family celebrations Archives - Page 2 of 5

March 16, 2017

Being Weston

Today my great-nephew Weston turned four years old! There will be a family gathering at a Joplin bounce house later this month, with cake and gifts. However, I chose to celebrate this little charmer today.

I started looking up family members’ names during the April birthdays last year. Weston is the last person in my family to have the meaning of his name included in a celebratory post. As a four year old, he wouldn’t be happy about being last in anything! I’m glad he’s too young to realize that he completes this series of posts.

“Weston, you follow the divine law of love. Charming and magnetic, intuitive and spiritual, you are a people person and enjoy gatherings and celebrations. You will have an eventful and exciting life. Learning new information comes easily for you and you remember what you’ve learned. You have great persistence and do not give up easily on anyone or anything.

In life you are most content when you are with your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty and want to provide for those you care about. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. To be treated fairly and in turn be fair with others is important to you. Because of your loving nature, you will find great happiness and satisfaction.”

The first truth that stood out to me, reading those words about Weston, is that love is at the center of his life. This bright eyed, curly haired boy is so loved. And he so loves others. He has wonderfully supportive and encouraging parents, my nephew Scott and his wife Nicole. And he has an adoring little sister, Lola. His grandmother is my sister Linda. He calls her Gigi and he knows she loves him to Jupiter and back and that she would do anything for him.

In fact, this boy has a large extended family around him…grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins…who cherish him and walk alongside him, committed to helping Weston learn and grow and have fun. He may not fully realize the depths of the love that surrounds him. But he thrives in that environment.

All of this love allows this handsome child to do the things that he does best: Have fun. Figure things out by trying things out. Learn. Grow. Be Weston.

Being Weston is the most important task he has. I’ve watched Weston this past year, as he moved from being a toddler to being a kid. He likes lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners and power tools and blow dryers…in short, anything that moves and makes noise while it moves. He likes to help, whether it’s in the kitchen or vacuuming the floor for Gigi or helping his papa remodel a bathroom.

Weston is very smart, articulating well his ideas and desires. He reasons things out and thinks things through. He is persistent. Just ask his parents or his Gigi. Persistence is a powerful quality to carry though life. Weston has a strong sense of responsibility and the desire to care for others. He wants to make sure everyone is treated fairly. And being four, it is extremely crucial that he feels that same fairness extended toward him.

Weston exudes charm. And he can be polite even when he is asking you to leave. When his mother told him he couldn’t vacuum at Gigi’s anymore until after I left, he immediately came to me and with a serious look in his big brown eyes, said with great sincerity, “Good bye Yaya”.

He is affectionate and loves to cuddle. He is learning and growing. He is discovering the world and how he impacts it. He is being Weston. And what an amazing Weston he is.

March 5, 2017

Happy Birthday Linda

Today is my younger sister’s birthday. Linda’s birth created the bond of sisterhood that has sustained and nurtured us, and later included our baby sister Debbie, throughout our lives. We all have our own families and our circles of friends…and yet my sisters and I have a “got your back and I’ll walk with you through it” kind of love for each other that is fierce.

I looked up my sister’s birth name, Lindel, a name she shared with my paternal grandmother.

“Lindel, you are a wonderful person, generous and loyal. You tend to over-think things and sometimes worry too much, but you are thoughtful and extremely loving. An original thinker, you are always coming up with brilliant new ideas which others don’t quite understand. Your thoughts can appear to be vague, but this is a misconception. You are usually just off on another plane of thought. You are highly intelligent and articulate, with a gift for communication. You have an intuitive nature and the arts, drama or sciences may draw your interests.

You want to enjoy life, have fun, go places and do things. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive fairness and honesty from other people. Look to your own personal growth, and live a big beautiful life, and others will be drawn to you.”

I see the truth in these words about Linda. She is wonderful, loyal and generous, with what she has and with her time. She cares about others, human kind and animal kind. And she is one of the most loving people that I know.

