communities most memorable birthday parties, AT OUR HOUSE. My kids have the “cool” basement. I’ve even come home to some of my kids’ friends hanging out downstairs, and my kids weren’t home. Thank you daddy, for giving me a generous heart. I try to keep the cabinets stocked and the door open. And those kids are all at my house, under our influence, not in trouble, and learning a lot of life lessons.  My daddy didn’t build a house, (although he built many), he built a home. Even until the hospital visit a couple of years ago, dad was baking away and sending happiness in the form of pound cakes and key lime pies to my office. It’s been over two years, and our office manager often reminds me she misses my dad’s cakes.

4.

Put Your Spouse First, and your family will stay strong.

For much of his life, my dad worked at Brendles in Elkin. That company brought us to this community. My dad’s mentor was Harold Brendle. He loved to come home talking about the advice that Harold had imparted to him. Harold was a big family man. My dad listened well. Because unfortunately, my dad didn’t have the best role model growing up. His own father suffered from alcoholism and he and his sister, Ann, and mother, Hazel, often had to run from his alcohol induced rages. Harold sent my dad all over the world as he moved up in the company. Eventually my dad was running the entire jewelry division and was a world traveler. But through all of that time, he stayed faithful the love of his life, Willa, and always put her first. She got to go on several trips with him.  He was so proud of her, and the wonderful wife and mother that she was to him. He wrote me many letters over the years that talked about how important it was to value that relationship with your spouse, and to go places with them and experience the world together. He told me it would make my family strong. He and my mother taught me that when you choose your spouse and you say I do, you say it forever. The week after I got engaged, he reminded me that in our family, walking away was not an option, ever. As my dad had psychological and physical issues in these last years, my mom became the picture of faithfulness…taking care of him to his last breath, even when it was so very hard. Thank you both for modeling a marriage for Kevin and I, Chad and Jordan, and your grandkids, that showed us what love truly is… it’s the good and the bad times, the ups and the downs, the richer and poorer, the in sickness and health parts, you loved each other for almost 46 years. I’m so thankful for that.

5.

Build Your Kids Up and They Will Move Mountains

From the time I was born, my daddy called me his “princess.” And I was truly a daddy’s girl. But he also taught me that girls could succeed in a man’s world. When a bully stole my project and claimed it as his in third grade, and I was too scared to tell the teacher, my dad told me to march into that classroom the next day and take up for myself with the teacher. If there was an injustice against my brother or I, watch out, he would be the first one in our corner, if that was the right thing to do. He taught me to be a strong business-woman, a decision-maker, confident and focused, yet to always doing the right thing. I laughed not long ago when my oldest friend, Dawn Mustin, said to me, “You know why you are so successful in real estate don’t you? I always knew your dad could sell fleas off a dog, and he passed it on to you and Chad.” I call that a compliment. I believe I have my husband, Kevin, because of that decision-making gene. He once told me he was always drawn to me because other girls he dated couldn’t make a decision, even about where they were going out to eat. Poor thing, he didn’t know what he was getting into…. I want my three kids to stand up. These kids are 21 year old Andrew, an Appalachian State graduate and new teacher, 19 year old Alexandra, an art student at UNCC with truly-god given photography talent, and Carson, my 17 year old chief junior marshall. Okay.. you guys can sit down. Did I mention they have never been bailed out of jail, in trouble or thrown out of school? My dad taught me that if you build expectations for your kids from day one, you will raise strong citizens. If you have little ones, start now. Make lists, set down rules and follow up. My brother and I have laughed this week about all my daddy’s “chore lists,” curfews and museum quality clean house code… and believe me, Chad and I both would not pass his white glove tests at our house, but he taught us that kids need boundaries and expectations, and you’ll not just raise a kid, you’ll raise a winner in life, that can lead their families and pass what they’ve learned to the next generation. My son, Andrew, bent over my dad at the mortuary, and kissed him one last time, and promised him that he would be the man my dad always expected him to be, and he would raise a family that my dad would be proud of. You bet daddy, I KNOW it will happen… right Brittany?

For forty years, I was the apple of my daddy’s eye. I had the best father a girl could ever hope to have.  Everyone in this room knows that I was the definition of a Daddy’s Girl. Then the darkness came. For the last five years, Satan tried to steal my daddy from me, my mom and brother, and our family. My dad’s health got worse and worse, and with it, his mental state was often impaired. Doctors told me with sugar levels that sometimes stayed in the 300’s… that your personality can completely change. Then, two yearsago, my dad physically died on the table at Baptist three times, then was revived. But he was never quite the same old Stan everyone knew and loved. He’d still joke with you on a good day, and he would still give you a hug, but he’d lost his will to get better. And with more and more pain, and more and more medicine, we lost a little of that bright light every day. Many nights I went to sleep bargaining with God to bring my Daddy back to us, it was hard and my mom was struggling to bear the load. That last week that I fell asleep praying about just that. A few days later, God answered. Not in the way I had hoped, but in a way that truly brought full restoration of the Stanley B. we all knew and loved.

One of my greatest joys in the last five years came on the morning that Dad left this earth. As I rushed back down the mountain to my mom, driving as fast as I dared, God whispered in my ear…. “My daughter, all is well. Your daddy is with me and he is whole.” The next morning, as I sat in a chair and prayed for forgiveness for not being the best daughter to a grumpy old man, beautiful sunbeams fell across my chair and yet again God whispered to the deepest reaches of my soul, “My child, why are you crying? He is whole. He is your daddy, again. And he is with ME…. where he has longed to be for many years. And your daddy is healthy, happy and he’s singing hymns by a piano with his beloved momma at his side.”

As my momma and my family and I were driving home from telling my daddy’s earthly body goodbyelast week, we were all sad, for we are human, and we are selfish, and it’s very hard to let our loved one go on before us. But we were also happy. Cause we could SEE Daddy grinning back at us from his happy place, surrounded all those he loved and lost over the years… his mom and dad, his Aunt Ruby and grandparents, my mom’s parents, Jordan’s mom, and dear Travis, Uncle Paul, Joey, his mentor, Harold Brendle, Margaret Walters and many others that he was so excited to be reunited with again. As we drove in our grief, and in our happiness, I said, “mom… we should sing THIS song at dad’s service.” Because if you know my daddy, another lesson I learned from him was…you DID NOT go to the funeral home feeling sad for a Christian… you went and reminded everyone around you that it was a celebration. He told me that the night his mom died, he dreamed he saw her around a great banquet table with everyone she loved having a giant celebration of her birth in heaven. I KNOW, deep down in my heart, that my daddy would have loved it if we all end his memorial with a celebration of his heavenly birthday. I encourage all of you to stand up and sing this next song with your whole heart.

Oh Happy Day