From birthday parties to adoption...

Been an eventful few days with our family. Granny's 100th birthday (and she got to celebrate it in Heaven, lucky girl!!), Jeremy's 21st birthday and my bestie gets to meet her brand new daughter.


My Saturday was bittersweet. Kevin's really amazing Granny, Mrs. Bretta Luffman, ALMOST made it to her 100th birthday. She passed away last fall. But her family decided that on the day that would have been her 100th birthday, we should still gather for a celebration of life! Memories were shared and time spent with those who loved her. Most of all, people spoke of her sweet spirit. And how she was an amazing cook... and how we ALL loved her pound cake! And her good advice... she always told Kevin to "be smart."

I knew if I opened my mouth to speak about Granny, I would lose it... cause I'm emotional like that. So I wanted to say here what stood out to me about the sweet lady that she was.

COCONUT CAKE... it was a sad day when her sight became so bad that she could no longer make it... because it was outstanding. AND my favorite. I think I first met her in 1980 or 1981. And she was always kind to me and loved to talk our ears off... I can't drive through Lexington without thinking of one of the best times of her life... living as a young newlywed in Erlanger Mills where she and her husband worked in the textile mill there. And some of my best memories are of Granny helping teach me to sew. When Alexandra was born, I was a terrible seamstress.... I did NOT listen well in Home Ec in high school. So I had to learn from scratch. EVERY time I got stuck, I could call Granny up and explain what I didn't understand, OR I could bring the pattern to her when I was visiting and she would explain what to do. No question was too dumb, and she was excited that I shared her passion for sewing. I sewed both dresses Alexandra is wearing here, and her hat on the left and my dress. Those were fun days and I have those memories because Granny shared her craft with me. I hope to share it one day with Alexandra and Brittany, and hopefully have time to make beautiful dresses for all my grandkids.

Thank you Granny! Your legacy can be seen through your wonderful, loving family. You passed on your love for Christ, and love for family and it shows. We are truly blessed. AND... we already miss you so much.

Love this song.... "Leave a Legacy" Nichole Nordeman

Second big event of the weekend... Jeremy turns 21. Yes, really... 21. Wasn't he just the cute high school senior that Alexandra had a crush on? They'll have been dating 3 years this summer and we couldn't ask for a more wonderful young man. He treats my daughter like a princess, and that's all we can ask for. We are so proud of him.... he's a junior in mechanical engineering and doing quite well. We had lunch at Nacho Daddy's on Sunday.... and of course, we had to put the hat on Jeremy and let them sing to him! =)

And FINALLY, I got an email today that brought me to tears and reminded me that above all, God is in control and he has a plan.... my bestie from high school and my maid of honor struggled with infertility for years before finally adopting her son Gavin, about five years ago this fall, from Russia. He is my godson, and an absolute doll.

She is in another European country this week working on adoption of her new daughter. We can't give specifics on her new one... but suffice it to say, she has already wrapped Keenan around her finger. I'm SO EXCITED to hear the specifics via email several times a day. So I have to share the paragraph Dawn sent me today. Brought me to tears.....

Do you remember the day we went to Babies R Us and you bought Gavin the little baby blanket/toy -- it was yellow, and it had a Winnie the Pooh "Tigger" holding the end of the blanket -- no bigger than a square foot -- one corner had a plastic end that the baby can chew or suck?  Well -- Gavin and I were cleaning out his stuffed animals a couple of weeks ago and he handed it to me and said he wanted to give it to Ella.  So I brought it with us and gave it to her today.  We helped her to say "Tigger" and she hugged it and kissed it and put the chew end in her mouth and really liked it.  Pacifiers are not "the norm" here but because of her being in the orphanage, she is still sucking her thumb.  Also the foster mother said that in the orphanages the workers will cover the children heads with blankets to get them to stop crying.  Of course, the foster parents do not do this but said that she likes to find things to put over her face/eyes when she naps and that this will be PERFECT!!!   The chain of events that God gives us......... from you, to Gavin, to Ella .... the perfect gift!!!