Category Archives: 3 Celebrations & Festive Events

A record of our gala celebrations and convivial festivities!

Happy 30th Birthday, Stephanie Kelley

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events

It was the morning after our next-to-final birth class.  I was so excited to watch birth movies and then got very lightheaded.  We’d gone to the Big Wheel with our friends the Loftis’ who were also expecting.  I ate my favorite, the thing I craved my whole pregnancy with you: Cream of Broccoli soup.

You were due, so said old Dr. Wachob, on the 30th of June.  A beautiful morning in May was a surprise for sure.

Around 6:30 or 7:00 am that Friday morning, I realized – oh my…we are early, but we are having a baby.  I had concern, but I also remember this heightened sense of crazy excitement.  It didn’t feel “wrong.”   I had a sense of peace I can’t explain.  It never occurred to me (whether I was blissfully ignorant or just plain stupid) to ever even think my baby, borne of lasting love, a child of promise and fulfillment, a baby God gave me  – well, I just didn’t worry.  I was ready.  You delightfully interrupted life.

I wrote this on your timeline this morning:

Good morning, Rainbow-bear. It was about this time(on a gorgeous May morning just like this) 30 years ago today, that I realized it was most definitely not false labor and that though your expected arrival was June 30, you were on you way. Deliriously giddy with excitement, off to the hospital we went. You were the tiniest thing I had ever seen when you arrived that afternoon. It was one of the most wonderful wonderful wonderful lilacs-in-full-bloom days of my life. And your birth was about to teach me things about God I’d never yet known. “For this child I prayed…”. It is a good day to remember. And to celebrate. I love you, Stephanie. Happy Birthday, child of promise. {mom}

All to say: your birth (and now your life) mean more than words can express, are hallmarks of my very existance and you have a mom who loves you deeply.  You have that!  :)

And though words cannot express, I have certainly given it a shot since I have had this blog going.  I am enjoying going back and reading the things I have said and hope you know that I have meant them all.  Every one.

In 2011, I tried to fit the you I see on a photograph.

 Scripture, song lyrics, color.  I tried to fit it on.  And I reflected on what God had in mind when He created you

God heals.  He is the Healer.  That is the blazing-across-the-sky message of your life, Steph.  And the adversary gets no points in the battle for our baby girl.  With God’s blessing-kiss on the love between your dad and me, with your big sister praying to have a little sister all her own – you were sent.  But you know the enemy, he always tries to stop a miracle at its birth.  You live in the ranks of Moses, Jesus, even, with spiritual war- decrees against their very lives: Stop the miracle before it can begin to change the course of everything…

But God, who is faithful, healed you wholly and fully….

So many times when you were a little girl, people would tell us they saw rainbows, color and deep things in you.  You can read the whole post here.  Good stuff!

2010

I recalled the singing, the songs and melody that marked your growing-up-life.  There was always a song…

You started singing so early, I can hardly remember when or how.  You started singing as a baby and you sang your way right into the funny, delightful little girl you became.  You sang first thing in the morning and you sang while the rest of the household was going to sleep.  You sang silly and you sang well.

Steph even shares her glamour secrets on her blog.  www.maydae.com

And I apologized, in that blog entry, for ever telling you to quit singing to go to sleep.  I amen myself here.  CLICK HERE TO RE-READ MY MEA-CULPA.

In 2009, I reflected on the meaning of your name

Stephanie: A crown, or garland-festooning (see Proverbs 31).  And I made a list of 27 wishes for you on your 27th birthday {click here}  and I told you this:

I festoon you with my love.  I festoon you with my praises.  Twenty-seven years ago today, I got to touch a miracle – and you remind me of God’s faithfulness everyday of your love-filled life.

2008

I exuded blessing on you.  SEE?  Click here.

Happy Birthday, sweet Stephanie, amazing mommy, faithful wife and thoughtful daughter.  Happy Birthday, gentle spirit, sometimes hidden, but always breaking through in brilliant rainbow-colored prisms of light.  Happy happy days to you, my second-born who came to us so fragile, but stands on her own two feet now as a woman of faith and strength and patience and contentment.  The favor force of God’s grace and healing power rest on you, Stephanie.

 The first time I got to blog-your-birthday, 2007

You turned 25 and I remembered how I came to know God in a way I never had – as a Healer, as the fulfiller of promise (O He is good!  READ IT HERE).  The scripture on your birth announcements is written on my heart to this day:

1 Samual 1.27 “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. “

He answered.  He is good.  I thank Him for my baby girl.

