Favorite Foto Friday

Here's the latest pic of Mom with her two girls and two
boys. She's always called us that..."my girls" and "my boys", never daughters or sons. I guess that it was too formal sounding for her. My mom (or Mama as I call her) has a very tender heart. She has been a lot like a friend or sister growing up. She was only 19 when I was born, so we sorta grew up together. She's a huge encourager and is constantly telling us that we are the smartest or the cutest. Mama has never picked favorites with us-we are all her favorite. She loves pretty things, sunrises, taking bubble baths, wearing her robe (ha!) and watching movies. She has made some huge sacrifices for us over the years and I love her.

My sister, April, I are best friends. Many of our friends have told us that what we have is pretty special. We happen to think so, too. Of course, we argue and have physically fought over the years. I'm sure she's probably told you how I threw scissors at her in anger once or that she about killed me when I was 18 by pulling my hair and kneeing me in the gut at the same time! Ha! Man! I DO NOT miss those days. Now we may not always see eye to eye, but that means we only talk on the phone 5 times instead of 10 times that day. I love my sister!

Patrick came along when I was 13. He actually had three mamas growing up. He had the curliest hair as a little boy and was super funny. Mom always dressed him in little sailor outfits and he loved hats. And Transformers, He-Man and Ninja Turtles. Now he loves his computer, working out and his girlfriend Terra.

I was 21 and going to school in Fayetteville when Derek was born. I was so sad to be far away when he was a baby. I came home on the weekends a lot and would rush right in the house and pick him up. I didn't care if he was asleep or not. Derek's friends give him a hard times about having older parents and sisters old enough to be his mom, but we don't care. That just means he has more people to love. And more people to get gifts from...ha! Derek's doing great in 10th grade and it's amazing to me that he's almost old enough to drive. YIKES!!!

I thank God for my family everyday!