SWEET, SWEET SIXTEEN

Today, my youngest daughter, my 'baby', is celebrating her Sweet 16th birthday! It is so hard to believe that she is 16 and only just 2 short years away from becoming an adult. It seems like I just wrote this post about her 15th birthday. *sigh* As I've said, over and over again, I absolutely can not figure out where all the time has gone!

Later on this evening, several of Bekah's friends will be coming over for her Sweet 16th Birthday Party. Morgan, her older sister by 28 months, has been the 'party planner' for it all and I'm so excited to see how it turns out. It should be fairly simple, as far as Sweet 16 parties go, but still really nice.

BEKAH AND MORGAN
(Click to Enlarge Pictures)

Today, and the next few weeks, are going to be very exciting, very chaotic and a little bit sad - all mixed together! I have been anticipating this, and sort of grieving over it all, for quite some time now, but all of it still sort of sneaked up on me as we were meandering through the lazy days of summer. I already have one grown daughter who is married with two beautiful children of her own. In just a little over a week, my middle daughter begins college. She is very excited and is preparing to move in with my aunt, who lives in Alabama, so that she can begin her freshman year of college in just ELEVEN days! And, of course, my youngest daughter turns 16 today and will soon begin driving a car all by herself . *sniff sniff* What am I going to do with myself??

Bekah's taking silly photos of herself after a recent hair cut

I found this today and it totally fits the occasion.

American humorist Erma Bombeck made a beautiful observation about raising children:

'I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you're both breathless...they crash...they hit the rooftop...you patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they'll fly. Finally, they are airborne, they need more string and you keep letting it out. But with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy. The kite becomes more distant, and you know it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you together and will soar as it is meant to soar, free and alone. Only then do you know that your job is done.'

~ Erma Bombeck


Our Lord God Almighty has definitely blessed me with three very beautiful, intelligent and extremely amazing 'kites' and I love them very, very much! I can't wait to see what He has planned for each of their futures.

BEKAH, MORGAN and WHITNEY
My 'Kites'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REBEKAH!!!!!

We love you!

Mama Daddy and Momo