Happy Birthday Morgan

My baby girl turned 17 today! And my Josie girl turned 12. It amazes me how fast time passes...especially when it's the good things your trying to savor. Morgan has always been my "buddy". From the time she was born we went everywhere and did everything together. Our favorite lunch was Chi Chi's...she loves their salads. Yes, a three year old who's favorite lunch was salad, still is.

She has experienced alot, too much if you ask me, at the tender age of 17. Somehow she has still managed to remain excited about the future, compassionate and tender hearted. This year is turning out to be one of the toughest so far...we are in a form of endurance. Our amazing friends and family are helping make the journey a little (a lot) easier to handle. While she certainly missed having her Nana and PapPap here tonight...the Mashburns helped ease the emptiness. When our two families are together we laugh 'til our tummies hurt. We ate waaayyy too much food...all Morgan's favorites..taco lasagna and double decker banana pudding. Then we watched Open Season. Quiet but very nice...exactly what Momo needed, to be surrounded by people who love her unconditionally.

What makes Mo's birthday even more special is our Josie shares the same birth date. She turned 12 today. She got a smokey bone and, of course, a rose from the cake. It's become a tradition that Morgan always shares a rose from the cake with her. Everyday we keep her in our family is an amazing gift. When Morgan comes down in the morning Josie gets sooo excited and starts talking (Morgan is the only one she talks for this early). So Mo takes the time to sit and share some loving hugs and tries to speak her language...not sure what she's saying but Josie seems to enjoy the conversation. Our home sure will be empty without her.

As much as I'm excited for Mo to get out of high school and move on to her next adventure...I'm dreading that day. Like the words from Billy Ray Cyrus, "..get ready, get set, don't go..." . I'm very blessed to have such a great relationship with my beautiful daughter. She has always related to adults better than other kids, not that she can't be kooky and crazy like her friends, just always seemed more comfortable hanging with the big people. I remember being that way when I was young too...maybe it's from being the oldest and/or only. I can't wait to see where life leads her. She has an amazing compassion for people. When she sees people with disabilities she doesn't look away or point and whisper, Mo wants to go meet them and be their friend. This past marching season she took a gal from the track who is wheel chair bound to a friday night football game. She was sooo amazing with her. Made sure she was warm enough, comfortable and had a great time. I see that same compassion toward animals and just people in general. And she's incredibly beautiful too. Not that false eyelash, heavy make-up, fake kinda beauty...the real deal. Smiling eyes. Lovely skin. And a personality that will win your heart.

I'd better stop...I'm starting to feel like one of those Mom's who has the pictures in her wallet that reach the floor and everyone avoids because "she's gonna brag on he kids again". But I am very proud of them! And I love them both very much. Thank you God for blessing me with them...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL(S)....LOVE MOM!!!