Day Three Hundred Fifty Eight 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
from the Ranft, Myers, Kimbrough Families









My greatest blessing on this earth is my family. We had such a great time together tonight, celebrating Christmas. It came and went in the blink of an eye, same as all good times do. Merry Christmas!
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.                                    
~Burton Hillis

Day Three Hundred Forty Nine 2013

She Never Saw It Coming…….

Daughter Holly celebrates her 35th birthday tomorrow, so her dad could hardly believe she handed this opportunity to him without a thought when she suggested we eat lunch after church at El Tapatio, one of our local Mexican restaurants. The servers at El Tap, as the locals call it, are known for gathering at the table of the birthday girl or guy, placing a sombrero on her/his head, and singing, quite loudly, a birthday song in Spanish. Needless to say, her dad gleefully alerted our server that Holly is celebrating her birthday. She never saw it coming.

The really funny part is that they brought the child-sized sombrero and mistakenly plopped it down on granddaughter Shelby’s head. I quickly pointed to Holly and they moved it to her while they sang, patting it down on her head, because, clearly, it did not fit. Shelby didn’t see that coming, either, because they had come up behind her. The shocked look on her face was priceless. Holly, I think, was mortified. Of course, that didn’t stop us from laughing. [And laughing] [And taking pictures]

Holly took it in good-natured stride, but she didn’t let that little sombrero sit on her head for another second after the singing and clapping were done. Her dad will never let her live it down. And next year she’ll think twice about the date on the calendar and where she might want to have lunch. Love you, Holly! Looking forward to some more celebrating on the 16th.

Day Three Hundred Three 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE!

My baby sister, Jane [an almost-Halloween baby] celebrates her 52nd birthday today. She’s a blessing to me and everyone who knows her and I’m so glad to have her in my life, not only as my sister, but also as my friend. Happy Birthday, Jane!! Love and hugs from me to you on your day of days.

Day Two Hundred Thirty 2013

ELIJAH’S 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Grandson Elijah turned 7 years old on August 17 (Saturday). He celebrated today with his family and friends at his house.

His mom and dad help make his day really special each year with a giant water slide ~ one of the joys of having a summertime birthday.

Granddaughter Shelby, grandson Knox, grandson Elijah and daughter Holly had a blast on the slide.

A close family friend, Tammy, made Elijah’s awesome camo cake. Elijah and his dad love to hunt, so the cake was decorated with deer, turkeys and a hunter with a cross bow.

The happy birthday boy

Blowing out the candles

Elijah enjoyed his ‘Tammy cake’ and yummy ice cream and homemade punch.

We all enjoyed it! There were 20 people at Elijah’s party today.

Of course, the best part is opening all those great presents.

He received lots of cards, too, and read them all.

Elijah had a monstrously good time at his party. Happy Birthday, Little Man, who is quickly getting to be not-so-little any more. Granny loves you!!

Day Two Hundred Twenty Nine 2013

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY, ELIJAH!

Grandson Elijah turned 7 years old today. He and his dad went to a special event for children that just happened to fall on his birthday this year, so he will celebrate his birthday with a party Sunday afternoon. His grandpa and I gave him his gift yesterday~an iPad mini. As you can probably tell from this picture, he was surprised and totally thrilled with his present. He’s been wanting one for a long time. He says now he won’t have to ask to borrow his sister’s [or mine~all the games on mine are for him to play which is OK with me], and now he can Face Time his good buddy Anthony who moved to Boston several weeks ago. Happy Birthday, Elijah Man!! You are so special to me and your grandpa. You’re a blessing to us, and we are very proud that you are our grandson. We love you very much!!

August 17, 2007~first birthday~you’re growing up way too fast, Little Man.

Day One Hundred Thirty Nine 2013

40



All we know is that the time went by fast, one day at a time, and here we are, 40 years! later, grayer, fatter, with lots of wrinkles, two awesome daughters and sons in law and three lovable grandkids, but still basically the same people we were on that rainy day when we said “I do.” And we did. And we still do. If I had to do it all over again, I would. Happy 40th anniversary to my better half, who wore to church this morning the same bow tie he wore to our wedding all those days ago. He said it was the only part of his suit that still fit him. God has blessed us richly, and I’m certain will continue to do so in the days to come.

To keep the fire burning brightly there's one easy rule:  Keep the two logs together, near enough to keep each other warm and far enough apart - about a finger's breadth - for breathing room.  Good fire, good marriage, same rule. 
~Marnie Reed Crowell

Day One Hundred Thirty Six 2013

Wishing my daughter Kelly and her husband Kerry a very happy 5th wedding anniversary today! This old-timey photo was taken in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee, sometime in the summer of  2006 [I think].

This was taken yesterday. Son Knox joined the Kimbrough gang in December, 2011. They’re having fun celebrating five years together [and counting] this week in the Smoky Mountains. Wishing you all the best of everything today and always. I love you!!

Day One Hundred Thirty Two 2013

Happy Mother’s Day!

They are the best of me ~ my daughters Kelly and Holly. I’m thankful for them every single day and love them probably more than they’ll ever know.

Daughter Kelly and her son Knox

Daughter Holly and her daughter Shelby and son Elijah

Happy Mother’s Day to my daughters who are the best moms ever. And happy Mother’s Day to me, because I have the best kids and grandkids any Mama/Granny could ever ask for!

My mother, Hampton Gailbreath Mabry, passed away exactly two weeks before Mother’s Day last year. I miss her and would love to have the opportunity to wish her a happy Mother’s Day and tell her how much I love her.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are called Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, or Ma. It’s the sweetest name on earth!

Day Three Hundred Sixty 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE MABRY CLAN!

For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home. ~W.J. Ronald Tucker
Those of us who could be together this evening enjoyed all these things—fellowship, a whole lot of feasting, giving and receiving (also known as ‘Dirty Santa’), and also a whole lot of good cheer, and home, too, as my sister Ann and her husband Terry open their home to all of us at Christmas. Thanks for hosting our holiday happy time together, Ann and T! As always, it was very merry and bright. I am so thankful to be blessed to be a part of this awesome family. Love to all of you. Merry Christmas!

Day Three Hundred Seventeen 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLY!

My firstborn, Kelly, celebrates her 36th birthday today. She’s nearly one year old in this picture, feeding her baby doll a graham cracker. Now she’s the grown up mother of her own almost one year old son. I can see a lot of him in her in this picture. Happy Birthday with love and hugs, Kelly. You will always be a precious blessing in my life.

Day Three Hundred Four 2012

Happy Birthday, Jane!

My baby sister Jane celebrated her 51st birthday today. How can that be?? Seems like yesterday she was toddling around in a diaper, a bottle in one hand, a pacifier in the other hand, and another one in her mouth. She’s a blessing to me in so many ways, not only as a sister but also as a friend. Wishing you a happy birthday, Jane! I love you!!