52 weeks

I've dreaded this day all week long...52 weeks without you...But this morning as I started driving to another grandkid's event...everything was covered with a heavy, heavy frost...it looked like a winter wonderland. I found myself thinking about how long and hard winter can be...but it can also be so beautiful...and I though of you, pawpaw...how this past year has felt a bit like winter...but there is beauty in the sadness...

For me, the sadness comes for all the missing I feel...miss just seeing your face...seeing you laugh with that little hand clap you'd do when something tickled you! Or how you'd brag about how smart one of the grands would do something you thought was funny and smart! Sadness in 52 weeks of not seeing your smiling face greeting me at church...and getting to hug you and tell you I love you...

But then there's the beautiful side of it! You have been in the very presence of Jesus for 365 days...the thought of that gives me such wonder and joy all at the same time! I know it's okay to miss you and to talk about you and remember you but I also know it's okay to be joyful for all that you have witnessed the past 365 days...the joy you must feel...the worship you must be experiencing...the fact that all your tears have been wiped away. 

So we start year 2 now...but I'll hold on to the sweet memories you gave me over the 40 years you were in my life...and I'll smile when I remember something funny you said...and I'll praise the Lord that you are with Him...worshipping...and I find myself wondering if you get to be one of the ones who welcomes the new ones...not real sure how all that works...I think Jesus WELCOMES us...but you can greet them! No one did it better here!!! Love you paw paw so much!

 

Beks

 What can be said about a wife, mom and teacher who gives as much of herself as she can to all three...and the bonus is she loves Jesus too!!! 

I'm so very thankful to call her mine...seems like every year she gets harder and harder on herself...so just let me say a few things I see in our Bekah...

She truly does love Jesus

She loves my son!...and has walked him through so really tough days this past year

She makes beautiful babies!!!!

She cares about her kiddos characters...

She is kind

She is a teacher who really cares about her students futures and educations

I just want her to know what an amazing person she is...what a great momma she is...wife...teacher...friend...and let me just end with...she is the very BEST daughter in law I could ever have!!!

Love ya Beks...

Happy Birthday Katie!

Katie,

I find myself thinking more and more where did the years go...with each one of you kids! I was thinking just this morning...I can see you, me and your sisters walking passed J C Penny...and you saying your saying...and I could vividly remember Cassie telling you...Katie! That was cute when you were little but you are in the 3rd grade now...it's NOT cute anymore...and I think I told you it would always be cute...oh to walk back to one of those days even for just a minute!!!

I'm finding it hard to find words today...for obvious reasons...but I want to say how proud I am of the woman, wife, mama, friend, sister, aunt and daughter you are! I was so very sure when I had Michael that would be it...he would be my baby...but instead God blessed me with another one too!!!! I think our whole family would agree life would have been just a bit more boring without you in it...and it was REAL exciting with Michael AND you conniving together!!! This week has been another hard one for our family...and I apologize for my lose of words to you this year...but let me just end with this...you were the perfect exclamation mark at the end of our little family! Have the sweetest day with your fella...and know I love you so very much!!!!

Mama

...when did this happen...

 Do you remember when we were 18 and 19 and thought we had it all figured out? Or when we turned 30...and to our amazement we were still the same people we had been in our 20's...we didn't all of the sudden become "wise". Then the 40's came and the grands started coming...but we still felt like the same people...I know by the time I was in my 40's I finally was able to like myself a little...here we are...or should I say you are at 60...and still I look at you and see that crazy country boy I fell in love with!!! 

I thought you were the strongest thing I'd ever seen...and you had a hairy chest just like Starsky on Starsky and Hutch...you knew how to laugh like I'd never experienced before...I would learn later...that yes you have a great sense of humor...but more than that you have a joy from the LORD that impacts you life like crazy...you had a really cool pickup and I loved sitting next to you...I even loved riding the motorcycle with you to grandma Lambs!!! I can still see you sitting at our table in our first home...with your first birthday cake I ever made you...with one large tapered candle on it cause that's all we had...I remember the look on your face as you held each of the kids for the first time...the look on your face when you got that boy...then the look when you realized he really didn't like you that first year...but then I remember the smirk on your face as you 2 would head out to Conway knowing he was going to get gatorade and chips for breakfast...or the time Katie asked you if girls could be truckdrivers too...or the look on your face the morning you woke Cassie up for her wedding day...or the day Heather finally convinced you she WAS having twins...

So here we are...you at 60 and me close on your heels...and I see the same man...but with more joy than before...who loves our kids and grandkids like crazy and will play with the grands and then pay for that for days later...and who makes me feel...safe...protected...cherished and loved...

I pray today is as special as you are...I love you so very much...

