Happy Birthday, Jay!

Well, I'm running really far behind this morning . . . headed out to the Great American Scrapbook Convention with Milli - to see if I can find another way to spend some of Dave's hard-earned money.

Meanwhile, it's Jay's birthday & I wanted to take just a minute to remind everyone and to post this layout I did for him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAYBIRD!  Hope you have an absolutely fantastic day . . .

Click to enlarge. (All elements from "Celebrate" by Elise Hansen at The Digichick)

If You Don't Believe Me . . .

When I was a kid, it seems like the last day of school was nearly always May 27th. I don't remember that as much for the fact that summer was starting as I do because it was Joe's birthday.  It was always a day of celebration, and it's still hard for me to realize sometimes that kids nowadays go to school all the way into June!  A lot of years have passed since I could even remotely be considered a kid, and I have a tendency to forget a lot of things these days.  But I guess May 27th is forever etched on my memory, because I actually remembered a birthday on time for a change!

It's a shame that we can't all be together to celebrate the occasion like we did in the old days - but there's a new generation of Muterspaugh kiddos running around the Wichita Falls area these days who IDOLIZE their DooDad, and I know that he will be treated with the appropriate amount of hoopla.  I was lucky enough to be in town last year for his birthday cookout, and I don't have the words to tell you how heart-warming it was to witness Joe surrounded by his amazingly wonderful family.

I have to admit that there have been times over the years when I could never have envisioned Joe as he is today - most notably, when we lived on Polk & he hung around with Jackie Cameron.  Now, except for Joe and (perhaps) his grandmother, nobody really cared much for Jackie.  In his defense, he had a really crappy home life, but that didn't change the fact that you couldn't believe a single word that came out of his mouth.  Well sure enough, Joe picked up the habit & started coming home with all sorts of wild tales - some were true, of course, but it was difficult to believe him a lot of the time.  If challenged on the "facts", his response was invariably "Well, if you don't believe me, just ask Jackie."  (And of course, we always jumped right on that!)

But time has a way of changing us all, and that was many long years ago.  Who'da  thunk way back then when he was telling us all about quackless ducks (actually true) and other implausible stories, that one day Joe would become the quintessential family patriarch?  Certainly not I, but that's exactly what he is . . . and I guarantee I'm not alone in that opinion.  Heck, if you don't believe me, you could always just ask Jackie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE!!  In honor of your big day, I did a layout about another one of your "eccentricities" when you were a kid.  I love you sooooo much and hope you're having a FANTASTIC birthday . . . xoxoxo

Click to enlarge.  (for credits, please see my Flickr gallery - link in sidebar)

I Believe in Miracles

I pretty much always have, but any doubts that might have lingered have been dispelled by a little guy named Marek Thompson Crane.

When Marek was born last April 28th, he was 3 months premature and weighed only slightly over one-and-a-half pounds. The obstacles he faced just to survive were astronomical, but fortunately he had exceptional medical care - and more people praying for him than you can imagine.

From day one, he was a fighter. Despite so many medical issues and the odds against his making it, Marek was able to come home from the hospital at the beginning of July.  I was lucky enough to be there when he was released and to spend a couple of weeks helping Stephen and Mel feed him and do his exercises and suck the gi-normous boogers out of his nose . . . and generally just being in awe of the miracles God can work.

Today, you'd never know by looking at him that Marek had such a rough start in life.  He is a healthy, happy, and QUITE active little dude - and on April 28th, he and his folks went to Irvine to celebrate his birthday at Papa John & Boujie's house.  Boujie (aka Jann) made him his own little cake, and his response was just as normal as could be . . . he was a little unsure at first, but it didn't take him long to figure out that this was something quite yummy!

I know that despite all the horrible things going on in the world, there are plenty of places to look every day and know that God hasn't yet given up on us.  He's still watching over us and doing His darndest to keep us headed in the right direction.  But if ever I find myself wavering in my belief that He still performs miracles, all I have to do is think about Marek.

(for credits, please see my Flickr gallery - link in sidebar)

Where Am I & What Do I Need?

I first uttered those words many years ago when we were playing a game at John & Liz's and I found myself without any idea whatsoever as to what I was supposed to do next. Over time, it's morphed into a pretty common phrase at my house, as I seem to be increasingly less capable of keeping myself on track. But I apparently don't ask the question often enough, because I really dropped the ball yesterday . . .

I'm pretty sure I knew where I was all day since I didn't leave the house, but I obviously didn't remember something I needed to DO.

I missed a birthday - a very IMPORTANT birthday! We are talking a SERIOUSLY important birthday . . . and I hope you'll forgive me, John!! To help make up for it, I'm posting this cute little picture of you when you were a mere lad.  All it had on the back when I borrowed it from Jeane was "Johnny Boy," so I can't tell you exactly when it was taken (I'm guessing age 6). I'll just bet you can remember every single detail about when & why it was taken, and I'm hoping that when I get to be 82 maybe my memory will have improved enough to do fancy tricks like that :-)

Meanwhile, it seems that "no longer able to boil eggs" has a new companion. I just may have to start a list so I can keep track of all the things I can't do any more . . . yeah, that's what I'll do - I'll start a list. Now, if only I can remember to do that.

Oh yeah - I almost forgot . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!

A Very Happy Birthday to a Very Special Person . . .

At the risk of being boastful (which I dislike intensely), I'm compelled today to jump right out there and scream to the world that I have the BEST daughter-in-law in the entire world!!  All you other mothers-in-law should envy me, because I couldn't have written the specs for a better DIL than Lara.  It's actually uncanny how well we get along, and we have a hard time convincing some people that we aren't really mother and daughter because we enjoy one another's company so much.

So, to the matter at hand - today is this remarkable lady's birthday . . . and although I never sing "Happy Birthday" (especially to the ones I love & don't want to kill with my markedly UN-dulcet tones),  I think it's safe to do it like this without causing any major damage.

(In C Major - notes in parentheses)
Hap-py: (G,G) 
Birth-day: (A,G)   
to: (C)   
you: (B)
Hap-py: (G,G)

Birth-day: (A,G)   
to: (D)   
you: (C)

Hap-py: (G,G) 
Birth-day: (G 1 octave higher, F)

Dear: (E)    
La-ra: (E,D)

Hap-py: (F,F) 
Birth-day: (E,C)    
to: (D)    
you: (C)