The Birthday Girl

It's official, we now have three adult children! I'm not sure how that happened.  Time went faster than I thought it would go! I'm thankful she has a Christmas birthday and Caleb was able to be home and celebrate with us.  

We began with our traditional breakfast in bed.  The birthday girl chose sausage balls and waffles.  After breakfast we headed down stairs to open up gifts.  Boxes were filled with great things she'll need for the next chapter of her life in college.  

We goofed off most of the day playing board games doing a little shopping.  For dinner we headed to Studio Movie Grill for dinner.  Much like my easy going girl, it was a relaxed day laughing and playing together.

May our sons in their youth

    be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars

    cut for the structure of a palace

Psalm 144:12

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Happy 33rd birthday to our sweet Frankie! She woke up to her favorite breakfast or pancakes and bacon.  Next was a bed full of gifts for a very excited little girl.  She was thrilled when she opened up tickets to see Hanson! 

Hanson was her first concert when she was thirteen and we took Frankie and Alicia to see them.  She was just as excited this morning to open up those tickets! 

The Gungans met up with us for lunch to enjoy her day!  We had a great time together. We closed out her day with cake and ice cream.  

You shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.  Dueteronomy 12:7

Happy Birthday, Jon!

The kids picked the perfect way to celebrate Jon's birthday with dinner and a movie.  But not just any movie, one of the best movies ever!  It includes all the things Jon loves: baseball, a Mastiff, and James Earl Jones!  

You guessed it, we went to the 25th anniversary of the release of Sandlot. Cinemark pictures hosted an anniversary showing at Studio Movie Grill.  At the end of the movie they showed interviews with all the stars now as well as bloopers and outtakes from the original film.   

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Caleb's 21st Birthday at iFly

The boy turned twenty one today!  How crazy is that?!  If you know Caleb, he is very much Jon's son.  They both love learning in any form.  Some days that comes from reading books, touring museums, watching YouTube Videos, or trying something new. 

For his 21st birthday Caleb had several things he wanted to try.  Today he checked indoor skydiving off that list.  iFly is a local indoor skydiving facility where you can experience the sensation & the freedom of true free fall conditions. The instructor gears you up with a helmet, flight suit, and goggles.  Next they headed into the Flight Chamber which is a giant vertical wind tunnel.  The wind speed in the vertical wind tunnels can be adjusted from 80 to 185 mph, based on the abilities of an individual and to compensate for variable body drag during advanced acrobatics. 

He had a blast and the girls and I had a lot of fun watching him.  I'm pretty sure Abigail wants to check it out and Caleb definitely wants to go back! 

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”  Revelation 14:6-7

One More Birthday

It seems like we've been celebrating my birthday for a few weeks but it's not everyday that a girl turns 50! Today was my favorite celebration, the small quiet celebration with my sweet family.  

Jon and the kids prepared my birthday breakfast in bed complete with bacon, eggs and fried toast! Yum! We all piled in our bed and opened gifts and cards and by all I mean all, even Padme' made up on the bed too.  

There was still a big birthday cake from Abigail's celebration yesterday so I was happy with a cupcake topped with candles! 

A perk of having holiday birthdays it that Caleb is home to join in the celebration! 50 years of life have been pretty fantastic, I'm looking forward to the next 50 or so! 

My son, do not forget my teaching,

    but keep my commands in your heart,

2 

for they will prolong your life many years

    and bring you peace and prosperity.

Proverbs 3:1-2

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

The baby girl turned 17 today! It doesn't seem possible!  The celebration began with our tradition of breakfast in bed.  The birthday girl requested bacon and eggs on thin bagels served with chocolate milk of course! 

We goofed off around town taking advantage of birthday discounts at some of her favorite stores.  It was a good day celebrating one of my favorite people! 

Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:

    Forget your people and your father’s house.

Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;

    honor him, for he is your lord.

Psalm 45:10-11

Hawaii Five-0 Surprise Birthday Party

I'm not sure where to even start with this post.  I'm a Christmas birthday baby, that means that most of my birthday have been spent traveling for the holidays.  Not many birthday parties because either we were traveling or friends were traveling. 

This year I turn fifty, that's kind of a big deal.  Jon and the kids planned a huge surprise for my birthday.  With the help of my sweet friend Ms. Stacy they pulled off a beautiful surprise.  In the past two weeks Abigail an Jon shopped for decorations, food, balloons, flowers and party paraphernalia. 

Caleb was responsible for keeping me distracted and busy while all the shopping and preparations were going on.  Abigail orchestrated Caleb and Frankie making chicken kabobs and garlic shrimp.  The girls also made pineapples out of Ferrero Rocher chocolates.  Ms. Stacy baked a delicious pineapple island flavored cake and pineapple cookies! 

On the day of the party Gracie helped Abigail decorate at Ms. Stacy's house.  Caleb picked up helium filled balloons.  Jon, Frankie and I ran around in the morning while I thought Abigail was babysitting for Ms. Stacy's younger girls.  We ran over to Ms. Stacy's house to pick up Abigail because Caleb had dropped her off but she needed a ride home.  But SURPRISE! There was a house full of people there to surprise me! Such a fun day, surrounded by so many sweet friends! 

