Happy Birthday to some Very Special People!!

 Lottie Li  will be 7 years old this week! Lottie you bring me so much joy in my life. You have always been my little snuggle bug and for the last six years your favorite place is still in Mommy's lap. You have questions about everyone and everything, you wear me out sister with all of your questions! You love to pretend.  You have the most creative mind and you and Emma play for hours pretending to be heroes with your blanket, Fluffy, as your super cape or maybe just exploring the earth for dinosaurs.  Everything is sentimental to you! We have lugged around every stuffed animal that someone special gave to you for the last three years. I love this about you sweet girl.  You have such a tender heart and your passion and love for the ones you love the most runs deep my sweet girl. Once you love someone....you love them forever:)

James, our first child, will be 28 years old! (sniff sniff) Where does the time go? James, we are so proud of you. You are so special to us. I love how you can always make me laugh....always!  I miss you being in the house:) I love how you still call your Momma to check on her and chat with me on Skype during the day...every day it means so much to me just to see you write, "Good morning Momma". You are the most amazing big brother to your three sisters. The little ones think you hung the moon and Elisabeth has always thought you were her hero. I think she's right:) Ever since you were a little boy you have just wanted to make everyone happy. When I am feeling low, I know that all I have to do is talk to you and you have a magic way of making me feel better.  It is almost as if some days you tuck away your own feelings so that you can be encouraging to someone else. You love to spoil your sisters rotten and I know one little girl who can't wait to get to Texas to snuggle in your lap and play video games with you:) God has been working on you and your love for Him is deep.  I know you often feel like you aren't doing enough for Him but He is using you....I can see it!  I love you James.

Oh my precious Elisabeth, I can't believe you will be  24 years old and getting married next month! Words cannot even express how proud I am of you precious girl.  You have a true passion and love for people. You are forever shedding tears over any injustice that God's children are having to endure. From the time you were very little, you have been a servant of God. Remember when you were about 7 years old and someone on the school bus was picking on a poor defenseless boy? You threatened (with your fists I might add:) with your life that these children leave him alone. You have always stood up for "the little guy". We have always had to watch any allowance we gave you because you would give it away to anyone who needed it more than you.  When someone is having trouble dealing with life, Jesus sends them your way. We have always know that God would use you in a very special way. It is not surprising that you are graduating this December with your major being Psychology. I can't wait to see what He will do with you next and the lives that will be changed in the process! You are marrying the son-in-love of our dreams and I have prayed for him all your life and God has answered that prayer. I love you sweet girl:)

And last but not least, my Mom....Grammy. My Mom turns 68 this week, hope you're not upset with me but these people won't believe it! Doesn't she look fantastic???  I hope I age as well as you my friend:) Lottie loves sharing her birthday with you! I know that you were not pleased when I took your little grandbabies out of the country but you have been nothing but a good friend and have always been a rock for me....thank you Mom. I love you so much and we will be there at your house to eat some yummy chocolate pie very soon:)

(In case I have some new reader friends....James and Elisabeth were both born on November 18th, four years apart. And Lottie was born on my Mom's birthday November 17th. Huge birthday week in the Byrd's Nest!!!)