Just watch her with her loved ones…her large extended family and her children and grandchildren. She is a supportive and giving mom to her sons Scott and Eric, and her daughter-in-law Nicole, and a wildly fun Gigi to her grandson and three granddaughters.

I appreciate Linda’s ability to think big and come up with fresh ideas. She is a free thinker and loves a lively discussion. An encourager and an includer, my sister excels at walking alongside another, offering a listening ear or a sincere hug.

I especially love the very last sentence in the description about Linda, urging attention to personal growth.

Linda has just experienced her biggest year yet of personal growth. It is her story to share. However, I am so intensely proud of my sister. She has learned about her heart this past year, and how to focus on what she can offer. Linda found hope in pain and uncovered her own self worth, discovering that the only person she can change is herself.

From this place of strength and tenderness, Linda is exploring who she is. It will be an exciting journey for her. And one that will indeed draw others to her.

Thank you Linda, for being my cheerleader, my confidante and my fellow traveler. I am so looking forward to journeying with you to Ireland, Scotland and England this fall, and through life. Thank you for displaying hope and courage in challenging circumstances and knowing how to have fun. Thank you for sharing your heart and your love so freely.

Happiest of birthdays Linda, and many more as you live your big, beautiful life. I love you!

February 25, 2017February 25, 2017

London’s Birthday Party

The family gathered this afternoon, to celebrate London Kate Miller, who will be seven years old on Monday. London is my great niece, daughter of my nephew Eric, granddaughter of my sister Linda.

I call all the younger children in my extended family the “grands”. The kids interact a lot, and consider each other cousins and friends. Linda is Gigi, my sister Debbie is Meem, and I am Yaya to this group of sweethearts, with the exception of little Kaleb, who has always called me by my name.

I looked up London’s name:

“London, you bring to completion anything that you start. You are generous and like to see returns from your giving. You possess leadership abilities. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may choose a spiritual path through life. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You are direct in your communication style, methodical, and believe in law, system and order.

Keeping the peace is important to you, and you want those you love to live in harmony. You desire to balance your life with those around you and you may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work with. You can be very sensitive and appear a bit shy. You are developing your intuition. Compassion and empathy enable you to nurture others well.

Such powerful words, for a seven year old. And yet I see London already exhibiting many of those characteristics. She is generous, with strong leadership abilities, honest and direct, with a sense of justice, law and order.

London is a peacemaker. The eldest of Linda’s grandchildren, she desires harmony among the cousins and helps with one while entertaining another. Watching her, I see how much London already values peace and love within her family.

This loving child knows how to have fun, too, and that’s what today was about. London kicked off the party by opening presents, expressing gratitude for her gifts, allowing her younger cousins to help open a couple of them.

Happy birthday was sung…with the large group present, it took a couple of attempts to get us singing in harmony…and London’s cute birthday cake served up. I passed on cake and ice cream, and enjoyed instead the closeness of family, the joy and laughter, as I chatted my way around the room.

It was a fun afternoon, celebrating this precious girl. No matter what paths she chooses, as she journeys through life, I look forward to watching her continue to grow, in body, in spirit, in wisdom, grace and beauty. I choose to walk beside her, encouraging her along with her parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, sister, brother and cousins, as London offers her compassion, peace and harmony to the world.

Happy birthday, London. I love you!

February 5, 2017February 5, 2017

Happy Birthday Josh

Today is the birthday of my son-in-law Josh. Married to my older daughter, Elissa, Josh officially joined our family a couple of years ago, when these two first borns said I do during their November wedding. However, I’ve known Josh his entire life. I was thrilled by Elissa’s and Josh’s union, and also by the journey of the Adams and the Moores, beyond friendship to family.

Celebrating my son-in-law, I am happy for the opportunity to look up his name. I began this practice as part of the birthday blog posts last April, missing the family members born in January, February and March.

“Joshua, you are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You have leadership characteristics, especially when you feel passionately about a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, or may leave details to others. You do well in positions of authority, and prosper when you take charge. You are dependable, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You look for opportunities to achieve financial and emotional security for yourself and others. You are a peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire balance in your life and with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work with. You can be sensitive and may appear a bit reserved to those who don’t know you well. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. Contentment is yours as you accept who you are and live in harmonious relationships with others.”