You can see, the camera has never once betrayed her trust.  Yes, she is one of those.  Made up or not, glamorous in every way. 

Happy Birthday, sweet-pea.  O how I love you, baby girl.  Truly.  Mom. :)

Starry Starry Night

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 6 Looking Back // Memories!, Stuff I Actually Think

Found in my drafts from late last August…

My Heaven Fest Familia.

A month of Sundays

We met regularly leading up to “the party.”  The days were long and the sunsets were beautiful.  The room was filled with chatter and though the meetings were only scheduled to be 2 1/2 hours so people could get home for their work week, these amazing people hung out and often laughter and tears and prayer could be heard for hours on end…

The party.

Just past midnight, after the final song had been sung from main stage, we jumped in to the aftermath, together, like families do.  We’d hosted 33,000+ people and it had been lovely, really good.

The wrap-up love-fest

We met on the 88 acres Mark and Lanna have out where Colorado feels rural.  There was a 100-mile mountain view for our wrap-up look-what-God-has-done celebration meal.  It was a hot day, but  we sat under trees and in pop-ups and fellow-shipped around food, memories, a collective sigh of we-did-it.  There was a hum of goodwill, friendship, and family.  Kids ran happily across the acreage, streamers blew in the breeze, the energetic-competitives challenged each other to lawn games and the iced tea refreshed.

It was the wind-up.  It was the culmination of months of hard work that led to Heaven Fest 2011 then through 3 weeks of intensive wrap up.  All of our meetings through the months (beginning in April) had been dedicated, challenging work, yet we’d leave refreshed and ignited to fulfill God’s call, together.  A random group of people from a gazillion different churches all over the Front Range came together and became :: a family.

And I miss these people.  Yes, it has only been a few weeks since the celebration on a summer evening that turned into a warm, inviting night, where we laughed and cried and sang together and recounted the amazing thing we’d just done together.  Just a few weeks since we settled into lawn chairs to recount glory-stories and worship and sing and thank each other and just love.  Not even a month since we gathered around a bonfire to roast marshmallows and the sweet aroma of unity rose up to please our Father.  But I miss these people like crazy.

Update –

SAVE THE DATE:  Saturday July 28, 2012, another starry night.

More time with these…

 

Oh, the places you’ll go…

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think

Stephanie and Tristan just got back from an anniversary trip to London and Pah*ree!  {Paris, but have fun with it}

 In London.

She has been writing about it at www.MayDae.com There are amazingly beautiful photographs.  I am not just saying that because I am her mom.  The pictures are straight from  a Conde Nast travel mag!

Stephanie is Paris.

Stormie and her dad just returned from a trip to Honduras with Compassion International

A truck burgeoning with tomatoes

Where they got to see firsthand that the simple act of sponsoring a child really does impact their lives forever – AND you can actually meet and know that child!  She has also been writing about it, with photographs, naturally, at www.MayDae.com

Stormie and Dave (center) with their trip hosts and translators.  Everyone sort of expected Dave to be able to speak Spanish.  But, no.  He is the worst.  :)

Tredessa and Ryan, the newlyweds, are in Florida for the week.

His brother, Erik, is marrying Jen.  Congratulations Erik and Jen.  You are awesome.  We love you and wish you the best.

Erik, Cody and Jen at Ryan and Tre’s wedding. 

Rocky and Jovan are headed to Las Vegas for a little romance for a few days.

They are spending the night with the Girly-Q’s tonight so we can shuttle them to the airport early in the morning and hang out with Averi and Amelie on Friday.

Swiped from Facebook this morning.  Pretty family.  Rocky rocking the horizontal stripes.

And if I tried to document all DP and Tara’s travels, this would indeed become the Powers-Family-Travelogue.  But for the next few days?  They’ll be around.  :)

Sometimes a girl just needs her mom

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 6 Looking Back // Memories!, , ,

I love my mom.

The mamala…the older my kids got, the more of my best-friend-ever she became.

I was the one who turned her into a mom.  Every year she gives me kudos for that.  :)  As the years go on, I am trying to figure out how to honor her more.  I SO wanna be more like her when I grow up!  I doubt I can ever hope to attain it, but her love (in spite of anything I ever put her through) just remains.  “And when the day is done, my mama’s still my biggest fan...”  -from a song that makes me cry every-time.

I love the children who made me a mom.

I may have mentioned it before on this very blog.  But I am crazy about my kids.  Honestly, when I go to their blogs or check out their Facebook pages, but especially when I get to be in a room with them – I just cannot get over what cool people they are.