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

A Time to Celebrate

What an incredibly fun day!  First off it's the Lord's Day, the very best day of the week when we celebrate when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. 

Next up was Bible class where we are studying the book of Psalms and it's wonderful collection of poems, hymns, and prayers. That was followed by our Bible Bowl class.  My favorite Biblical Text & Preaching Major taught today lesson over chapters 15 & 16 of 1 Samuel.  

How could the day possibly get any better, you ask.  When it came snack time, I found out they had an unexpected surprise planned!  My Bible Bowl moms surprised me with birthday cake, confetti, noisemakers and a beautiful cake!  

We take a break from Bible Bowl at the end of the year so the the kids held an early surprise for me.  I was blown away, I had no idea what they were up too!  Such a fun, heart warming day, filled with lots of sweet hugs and lovely hand made cards! 

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  John 20:1

Dress Up and Get Candy Day

Be ware of things that go knocking in the night! Oh wait, nothing to be scared of here it's just a few of our homeschool friends celebrating Reilly's birthday. 

Frankie and Abigail went and hung out with the kids.  Frankie had a blast collecting copious amounts of candy.  The girl love her sugar and this is probably her favorite day of the year.  

After the group went trick or treating they came back to Reilly's house for games and a 10th birthday celebration! We are truly blessed with friends who continue to include Frankie in childhood fun! 

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

Happy Francis Marie Day!

This marks the twenty-third anniversary of Frankie's adoption.  It's hard to believe that time has passed so quickly. Every year we ask her where she would like to celebrate and every year she select the same place, Olive Garden! 

We had a great dinner and texted with Caleb in Greece.  The wonderful staff at the restaurant also include sweet wishes to the girl with her chocolate mousse cake. 

Between the benefit breakfast this morning and Frankie's celebration dinner we all went home fat and happy! 

 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:4-5

Happy Birthday, Friend

What a fun evening it combined some of our favorite things!  I mean who doesn't like tacos, cake, and sweet friendship?! 

We joined the Baileys in a surprise 50th birthday party for Robin.  Gracie orchestrated the entire event and did a fantastic job.  The room was filled with sweet friends from church and homeschooling. 

It was a great day to celebrate a dear friend! 

In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect,

 not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.  1 Timothy 3:11

Frankie's Birthday

In addition to it being Abigail's first day of college classes there was a much the important event today, Frankie's birthday! Little Ms. Frankie turned 32 today!  The Kirkwood birthdays usually begin with breakfast in bed, but today's schedule didn't allow for that. 

Instead, everyone got ready for our busy day and then we had pancakes and bacon in the living room where Frankie found her packages and cards.  

Abigail headed off to her first day of classes and Frankie and I ran up to the church building.  She thought we were there to babysit for the Mom's Bible Study, but I had made arrangements for a surprise including Little Mermaid cupcakes!  Frankie enjoyed everyone singing happy birthday to her and sharing her day. Plus she got to snuggle with the babies! It's a great day to be 32! 

The father said to his servants, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, 

and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, 

and let us eat and celebrate! Luke 15:22

Jon's Birthday

Tomorrow is Jon’s birthday but we celebrated today because Caleb works on Sundays.  Jon’s favorite comic book character when he was a child was Spider-man.  So of course it’s Caleb’s favorite, too.  In fact the first comic book Jon bought Caleb was Spider-man vs. The Vulture.  The newest Spider-man movie, Spider-man Homecoming features the Vulture as the bad guy.  It’s the perfect way to celebrate with Jon! 

After the movie, Caleb grilled steaks for Jon’s birthday while Jon checked the fluids on Caleb’s Jeep!  What a great Dad! 

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man

    whose quiver is full of them.

Psalm 127:3-5

Kemah Boardwalk

For Caleb's day off we headed to nearby Kemah Boardwalk. Kemah Boardwalk is a 35-acre carnival-like atmosphere with a 36-foot carousel, a 65-foot Ferris wheel and rides like the Aviator and the Boardwalk Tower. There are also plenty of arcade and Midway games. 

Kemah is just 20 miles from downtown Houston overlooking Galveston Bay.  Because we were visiting during tropical storm Cindy it was a windy day.  But it provide a nice wind coming off the bay.  The kids took on all of the rides and rode a few of them more than once. Frankie's favorite was the Hypno Spin (like the tea cups) that spins you ‘round and ‘round! 

Kemah Boardwalk has plenty of great restaurants including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Aquarium Restaurant which serves guests a great view of our 50,000 gallon aquarium brimming with marine life. 

We had a great time hanging out with the not so babies! 

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 

yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:27

Happy Mother's Day

Family traditions are important and one of our traditions are early morning celebrations. Every birthday is celebrated with breakfast in bed, singing and gifts.  All the family members work together early in the morning allowing the one member who is being celebrated to sleep in. 

This tradition holds for all birthdays, Frankie's adoption anniversary, Mother's Day and Father's Day. That's eight opportunities per year to pile onto one bed with breakfast dishes, sleepy eyes and warm smiles.  