I recognize and appreciate these characteristics about Josh. He has an amazing heart, full of patience, kindness and love for others. He is a wonderful husband to Elissa, and a fun and attentive dad to Jonathan and Dayan. Family is important to him, and his quiet wisdom and strength are vital.

In this past year, he has stepped into a leadership role, and an entrepreneurial one, starting his own pest control company. He is diligent, and methodical, about building his business and offering exceptional customer service.

Josh is most definitely a peacemaker. He listens. He offers sincere and heartfelt advice after considering options. I believe Josh does desire harmony with others and seeks benevolent ways to accomplish that in all of his relationships…with his wife and family, with friends, and with clients. Josh is the kind of person whose presence brings peace and the sense that all is well.

His steady and consistent nature includes a delightful sense of humor. Josh knows how to have fun and laughs easily. I love watching my children and grandchildren interact. Josh is typically there in the midst of them, joking or striking a humorous pose.

Thank you, Josh, for all that you contribute to our family…for showing such love and devotion to Elissa, Jonathan and Dayan…for giving so selflessly from your heart. Thank you for joining in wholeheartedly at family gatherings and getting your license so you could officiate at Adriel and Nate’s wedding and being a peacemaker. Thank you for listening and sharing and going above and beyond in carrying out your responsibilities to your family. Thank you for making us laugh.

I am grateful for you, who you are and who you are becoming. Happy birthday, Josh! I love you.

November 5, 2016

Happy Birthday Scott

Today my nephew Scott turned 34 years old. Older son of my sister, Linda, Scott’s birth made me an aunt for the first time. I’ve watched that baby boy grow into a fine young man, with a wife and children of his own.

Following the tradition for this year, I looked up Scott’s name:

“Scott, you are spiritually aware and you can wound or charm. You welcome love and new beginnings into your life. In business, you are a promoter of original ideas and can enjoy financial success, especially when you listen to your creative side. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You seek freedom to be who you are, and look for opportunities to enjoy life. You have an adventurous nature and you are often willing to take risks to achieve your objectives. New ways of doing things and new experiences appeal to you and soothe your restless nature. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. Personal growth is vital to you, and it is difficult to be tied down by too many rules and obligations.

There is depth of character in my nephew, and definite charm in that gorgeous smile. He is laid back and easy to get along with. That casual air conceals at first a mind that thinks deeply and a bent toward creativity. I love listening to Scott share about his desire to write and tell stories. I hope to encourage him to pursue that dream of writing and to find his unique voice. Scott has gifts to share with the world. We need what only he can offer.

Scott and his wife Nicole have a strong and loving relationship, and a mutual respect for each other born out of honesty. They have been blessed with two adorable children, Weston and Lola. Scott is an active dad, sharing in the day to day responsibilities of caring for them. His devotion to his family is so evident and one of his greatest strengths.

I happened to be in Oklahoma tonight and I got to see Scott on his birthday. Nicole and the kids put up banners and decorations and Nicole baked him a strawberry triangular cake. Why? Because he had never had one before.

We sang happy birthday and cheered as Scott blew out candles, much to the delight of his toddler daughter, who shares November as a birthday month. While I didn’t eat cake, I was glad to have the opportunity to celebrate this wonderful man on his special day.

Happy birthday, Scott! Keep enjoying life. I love you!

November 1, 2016

Tim Burton Halloween Party Part II

I shared images yesterday of our family’s annual Halloween party, created and hosted by sister Debbie, niece Ashley and her husband Jon. They set the stage dramatically, using Tim Burton movies as the theme for this year’s party. And then the guests arrived, dressed as characters from Burton’s films.

Meet those who came to Halloween House!

I thought it would be fun to showcase the attendees, and include pics of the characters they dressed up as also.

Aubrey as Kim Boggs, from Edward Scissorhands.