The Kelley Fam has the most creative photographs.  Captures my grandbebes!  :)

Omygoodness.  These kids, well, they have turned out.  And I find it amazing and I am filled with gratefulness for them, for a loving God who created them right there in my womb.  That is crazy grace!

A forever fav photo of Ryan and Tredessa, even though you can’t see her face – it was all pure joy!

Tara, Stephanie, Tredessa and Stormie: each so unique, each ravishing in beauty, each creative and passionate and successful and interesting.  They are just so interesting as human beings.  They are colorful and talented across so many boards it is crazy.  And the boy, Rocky.  Well, he is the most handsome, zealous, straightforward, protective young man ever.  These five.  My universe.  My past, my future.  My pride.  My joy.  I am so pleased that God was somehow able to make these…from me.  Like: speechless awe.

The Powers fam=fun always!

But if I have to add speech, like Buddy-the-Elf in the department store when he hears Santa is coming and starts screaming: “Saaaaaaaaaa-anta!!  I know him!”  I could do the same of mine, Tara!  Stephanie!!  Tredessa!!!  Rocky!!!!  Stormie Dae!!!!  I know them!

Stormie posted this on FB this morning.  Awww.

I love that the children I birthed have brought along their loves and I get to be the {dreaded} mother-in-love to them.

My kids have chosen well – just the right people for the family.  I am so blessed.  The main thing I love about Tristan, Dave, Jovan and Ryan is how they love my children.  They are all familia.  They were born to be one of us.  I am so lucky to just get that role by legal default.  But also by the ordination of God, favored, blessed!  I don’t take it lightly.

Rocky and his girls.

I love that God has made me a spiritual mom to his Bride.

I cherish the people He surrounds me with.  His word says He puts the lonely in families.  I know this is true.  For when my physical family is so far away and when life gets hectic for the growing families my own are raising, no matter where I go, I find myself surrounded by family – and am honored more than I deserved, and received with love.

I love that I got to be the mom to Dave’s children.

Because he said that when he proposed: that he was choosing me to be the mother of his children.  What an honor.

He wanted to buy me some crazy-great camera to replace my lost one today.  And I would not let him.  Although I did allow him to get me the next step up from my last one since it was on clearance at Target (Kodak Easyshare Z5010).  I just wasn’t ready to spend the time figuring out a real-live wonderful camera.  That is a life investment and Stephanie and Stormie have that covered for me.

From the new cam, a peony after a morning rain

And I asked for a new carpet cleaner.  With the same operator {Dave}.  He complied.

Dave would buy me flowers and jewelry.  He wants to do that.  He would bring me breakfast in bed.  He would give me the moon as a thanks for the kids we share.  But they are the reward.  Having them with him is the reward of my life.

Still much to learn about mothering.  So glad God trusted me to be a mom.

 

Happy Mother’s Day to my friends and family far and wide.  May your husband praise you today and may your children go all out to call you blessed!

Happy Birthday, Tara Powers!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, ,

Well, this day is as gorgeous as the one on which you were born.  I awoke at exactly 5:55 a.m. {33 years ago} to a deep contraction, one that I knew was “real.”  I hopped out of bed with giddy excitement on the inside and started writing times on a piece of paper.  Having heard many baby-labor horror stories, I hoped you’d be in my arms before the day was out, but began bracing myself for the 24-hour first-time-mommy labor and delivery.  I’d seen the television shows.  At any second I would become almost incapacitated and start screaming for hours.

But no.  I actually went with my mom and dad to the church where they worked for the day.  I tracked the contractions, gentle, strong, but building.  My mom and I went shopping.  Then home for dinner.  Then packing a hospital bag.  Then YOWZERS: need to go now.  But a one-car family and my dad says, “Can you wait until I am ready to go to church for Wednesday night service,” and I do so we can drop him at his convenience.  And You are born 30 minutes after I arrive at the hospital.  Not one single scream.

It is kind of funny to think about that now.  NOW, I would tell my dad: Heck no.  I need to go have this baby.  You’ll have to get another ride!  Hahhaha.

I am revisiting past blogs I have written about you because you are one of my favorite writing topics.

2011

I did the photos with words to try to say everything I saw and adored and there just isn’t really enough space, though I got braver as 2011 went on and I can actually see space where I could have kept adding.  :)   Tara is the firstborn.  I have known her a long time!

I said, “You have the wisdom of some years now.  You are not just a pretty girl.  You are a ravishing woman…”

2010  Click to read.

The year of your surgery, I recalled the night of your birth.

“But later, in that room,  just us two, I knew that you were mine, a gift straight from God.  ‘I don’t know you yet, but I know I love you,’ I whispered, wondering who you’d be and if you could ever love me back.”

