HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHITNEY!!

On Saturday, December 26, we will mark a big milestone. My sweet, darling Whitney will be 18--can you believe it? I know that every parent looks back and says that it seems like just yesterday that their children were born, but that is so true.
Whitney is a special child who was meant to come into our family. We received very strong impressions that it was time to start our family and once we committed, I got pregnant right away. She was due mid-January, but the day after Christmas, she decided to make her entrance a little early and very memorable. She wanted to make sure that all the extended family was able to be there for her big event. Everyone cherished her, then and now.
It is a bitter-sweet thing to watch your children grow up. I am so excited for her and all that her future holds. She has such a kind, gentle spirit and I know that she has great things in store for her. I guess it is the fear of not being able to be there for everything anymore and knowing that the time with her under our roof is limited.
Happy, Happy 18th Whitney! We love you more than words can express.

Why I knew how to call you

I have been known to get after my kids for calling me all the time while I am trying to shop and run errands because it takes me so much longer to get things done. The other day while I was out running errands, Alexa called twice for little things and Hayden called to see if he could go to a friends house. Katie called next and she said "you know why I knew to call you? because of my coat." I thought she meant that she had left her coat at school and was telling me that she would get it the next day. She was actually saying that she knew how to call me (she knew my number) because I had written it in her coat. She said "I let Hayden use it to call you to see if he could play and now I'm calling, but I won't call all the time--I won't use it a lot". She is the funniest child. We are so glad that she came to us.