Dee as Edward Scissorhands, from Edward Scissorhands.

Dee and Allison, who portrayed a female version of Beetlejuice, from the film Beetlejuice.

Ethan as Beetlejuice and Debbie as Juno, from Beetlejuice.

Jon and Ashley as Jack and Sally, from Nightmare Before Christmas.

Ashley’s friends, Josh and Lisa, made her fall to the floor laughing when they showed up as Sally also!

Scott as Abe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, from Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.

Justin and Jeffrey as Penguin and Batman, from Batman.

Laura and Drew, as Poison Ivy and Two Face, from Batman.

Linda and Weston as Mrs. Gloop and Augustus, from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

Nicole and Lola, as Oompa Loompa, from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Dayan as the male version of Alice (Alic), Josh as the March Hare, Elissa as a female version of the Mad Hatter, and Mom as the Queen of Hearts, all from Alice in Wonderland/Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Christel and Bryan as the Queen’s guards, from Alice in Wonderland.

Adam and Zoey as Wonderland Hares and Mason as a baby Jabberwocky, with Christel and Bryan, all from Alice in Wonderland.

Wonderland had the most representation!

Greg as the Mayor from Sweeney Todd.

Me as Mrs. Lovett, from Sweeney Todd.

London as Audrey Hepburn. While not a character from a Tim Burton movie, I did find a Burton drawing of this classy lady.

Kaleb as TDM, a young YouTuber with a huge following.

Roy as the Miller Man “super hero”!

And Jake, Samantha and baby Abbie, who fell asleep!

What a fun evening! There was a buffet and Ashley made sure there were vegan options and fresh veggies. I appreciated her thoughtfulness. A fire was lit in the firepit in “Sleepy Hollow” and photo opportunities abounded.

Here are a few more pics of people enjoying a great party:

The wigs came off! Aubrey thought they looked like lunch helpers from school.

Annual sibling photo – Bryan, Debbie, me, Linda

Golden Tickets redeemed for prizes.

I am already looking forward to next year’s Halloween Party!

October 31, 2016

Happy Birthday Aubrey

Today is Halloween…a big, festive holiday in the US, and in my family…and it is also the birthday of my youngest grandchild and only granddaughter. Aubrey arrived eight years ago today, and my son, her daddy, couldn’t have been more delighted that his daughter was a Halloween baby.

I looked up Aubrey’s name:

“Aubrey, you are a powerful person, with a strong connection to the spiritual world. You are intelligent, curious, bold, independent and interested in many things. You are very creative and like to have several projects going at once. You know what you know, even though you can’t always explain how you know, giving you confidence and an air of mystery. You have psychic abilities that help you see the world in fresh ways.

You desire to inspire and lead others. You are giving, courageous, action oriented, energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents. There are many paths through life that appeal to you. Whatever path you choose, others will follow.

Those are powerful words for a child who has yet to fully realize their truth. However, true they are. I recognize these characteristics of Aubrey’s, whose name literally means “ruler of the elves”. With my love of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I have been enchanted by this elf princess since her birth.

Aubrey does have a strong connection to the spiritual realm and she is, indeed, intuitive. Rather than being fearful, or trying to hide that side of her, as I did, she fully embraces who she is. To Aubrey, to know things beyond her five senses and act on them is natural. I continue to learn from Aubrey’s journey and the once fearful little girl who dwells within me has received much healing.

This bright, energetic girl has shifted considerably in the last year. Always a great observer of people and life, she shares thought provoking insights. Our conversations have deepened while branching out at the same time. She expresses her creativity through drawing, coloring and story-telling. Just recently, she declared an interest in cooking and being a chef.

Aubrey loves her big blended family and her extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Aubrey considers her second cousin London to be her sister/BFF. My sister Linda and I get these girls together as often as possible. The girls still love to play, and also chat, dance and go for walks.

This inquisitive girl is in second grade this year. She does well in school, and received a SOAR award at the first assembly of the year along with a Talon award which was given to Aubrey by her classmates. She’s a friendly, outgoing child who watches out for other kids and converses easily with adults.

