13 year old....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet Carly!!!!!
Lots of trips this summer to the ice cream join in Alex Bay.   Your favorite is Cotton Candy or Mint Ting-a=ling.  You love it almost as much as your cousins, and you are the only person I know with a sweet tooth as big as ME. (Luke loves his candy too, but can't eat a whole "Crumbs" cupcake.  You and I?  Of course.  And then maybe another.  Guilty as charged!  

You spent a week with this cute bestie at the island, and then another week with another.   These are good friends from church, with the same values, and love of laughter.  They lift you up, and you entertain them with your craziness,  and your sense of adventure.   And you are a good friend to them with your gift of asking lots of questions about how others are doing,  your listening ear and your ability to make others feel so good about themselves.  One of my greatest desire's for you is that you know what it feels like to have very good friends. I would wish for you a bestie that makes you feel like you are sisters...a soulmate.  My childhood and high school years wouldnt have been the same without mine, who I miss everyday.  But as long as you have girls like this in your life, it will be a good one with friendship that will fill your heart and ease the pain of growing up . (both mom's AND yours!:)

Caught between a little girl who loves to play with little ones...

And a girl who is growing up and hard to buy for and loves photos of friends, new shoes, mascara (!!!), Pro-Activ,  Taylor Swift's old songs,  and laughing.   WHo loves to play with her younger cousins as much as her little sister and brother, and Bella.  Who is diligent and persistent in school work,  sports and keeping the tough standards of the church. Who is honest, kind, loving; grumpy in the mornings and sweet a minute later.   

This weekend was extra special, as we celelbrated both Carly's big birthday with MY big one that passed in August, by running in a 5K that is sponsored by Women for Women Internation. One of my fave orginazations that supports victims of war-torn countries making them into survirors who can change the world. I have sponsored a woman (27 bucks a month that brings letters from your "sister" and the knowledge that you are REALLY making a difference...) for almost a decade.  I have slacked off in my letter writing the past few years, and now regret the women I sponsor who get my money but not my heart. Like my vow to write more of the blessed life I have on here for future years, I will also keep in touch with the 2 new women that Carly and I chose.   My girl's name is "Esperance" which means "HOPE" in French.   These women could be the children I met in Belgium or France, as the Zairois were my favorite people.   How I miss them daily.  
I am grateful for the few people who contributed to this so that we could donate almost 1300 dollars.  I was, quite frankly, shocked at how many dear friends or ffamily didnt' respond and didn't donate anything. I live in an area which makes people's jaws drop at the size of the homes and the exravagance of lifestyles, here.  Wonderful, kind, non-assuming people live behind those doors and walk the streets of this quant town everyday.  But not everyone - whether they are related to you or not - wants to be generous just because YOU (I) believe in a cause. Just because the thought of visitint these women someday for a real hug makes my heart race.  Just because I have 300 friends on Facebook that I think might be interested in helping strangers in a foreign land doesnt mean they care enough to send money to somewhere to which they aren't connected.  I have learned how much harder it is than I thought to convince someone to be connected to something that isn't their "fire."  That they probably feel as I do when I ask a certain someone about energy stocks, or why the boat or car isn't working.     Do I really care??  Well, I can pretend. 


But,  when you are a momma, you are blessed to be able to pass on what you think is your FIRE to your little ones.  And maybe even their friends....




So proud to have been a part of these girls seeing how little it takes to make a big difference in the lives of women so far away, and not as blessed as we all are.   Then, we left NYC's Roosevelt Island (Didn't even know it existed!)  took a 5 minute beautiful Tram ride into mid-town Manhattan,  and went to our favorite Times Square spot ....(ok, besides the theatres that house Wicked, 
Les Miz, or Aida. )  

The best Italian food ever:   CARMINE's.....   

Giant Size portions, rich/heavy food,  entire roasted garlic cloves in the Fetticine with Clam Sauce, and the best salad in all of the city.   LOVE this place, and love these girls! Love that I get to see them grow up together and come into their own!

Times Square in the eyes of 12 and 13 year olds??/   The crowds are fun, Forever 21's loud music isn't obnoxious, Toys R' Us 's  ferris wheel is worth the wait, (Love this age!)   and the view is perfect.   They were in heaven.
And knowing I put a big smile on my 2nd daughter's birthday face?

Heaven for momma.  


Thank you for coming into our world 13 years ago, Carly Jo.  You made it a more wonderful place, and still do.  

Grateful for:

1)  memories of Carly making her "face" at 10 months old..already an entertainer

2) how Jocelyn would have to translate for her when she was 2. Spoke in perfect sentences but just way too hard to understand. 3) So glad we have hundreds of hours of video of that sweet, spazzy voice with that lisp...thanks to videoman, Billy.

4) a 13 year old on the couch today reading for pleasure(!!) and doing her homework for hours..even on her bday.

5) butterfly kisses at bedtime with her when she is feeling not-too-grownup.  A tradition I won't let die and will embarrass her in front of college roommates and maybe one last time on her wedding day...