Jovanie – you know how I always tell you that you were born to be one of us? Well you really were and I am so glad! LOVE YOU GUYS! Love my Rocky and Jovan and all the beauty their love and marriage bring in to our lives!
An invitation to a tea by Gavin’s 2nd grade class. We “adopt” his friend, Keenan, whose grandparents are out of town and they serve us tea and lemonade and assorted muffins. The boys are so energetic it makes my head spin. But right in the middle of a school day Monday, my grandson gives me a hug and a kiss and he’s is so glad we are there, I can tell. And Keenen likes us, too.
I pull into the driveway at their house to drop off their cousin and two little Kelley girls run to meet me. “Nonna!! ,” squeals Gemma, and she jumps up to hug me through the window with abanoned glee at my arrival. Guini is slightly more reserved but makes her way to me, “Oh, it is my lovely Nonna,” she says, touching my face, and she kisses my cheek and hugs me through the car window.
Know what is sweeter than kissing a grandbebe goodnight? Waking their warm little faces with a quiet kiss in the mornings. Hunter spent the night and was my little sweety-pie-let’s-have-hot-buttered-toast-for-breakfast guy. I miss having a little person in the house. How did those years go so quickly?
Averi’s momma says Averi has my feet. I ask her, “Do you have Nonna”s feet, Miss Averi?” Yes, she tells me AND we both have bejeweled flip flops. We lie in the grass looking at the clouds and prop our feet up on a retaining wall and take a picture of our cute shoes to remember the moment. Averi thinks mine are pretty and she tries them on. We chat about all sorts of nothing before she insists I push way high in the swing.
This makes us laugh. Do you know why?**
**hint: Beauty and the Beast – The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
I don’t need a whole lot of money
But I wouldn’t turn a lottery down…
All I want is a place to lay my head with the woman I love lyin’ in my bed {editor’s note: we all want to know if, just for your birthday, at least, she let you try sleeping on the other side of the bed!!?? haha!}
Almost 9 years ago you married our multi-prismed, colorful, feisty, yet tender Stephanie. What a gentle treasure she’d found. What a trustworthy man, fit to hold her heart and walk along in life with her, covering her. We were so pleased then and have not ever for one second had any regret or fear about whether or not she’d done the right thing…even though you forgot to ask permission first{we really do forgive you! haha}. And you became our son. A new son – all grown up and finished (thank you Larry and Chyrl Kelley: GREAT job. Truly! If only we’d known we may have sent you a few others… ;p ).
My dreams aren’t that complicated…
I wanna be the one
When all is said and done
Who lived a good life, loved a good wife, and always helped someone in trouble
So, here you were: this new son from different parents, whisking our daughter off to “happily ever after” and being saddled with the burden of helping us become IN-LAWS! What a load to have to carry – especially when we were such novices and have done it all wrong a million or more times, I am sure. Yet, you have always shown us honor and been a man of peace in this family. You have thrown yourself into the life of our zaniness and odd traditions and trusted us with your babies, who, by the way, are tributes and testaments to the people you and Steph are. They are the fruit of the life of creativity and love you have chosen to live. They represent you well even when you are not around to hear it and see it. The sum of the three speaks volumes of you and Stephanie and your oneness.
On the day they lay me down
I want everyone to gather ‘round
And say he was a father, brother, neighbour and a friend
He was a good man!
And 30! THIRTY! Thirty years old. Omygoodness! But you still look 23 with the wisdom of a man in his 70s…not sure what that means? Haha.
We each had to draw one part of Tris (picked from a selection in a bowl) and see what the collective came up with. Uh-huh. Rocky accused me of drawing “big, old eyes staring at you!”
I used to dream of being a rock star
And seein’ the world in style
Used to dream of havin’ a fast car
And driving that miracle mile
But I’ve heard tales those streets aren’t paved in gold
They’re full of pot holes and empty soul who never learn
Love is something you gotta earn
Specialty root beers and cream sodas for the b-day boy.
LOVED celebrating your life the other night (read more about that here). It WAS a very cool party for a very cool guy: all wood-grainy (I hope that doesn’t take my house-paint off) and red; all full of Tris-triv and drawing you the way we apparently see you. And it was just such a perfect evening and such a blessing for me personally to sit under the stars by candlelight and just honor some one I truly love and admire so much.
I wanna be the one
When all is said and done
Who lived a good life, loved a good wife, and always helped someone in trouble
When I’m gone, I wanna leave a legacy
Of love and laughs and honesty behind me
Behind me…
You ARE a great daddy and husband. You love Steph well. You are a wonderful brother to the rest of the kids and a blessing of a son to us. You’re a reliable friend and resourceful helper. You know everything I ever need to know about anything and I appreciate your willingness to teach me all of it. Your music students love you. Anyone with whom you have ever played drums or guitar live or in recordings know you are the BEST and as quiet and unassuming as you are, you have managed to amass fans all over the place. I am so pleased you were born to be one of us.
I wanna be the one when all is said and done
Who lived a good life, loved a good wife, and always helped someone in trouble
On the day they lay me down, want everyone to gather ‘round
And say he was a father, brother, neighbour and a friend
He was a good man…
LYRICS: “A Good Man” by Emerson Drive…yea, it is kind of a cowboy country song (and you, Tris, are anything but country or cowboy!), but I liked it, anyway.