Aubrey and I continue to share many interests. We love a good movie. A well done animated film can still entertain her, but Aubrey leans more toward live action films now. I enjoy watching movies with Aubrey, whose intuition and perceptions allow her to pick up deeper messages within the story, creating meaningful discussions after the credits roll. She became a Doctor Who fan during the last year and our conversations are peppered with fun Doctor Who references.

She loves Scotland and wants to visit someday. She climbs trees and yet also likes wearing dresses. She prefers to wear her hair long and free and desires for her heart to be just as free to pursue her many interests. Bold and often unconventional, funny and wise, Aubrey has strong leadership abilities that she’s only just becoming aware of.

Whatever path she chooses, whether a single path that she focuses all of her attention on, or multiple paths that allow her to explore her full range of creativity, I will be walking alongside, cheering her on, letting her set the pace and direction.

Happy birthday Aubrey! Keep shining bright. I love you!

Sporting a birthday mustache.

October 21, 2016

Happy Birthday Ashley

Today is the birthday of my niece Ashley, daughter of my sister Debbie. This beautiful young woman lives in Oklahoma, sharing a spacious home with her doting husband, Jon, her two sons, Ethan and Kaleb, and her mom. My sister has her own suite on the top floor of the house. She and Ashley are more than mother and daughter. They are best friends and co-creators of amazing parties and projects.

It’s not a surprise that the only recent photo that I have of Ashley and her family is a Halloween pic.

I looked up Ashley’s name:

“Ashley, you are powerful, creative and fulfilled in life. You are intelligent and require multiple outlets for your creative energies. You are more a planner, rather than a builder, and you want others to carry out your detailed plans. You are bold, independent, and curious about many things. You know what you want and how to make it happen.

You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom which could be best expressed through spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic endeavors or research. Operating out of your intuition can bring you great insights. You are always looking for opportunities to investigate the unknown, to use your mental abilities, to create, to find the purpose and meaning of your life. You want to understand the mysteries of the world. Although you enjoy people and activities, you require solitude to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking that is intuitive, reflective, and absorbing.

Those words are an accurate portrayal of my bright and creative niece. Although she is one of the most creative people that I know, Ashley is also curious, following her inquisitiveness down unknown paths, to see where they lead. She is extremely intuitive, passing that gift on to her two sons.

Ashley is clever, intelligent, and compassionate, opening her home to a multitude of animals that includes dogs, cats, birds, rats and guinea pigs. Many of these pets were rescue animals, in need of a loving forever home.

This past summer Ashley’s wonderful husband surprised her with a trip to Scotland for their anniversary. Like me, she had long dreamed of visiting the country of our ancestors. Jon made that dream a reality. I loved following their journey as they posted pics each day. Next year, I will have the pleasure of returning to Scotland, and seeing England and Ireland for the first time, with Ashley, my two sisters and our mother.

Beyond being a fun mom and devoted wife, the area that allows Ashley to shine the most is her creativity. This girl is the ultimate party planner. She has hosted baby showers, dinners and birthday parties that astound and delight due to her exquisite attention to details.

Her yearly Halloween parties are extraordinary. Ashley and her mom pick a theme and literally transform their house and yard to bring that theme to life. Last year her house became a haunted hotel, with details such as a derelict elevator, a skeleton manning the front desk, and a false wall with framed cut outs that allowed party goers to become part of a haunted gallery.

Ashley hosts these amazing events because she enjoys doing so. It is one of the ways that she can not only create, but share her creativity with others. The Halloween Party becomes bigger every year, and as stories about the event goes out, more and more people want to experience it for themselves. Ashley could easily charge admission for entry into her themed party. That’s how remarkable it is.
I wished my niece happy birthday on Facebook and told her to have a fun day. However, one week and a day before the big party, I know what she is doing today and all weekend. She and her husband and my sister are all pouring their time and energy toward completing this huge undertaking. The theme this year is Tim Burton Movies. Movie vignettes and props are being created all over the house and yard. Guests are required to arrive dressed as a Tim Burton character. It’s going to be incredibly fun!

