20 yrs younger than me...and BIG B-days for us both!!!!

Heather...Happy birthday today!!!!! I pray you have had a blessed day today!!!!

When in the world did we both get to the age we are now???? Time flies...when you're having fun I guess....so at our ages we should be having and absolute blast!

Seriously, I'm so thankful for another year of life together...not only with you but all of us...we are learning more and more just how precious our time together is!

I can't believe the twins freshman year is almost over...they will be driving in less than a year...

BUT...I hope you and Cassie both understand that while, at times, the teen years have their challenges...it is also a sweet time and leading into adult hood and you get to actually be friends with your kiddos...you can be friends now too but you still have to boss them...but as adults it's just best if you don't boss them!!!!

So what will 2024 hold for you and your family...the sky's the limit...more maze memories...more intentional time with family...a family member in the armed forces...slowing down parents...and all of it a good thing!

Make this year a year to focus on you and Donnie...always remember to date each other...love each other well...appreciate each other...

I believe this will also be your year to be able to get plugged back in somewhere...God has plans for you and has gifted you...(from what I hear...you have the gift Maw Maw and Nanny had) and He will not waste that gift...He will give you a place and a time to use it again!!!

I love you so much! Have a great rest of the evening...and week!!!

Love~mom 

Happy birthday a few days late

Wow...another year has gone by and I know more than ever...that you truly understand what this mom means when she says the time flies to very fast!!!

As my first born...you've had the honor of experiencing most of the firsts! As a child, the first to experience my inexperience of motherhood...the first grandchild on the Griffith side and first granddaughter on mine...the first to go to Kindergarten...and dad and I blinked and the first to graduate...to marry...to have the first grandchild...so many sweet memories...

And now...this year...you get the honor of experiencing some of the hardest and yet at the same time sweetest firsts ever as a mom...that first graduation...going into adulthood...and coming out on the other side friends...this time can be difficult but it can be super sweet as well...as you stand back and watch all the hard work, tears, sweat and love you've poured into those kiddos as they begin to fly...

Sweet Cassie...you and Jesse have done such a great job of making sweet memories as a family with those kids...I'm so grateful that I see that in all 4 of you kids...Dad and I wish we had done that better...wish we had made better memories and more memories...

As you navigate this new normal...look at one of your best friends...and know that some day some old stinky girl will come into his life...you said the other day...how he gives you hugs all the time...the way a man loves his mom is how he will most likely love his bride...can I just say...you have had just a hand in making some girl out there super duper lucky!!!!

I don't say this to be sad...I say this from the other side...the side that survived one by one the birds flying...actually I'd say you all are soaring...and you will too...and you will laugh...and then you and Jesse will dance together...

I hope you have had a great birthday..felt loved and appreciated...and I pray you know how proud I am of you...and honored to call you one of my girls...but also...one of my friends...I love you!

Mom