My daughters are industrious, creative, gifted and talented Proverbs 31 women. They all see to their households, as well as to the Household of Faith. They give to the poor and assist anyone in need; they shop for the best yarns and cottons and enjoy knitting and sewing. They organize their days and plant gardens with the money they have put aside. They dress for work, roll up their sleeves and are always eager to get started because they understand the worth of their work. They take good care of their families and dress in colorful linens and silks. They design gowns and sell them and bring the sweaters they knit to the dress shops. Facing the future with smiles, they always have something worthwhile and kind to say. They outclass anyone in Hollywood or the magazines. Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades, but my little women – these who are serving God with reverent respect? They are to be admired and praised! (The Message, personalized)
My girlies, Stephie and Storms, are such creative women. Each on their own, but when they get together, zowie! Stormie works in the billboard-graphics field during her “day job,” and Stephanie mommies 3 of the most amazing little red-heads! They have proven to have a “good eye” on finding vintage wares that people will love. I love them bunches!
The night Dessy let us make her into an 80’s glam girl. Aaahhh….good times!
Tre directs a leadership team of 100 people, who utilized 2000 amazing volunteers this year! Daniel Miles said, at the appreciation event at Elitch Gardens that Tredessa was the “captain,” of Heaven Fest and people cried as he said (and others chimed in, in agreemen)t, “We’ll follow you anywhere.” She needed to know that – because it is true.
This is granddaughter, Amelie Belle, modeling one of her mama’s creations. Sweet baby girl!
Jovan makes the prettiest things for baby girls (her passion, imagine that) and for gifting. Jovan is my sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice daughter who is woman enough to not be afraid of pink. And a good wife to my baby boy!
Yes. That IS Hunter’s KINDEGARTEN textbook. I shudder to think what he’ll be doing by junior high?!
I wonder if Hunter can yet comprehend what an amazing and patient momma he has? She is fully devoted to helping Hunter fulfill God’s call in his life in his generation. Plus? The woman writes songs and sings and lights up a room! My firstborn, who walks in favor.
Marmee: I am going to write that man a letter.
Jo: A letter! That’ll show him.
Jo: Now we are all family, as we always should have been.
Marmee: Feminine weaknesses and fainting spells are the direct result of our confining young girls to the house, bent over their needlework in restrictive corsets.
Marmee: Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You’re ready to go out and – and find a good use for your talent. Tho’ I don’t know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it.
Oh, I will return to Cozumel! ;p
Hunter may even honeymoon at Cozumel someday, he is thinking.
Dave and I on our last night there ~ way more rested and waaaay more tan than when we arrived. Lovely!
sigh…
The “soft-focus” is purely humidity…moist, warm air! And? He is not really random. I have known him for quite awhile now. About 32 years this week, actually.
What an honor for me to get to be there, to get to pray for them and witness their love made flesh. I am so proud of Stef and Wrex and how they worked so hard, together, committed to make the baby’s birth a wonderous and glorious event. And I am humbled. The favor of God shines on this family. He must surely be smiling at what they did. I know I am.
Isn’t she lovely
Isn’t she wonderful
Isn’t she precious
Less than one minute old
Sawyer at less than 10 minutes old. Daddy wore pink to welcome her. He’s man enough!
At 9:27 pm, 22 1/2 hours after the very first labor contraction, Sawyer arrived to cheers and tears and joy and family. 7 pounds, 14 ounces, 21 inches long. She has her mommy’s fabulous long legs and slender feet and pouty lips. And she has her daddy’s heart…already! Sawyer, blessed more than she realizes, is already loved and adored.
I never thought through love we’d be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn’t she lovely made from love.*
*LYRICS: “Isn’t She Lovely?” by Stevie Wonder
Tools of the trade.
Uncle Rocky pitching to Gav-at-bat. The cheering crowds. DP up to bat.
When I feel the morning grass I let down my guard Because love comes from the dirt in my own backyard Everytime I think I’ve finished being young I catch myself having fun
My husband, Dave, up to bat.
Pepler. Guini and Nonna (me). Gavin hits it!
But the moment passes as the sun moves on So I turn myself back to you… And it’s depressing that I can’t forget the tune the organist played La – da da da da da da, la – da da da da da da…
Dave at bat. The boys taking a breather.
Everytime I think I’ve finished being young I catch myself having fun But the moment passes as the sun moves on So I turn myself back to you Is our season over? No four leaf clover?
Hunter and Gavin will climb anything. Tristan swinging the pipe…as a lefty!
I feel it’s getting colder… But can you still remember? April to November You and I were members Of the best team in baseball So we play our games…
Rocky…Serious about pitching.
Lyrics: Baseball
All of these pictures: by Stormie!
I had a Friday night date with THREE guys (all very very good-looking, mind you) and they got off really easy for sure. We went to McDonalds and I only had the small Spicy Chicken Sandwich and some fries off the dollar menu, with water. Much like Kenny Banya on the Seinfeld episode, I feel I am still owed a meal! (NOT a McDonalds fan)
It’s boy night here. McD’s has a great play-thing and Gavin and Hunter are having a sleep-over at our house. Poppa even let them play with his vintage GI Joes and all the cool accessories in the foot locker. The 1960s GI Joes were always my Barbie-doll’s love interests. Ken was a little too…prissy. I am certain the grandsons would be mortified to know my childhood secrets.