Because Mother's Day and Father's Day always fall on the Lord's Day they tend to be an abbreviated version of our celebration.  In fact this morning I got ready for worship and then climbed back in bed when breakfast was delivered by the kids.  

Every Mother's Day the kids each make my cards which is pretty impressive to have hand drawn cards from a 16, 19 and 31 year old! Their gifts included accessories for my Instant Pot; paring knives specifically for canning; and a little bling.  They know me so well! 

Jon supervised the breakfast production of bacon and eggs!  It was a great way to start the day! 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of your mother. Proverbs 1:8

Birthday Breakfast in Bed

One of our family traditions includes a family breakfast in bed. Yesterday Abigail awoke to bacon and pancakes in bed. We all climbed in on her bed and ate while she opened her cards and gifts.  What better way to say, 'today we celebrate you,' than to begin with a favorite meal and gifts.  The birthday girl did get to sleep in a little because to have breakfast at her usual 6:30am wake up time seems a little mean.

For my birthday today, Jon made sausage and cheese balls.  It's one of my favorites from the years when we had big family events for Christmas, there were always sausage ball left over and they were my favorite breakfast item. Jon is sweet enough to make them for me even though he can't eat the cheesy, savory goodness!  Jon and I finished off the day with a delicious steak dinner for two! 

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.  Colossians 2:8

The Baby Girl Turned 16!

The youngest turned sweet sixteen today, so hard to believe!  Earlier in the month when I asked what she wanted for her birthday she said 'a party.'  It's not hard to understand that with a birthday only two days after Christmas that it is hard to plan a party.  In past years I've avoided scheduling parties because we were expecting family for the holidays or we were traveling.  With this being Sweet 16, what the birthday wanted took priority.  

We invited her church, softball and home schooled friends to hang out with us for a few hours at the mall.  One of the truly great things about my creative, independent youngest child is that she did a lot of the work.  She not only decided that she wanted a Photo Scavenger Hunt but she also made up her list of items, like: 

• Stranger getting their ears pierced
• Stranger (husband/son) bored waiting for mom who is shopping
• Stranger returning a gift
• Team  member wearing a sequined dress
• Team member in 5" high heels
• Team member hugging a book in Barnes and Noble
• Team member proposing to a mannequin
• Team riding the elevator
• Team eating food samples
• Team wearing men's ties 

Those are just a few of the fun items she came up with. To her delight most of her friends were able to make it for the big day.  It was an all girl party except for Caleb, Ryan and Roy, after all it would not be a party without her boys!  I'm thankful they were able to drive down from Ada. 

The mall was bustling and crowded with after Christmas shoppers, but the busy-ness just added to festive nature of the day.  I can't say thank you enough to the friends that made today such a sweet day for the baby! 

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

Frankie's Day

Have you checked your calendar today?  Did you notice?  Today is Francis Marie Day, it's the day we celebrate Frankie's adoption!  Twenty-Two years ago, after Frankie had been with us for three years through foster care, we were able to legally adopt Frankie. 

On that week, twenty-two years ago we were also able to attend the adoption proceedings for two of Frankie's biological siblings as well.  Each year we celebrate the unique way God assembled our family. 

Today we celebrated with a trip to the Dallas Arts District, followed by a stroll through Klyde Warren Park.  Later our girl picked her favorite spot for dinner, Olive Garden.  

The Lord watches over the sojourners;

    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,

    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Psalm 146:9

Blessed Friendships

This was a day of celebration, after all, it's not every day that a girl turns 19!  Tonight we joined Ms. Kathy and the Baileys to celebrate Hannah's birthday.  It was really warm to be able to be included, as moms, with the girls celebration. 

Of course there was cake and presents but there was also lots of laughter.  We watched the newest Jane Austen movie, Love & Friendship based on her book Lady Susan.  Which I highly recommend, it's very clever and witty! 

The girls also watched an episode of Full House with the volume muted and filled in the dialog for the characters, which was laugh out loud, side splitting comedy. It was a wonderful evening celebrating Hannah's special day.  

Hannah is one of those rare friends who is good at everything she does and so incredibly humble.  She is hard working and diligent, kind-hearted to all, and incredibly gracious, even to those who aren't so honorable to her.  It is a friendship that Gracie and Abigail are so fortunate to have! 

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  Ephesians 4:29

A Time to Celebrate

Today we celebrate the head of our family, the one who centers all of us and keeps us balanced, Jon!  This past week was exhausting fifteen hour days and we were removed from all electronics. I missed Jon terribly.  It was really odd not being able to text or call him.  It made today more sweet to be back together for his special day.  

We continued the tradition of chocolate donuts and Dr. Pepper. Caleb worked the morning shift, so we postponed celebrations until this afternoon.  When Caleb came home we headed to Studio Movie Grill to see the new Star Trek movie.  It was a good choice for a movie because in the film it was also Captain Kirk's birthday, so the entire crew of the Enterprise sang Happy Birthday.  

After the movie Caleb grilled steaks then we followed up with non-dairy ice cream sundaes and presents! Happy birthday, sweetie! 

For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. Proverbs 9:11