Birthdays & Good-byes

Well, we have had a lot of birthday fun....and a great bit of sadness. Lauren turned 4 and woke up feeling like Queen of the world!!! She opened her presents and we headed off to Chuck E. Cheese for hours of fun! Daddy bought her cupcakes to take to her class at church so her partying really was an all day affair!!!! Thank you so much to everyone that came to her party, called her, sent her cards or emailed her birthday wishes--she had a blast and was so excited!!!! How quickly she has transitioned to holding up 4 fingers instead of 3. :-( Growing up so fast!!! Pictures later!

As for the sad, please keep Thomas' family in your prayers....we lost his Uncle on Monday...even though we know in our hearts where he is....it is so much harder for those left behind. Just please keep them in your prayers....and say a special one for Thomas' Daddy....they were so very close. Anna wrote me a note that evening...."Mommy Uncle Johnny died today. I am sad." We were so excited to have him as a neighbor and loved seeing him out in the yard....his greeting was always "Hey pretty girls.....where are my hugs!" I am so sad that the time wasn't enough...I hold tightly to the stories and conversations....stories of when they were young, his admiration for Tom (Thomas' dad), conversations on education--he was always quick to ask about what we were doing for school and how it was going....and of course watching him with his Granddaughter, C was so very sweet! Anna wanted to know if Uncle Johnny was talking to God now....yes, I believe that is what he is doing and he is doing it pain free.......