2009 ~ The year you turned 30

I wrote 30 wishes for you including lots of good hair days, health and vigor and for the songs of the Lord to be increased through you.  Write, girl, write!, I admonished!  :)

2008

I quoted Lord Byron’s poem, “She walks like beauty in the night,” because that poem has always made me think of my sweet daughter.

I was praying for you then to understand your pivotal role in God’s great story on this earth.  I urged you to speak up and speak out and sing as His anointed!  SO thankful to God for a  blog recording my love for my children and His great faithfulness in their lives!  I LOVE it!  He answers.  He hears and He answers!

And I told you, “I am so pleased with you, baby girl, I bless the day you were born.”  I still do!

2007, the first time I blogged about your birth

I had started bloggin in November of 2006 and got to start telling the stories in ’07.  I revealed the blessing-name “Liquid Joy,” bestowed upon you by dearest family friends.  I spoke of the sensitivity and healing you had brought to my life by your birth and I even spoke of times I feared for your heart and life and how God so faithfully-faithfully-faithfully restored you and there was great rejoicing!

Through the years on this blog so far, the recurring theme about you is: you were a gift to me.  And you are joy.  And God created you for amazing things.  And on your birthday, I celebrate all of it!

O I love you.  Happy Birthday, Tara Jean.  You are a shining star in my night sky!

work day

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think

It’s Monday.  There is this festival coming up really soon.  Gotta work.

But the sun shines and the breeze causes those fluttering leaves that tend to distract me and a little red-headed girl needs a drink.  Then a snack.  Then another drink.  And then a craft to do.  And then Is it time for lunch yet ?? (which gets repeated a lot of times throughout the day).  Then some cuddle time.  Then coloring time.  Then Can I watch some Netflix, Nonna?  Then finally lunch actually arrives.

The anticipation of Tuppy-the-Puppy joining us today from the kennel where she’s been visiting starts to make life seem super exciting.  Nonna works at the table.  So Gemma brings her work to the table.  Paper, crayons, glue sticks and scissors dot my professional landscape.  When the workload gets too heavy the little girl brings me her hairbrush.  Nonna takes a break to brush spun-gold into soft waves and bebe almost falls asleep as I brush.  She has inherited this love of hair-playing from me.  Is there some one I can pay to brush my hair when I need a break??

We bought Gemma the “je t’aime” shirt as a greeting to her mommy and daddy while they were in Paris.  All week, we have been singing “Freres Jacques” and “Alouette.”

The kids get home from school. The puppy bounds in and a scene from The Brady Bunch ensues as Sandy tries to catch up with this tiny dog running the house in circles to the squeals of three exuberant children.    The doors slide open and closed about 487 times and there is candy, lots of candy.

I keep plugging away at the task list.  Kind of.

Now it is time to do fractions and 3rd grade spelling lists.  *Binary  *Monologue  *Triads.   I did not use these words in 3rd grade.  Yowzers.  More math problems, Reading.  Racing to the swing-set.  When is dinner?  When is dinner?  When is dinner?  Because each of three needs to know.

Task list loses.  Life is a little upside down.  As bedtime approaches and the pj-donning, teeth brushing and potty-going begins, I feel a pang of separation anxiety.  Because in a few days they will go home.  I can jump back into work.  And the silence (and order and accomplishment) will be deafening and I shall miss the chaos of delight it has all been.

Full House!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events

Stephanie and Tristan, married 10 years as of December 27 of last year, decided to revisit the land of their original honeymoon, London.  And they are throwing Paris in there, too.

We have the Kelley kids for 9 days.  Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

I actually had to write things on my calendar like:

  • “Feed Gemma lunch” on my work days, though Steph and Tris assured me she would not let me forget.
  • And “Take Gavin and Guni to school.”
  • Then, “Pick Gavin and Guini up from school.”

I mean, I once had a houseful of 5 children, a pet or two and a husband to enthrall all at once.  And I like to say “I raised 5 kids and lived to tell about it.”  But nonetheless I am a little out of practice and Stephanie did make me four pages of important notes on the care and feeding of her babies while they are gone.

Nine days of fun in my forecast.

Before my alarm went off this morning, the sound of little feet tearing through the house signaled the day beginning.  I heard some one let Sandy-the-Dog out and she immediately began barking like crazy, which is terribly unacceptable at that time in the morning.  I had to smile because I awoke to being in my very own sit-com.

I came downstairs from my shower.