Happy birthday Ashley. See you next Saturday. I love you!

October 15, 2016

Adriel & Nate Get Married

The big event arrived, right on time. Tonight my daughter Adriel and her sweetheart, Nate, said “I do” before a group of loving and supportive family and friends. It was a gorgeous evening for an outdoor ceremony, at the Civil War Ranch in Carthage, MO.

Here is the special day, captured in photos:

The day began early at the venue.

Rachel and Camden creating the wedding cake and cupcakes.

These two…sisters and best friends.

Grateful my son has a clothes steamer!

Choco says, “What’s this wedding you speak of?”

It’s time!

Dayan and Oliver.

The beautiful bride and her proud daddy.

My son with his wife and family.

I love the relationship these six have, the three siblings and their spouses.

Adriel and Aubrey

Although I did not eat any, I heard that Rachel’s cakes were wonderful!

First dance as Mr & Mrs.

Daddy & daughter dance.

Nate’s grandmother sang a special song.

What a wonderful day and celebratory evening. Joy and happiness were present, along with food and drink, laughter and dancing. Two people joined their lives and their families together tonight. Two people promised to honor and love each other and grow as they journey together. A host of people silently vowed to journey alongside them, loving them as they cherish each other.

I am thrilled to gain another son and embrace his family. I am full of joy to see my daughter so happy. Congratulations Adriel and Nate. I love you both so much!

September 28, 2016

Happy Birthday Greg

This gorgeous fall day was perfect for celebrating a birthday and setting off on an adventure. Greg did both! Last year he purchased a motorcycle, after wanting to own another one for years. He took the bike on its maiden voyage last fall, making a loop through several states. This year as summer was fading away and cooler days and evenings appeared, Greg felt again the call of the open road.

Following the tradition for birthdays this year, I looked up Greg’s name:

“Greg, you are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, and you can also be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, and can be solitary and secretive. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

You seek freedom and opportunities to enjoy life. You are adventurous and willing to take risks to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences won’t satisfy your restless nature for long, therefore let one adventure lead you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. Your personal growth is vital to you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best thrive in a field of work that meets your demand for action and adventure.”

I’ve known Greg for more than 40 years, and those words describe him well. He is a philosopher, a life long learner, and introspective. He is a deep thinker, who tends to vocalize his thoughts so that he can better process them. Greg also has a good sense of humor that helps him to find the light in challenging situations.

Our kids and grandkids are blessed to have him as Dad and Papa. Greg invests in the lives of his family, both financially and with his time. Even though they are adults with their own families, he checks in frequently with the children, showing interest in what they are doing. They know, and I know, that during times of celebrations and times of sorrow, this man offers his quiet presence and strength.

I love the last paragraph about Greg’s adventurous nature. As a wild youth, he was indeed a risk taker, and a seeker of exciting new adventures. Greg and I have had long conversations about what happens as we step into adulthood. As we grow older we tend to take less risks, hesitating to set off on adventures, thinking too much about what can go wrong in life, rather than what can go right. We begin to lose who we are, trading adventures for safety.

I’ve watched Greg grow and challenge himself these last few years as he questions who he is and what he wants to do. Buying a motorcycle wasn’t so much about taking risks as it was about remembering who he is. He seeks freedom as he rides down the highway, freedom to be fully who he is, freedom to live a joy filled, adventurous life.

I’m proud of him for having the courage to reclaim a bit of that wild man who knew no fear. I’m excited for him as he searches deeply in his soul for answers to questions that only he can answer. This adventure that he set off on this morning is a way for him to discover more about who he is and what makes his heart sing.

Following his heart as it leads him down the road and into nature touches Greg’s restless spirit and brings peace. As his soul grows quiet, his awareness raises in appreciation for the beauty around him and in his life. I can’t think of a better way for this biker dude to spend his birthday, than riding off on a such a quest.

Happy birthday, Greg. Enjoy your adventure…on your bike and in life. Love you!