~beth

Michael

 Another year has blown by. I can't believe how fast time is going. I can look back and see how fast it really was with you when you were small...but that doesn't even compare to how fast it is going with the grands!!! 

I just want to say thanks today! Thanks for being the funny kid you were and for passing on that to your kids!!! Thanks for letting dad be your hero in those young years...and passing that on to your kids!!! For loving the outdoors back in the day...and passing that on...for teasing people...and passing that on...for loving Jesus...and teaching that to your kids...for loving Bekah...and teaching the kids that...for teaching them about a honey...thanks for forgiveness...and teaching the kids that...I love when one will apologize and the other says...I forgive you...

In some ways everything I see in you I'm not surprise...I always knew you'd be a great husband, dad and provider...I'm not sure I thought you'd really drive a truck but wouldn't have guessed a banker!!!! Boy that made my dad proud!!!! However, there is not one person I come in contact with that finds out you are mine and work were you do...that doesn't tell me how much that think of you and appreciate you and what you do to help them out!!!

I look at this world of chaos and see you living your best life...providing for your family...spiritually, financially and through...livestock...gardens...land...and love!

I'm honored to call you my son...I love you and prayed you have an amazing day!!!

~Mom

Mother's Day and my girls

The day is coming to an end and I have got to take a minute and brag on my girls...all 4 of them are rocking it as moms!!! In a world were all kinds of things are pulling at you as a person...at families...you guys are doing it well...holding tight to your families, loving your men well...and pouring into the kids of our community!!! 

They are all in different places in life...I've seen them each be in stressful situations...cry a few tears and come out the other side still standing...

From dealing with people saying dumb things to them...like...boy you have YOUR hands full...(I heard that one too)...oh there was the this one...are they identical...(a boy and a girl?????? is that possible...maybe in this)...boy they are really close together aren't they...bless her heart...finally a girl!!!!...are you ready for him to start drivinag...really...another one going into high school....do you think they will be okay in different classes????funny...they are just so funny...

Cassie, you survived the...boy you have your hands full...and no you face the years going way way to fast...and you will survive them as well...almost 20 years with your high school sweetheart...4 amazing young people you have the honor of calling yours...rocking being a teacher...love you so much and so honored to call you mine!!!!

Heather...still holding hands with your guy almost 14 years later while you survived feeding two at the same time for a good 6 months...potty training X2, one that acts like you...and a little like their dad...blueberry pickin...makingmazememories...and now you look forward to almost high school...ballet and bees...while you fall in love with a new aspect of teaching...honored you are mine!!!! I love you!!!!

Bekah...making my boy smile like nothing or no one else has and now you are surviving and rockin...the days of boy you have your hands full...and one day you will look back and say where did those years go...t-ball craziness...art projects...baby dolls and worms...all the while teaching and loving on your students...thankful you let me call you mind as well!!! I love you!!!

Katie...is it almost 11 years for you and your guy??? Two babies...back to back...funny kids...getting ready for kindergarten...one plays ball the other talks bass...one is all girl and the other for sure all boy...and yet again...rocking loving on high school kids the entire time...honored once more that you are mine...love you!!!

One last thing...to brag on them all...I know this world is scary and getting more so by the day...I know teachers get a bad rap...but don't bundle them all up together in one big package...because I can tell you from personal experience...there are teachers out there like my girls...who pray all summer for the students they will be getting...who pray for those students throughout the year...who, at times, shed some tears over those students...who shed tears over the "face" of education...hoping and wishing they will make a difference...and I know they are not alone...

Girls I love you all so much and I'm so thankful for you...and that my grands get to call you their mamas...I hope you have been loved on well today!!!!

Love,

the real deal...mom

The year God showed off His sense of humor!!!!!

 Well happy birthday Heather Michelle! When I started to think about this past year for you...I just found myself giggling over it!!!!

You have said I will NEVER go back to school...and yet here you are rocking it like a champ...even...dare I say...enjoying what you are learning for the most part...(mind you I didn't say enjoying going back...just the learning part)...

All of you kids have been good students in the past...let me just say that first...but I've said a million times...you are the one that will just not get an ulcer over your grades...so when you called me to tell me that you got all A's last semester and was so very exited about it,  I was so excited for you...!!!!! 

And here you are, teaching, wife-ing, mom-ing and doing school to boot! Starting a new job you seem to love...I see a fire in your eyes and a new fresh desire to make a difference and help your students and I love that! I know change isn't a favorite thing for any of Scott Griffith's kiddos...but you are rocking the school move, the new job and trusting the twins to Jesus as they had a big change beside you!

I pray you feel loved and blessed today! Know I'm so thankful for number 2, dark haired girl!!!!

See ya tonight~

love...mom