Dave was playing one of the scripture lullaby CDs on the surround-sound to set a nice, scriptural foundation for the morning and made me some coffee.  Guini was vacuuming away happily, Gavin was playing a basketball game on my iPod, with all its’ bells and whistles and Gemma had donned a sailor-style sundress, little anklets and her tap shoes and was dancing brightly across the kitchen tile in the rays of early-morning sun.

One generation will praise His works to another and declare His mighty acts.  Psalm 145.4

There is a surge of vitality pulsing through this house, our home.  There is something children bring to the rhythm of life’s days that you won’t know to miss until it has passed.  For when they are young, the minutes and hours and days of “Where is my backpack?” and papers that need to be signed for teachers and “I can’t find my other shoe” seem to stretch on endlessly.  But there does come an end.

This isn’t a melancholy post about kids growing up.  This is a post to celebrate the time of life I am in, which is one that can appreciate, in a way I couldn’t have 20 years ago, that life goes fast and it is fun and good.  And children are messy and a little unpredictable and they sort of dictate existence while they are around and that is good for all of us.

Yesterday Gemma looked dreamily into the distance and said, “Mommy and daddy are far away.  We live here now.”

And for a few days, they do.  So for a few days, I live here now, too.

I’m a lucky Nonna.

Happy Birthday, Stormie Dae

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think,

Hasn’t God unfurled a powerful day for our baby girl?  Sunny and springy, wicked wind and blue-gray clouds, then sun again, then a downpour, the sun moving in and out of clouds and possibly some sleet for a moment.  Then calm again.  And a pretty sunset for the cream on top.  All for our Stormie Dae.

www.maydae.com

I have told her Happy Birthday here since I have been blogging.  I am such a Stormiephile, I re-read them all.  And you can, too, if you click on the year numbers below.

2011

She turned 25.  The first time I did a photo with blessing and descriptive words all over it.  Sort of appropriately, after doing them for the whole fam this past year, picnik.com is closing down in a couple of days.

2010

“You are loyal to a fault and so creatively, over-the-top, abundantly, self-sacrificingly, Holy-Spirit-empowered in your giving.  Your generosity has touched people around the world and I know why God has blessed you monetarily at such a young age: because He has anointed you to give and He trusts you with the job!”

She is a popular auntie

 

2009

Twenty-three wishes for Stormie.  “Age and maturity reveal one of the kindest people I have ever known.  She serves and cares and quietly sets things aright.  She is 23 now.  The baby is 23.  And I love her.”

2008

I was praying for her voice to be heard.  And now it has.  “I pray that [the song of the LORD] (via your beautiful voice) will burst onto the scene very soon.  I see your eyes light up and I hear your spirit rejoicing in the music and worship of the God of the Universe. Even when there is no apparent sound, your heart rising in worship is loud and anointed and undeniable.  I am still waiting for you to go public with the song that is rising.  Sing, O Daughter of the Living God.  Lead the people in the song of the Lord for His delight, His acclaim.”  We are blessed that you have shared your voice!.

2007

The first year of my blogging, I got to tell her story.  And I got to publicly tell her this: “I am so pleased with you, Stormie – who God has created you to be, and how you are dying to self to become that woman.”

Can’t believe how blessed we were the day you were born.  Treasure.  You are a wonderful person.  You are a loving sister and aunt and friend and such an honoring daughter.  You were the grand finale for dad and I, the crescendo, the flourish, the signing-on-the-dotted-line

You are peacemaker, compassion, mercy, avid reader, movie critic and are truly good-hearted, like your dad.  You are colorful, a songtress, thoughtful writer, sharp-witted and wry, a gentler version  of me.  I see us in you.  But you, the amazing person you are, you are in us, too.  We are better people for you in our lives.

I see my pretty baby. I see the little munchkin {“Be-member, mommy, we like to schnuggle“} and I see the gorgeous woman you are, inside and out.  I see God in you.

Happy birthday, Stormie Dae.  Your momma loves you!

My peeps

3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think, ,

Jesus lives.  And He is life-giving.

Proof:   Gavin, Hunter, Guinivere, Gemma May, Averi-J, and Amelie Belle!

 The 12-second look to music

In other news:  I have taken to using YouTube-provided music as much as possible because I hate when they crack down on music I add.  NOT ENOUGH OPTIONS (like fade, or even good music choices)!!  *fit-throwing now*  *exasperated sigh*  Oh well.

And-what to do the leftover Peeps:

You can make peep S’mores (hey, we eat chicken for dinner, people!) or just throw them in the microwave and watch them puff way up.  Then explode.  Or let them get crunchy and hard and put them in your cereal.