Posted in Family on 14. Sep, 2011
My second-born child is 28 years old today. I seriously can’t believe it. Where did the years go? Seriously. I mean, seriously. This can’t be.
My 98 year-old grandmother (Momo) has always called her “Dessie May”. So to honor Momo, I’m calling her Dessie May today. Dessie May is an incredible daughter, mother, wife and sister. She is a giver and a lover. When she knows God is saying something and giving vision, she goes after it with 150% of her being. She keeps my world balanced, and I love her so much.
This is one of my favorite pictures of her. Her face can say a thousand words. She makes me laugh!
And here is her sweet family at a Fourth of July picnic this summer hosted by the American Embassy in Brussels.
I just can’t end this post without showing you this pic, though. Dessie May and her sister, Courtney, are only 23 months apart. I just want to kiss those cheeks!
Happy Birthday, sweetie! Your mother is so proud of you!
Posted in Family on 24. Oct, 2010
Courtney Praise Benjamin Watkins…..
Today is her 29th birthday!
She is my oldest daughter. The oldest of my five children. Her heart of compassion and for the deeper things of God continually inspire me.
To celebrate this wonderful day in the life of our family, I want to share a few things that everyone might not know about her.
But for those of you who don’t know her, I’ll start out with the basics:
1. Her worth is FAR above pearls and rubies. (Prov. 31:10)
2. She broke both of her wrists at the age of 11 while rollerblading. One cast was pink. The other cast was purple.
3. When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely with loving instruction. (Prov. 31:26)
4. Acting is one of her passions. In high school she played the leading role in Pollyanna, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music, and Kindertransport.
5. Most of the time she has to buy her shoes in the children’s shoe section, because her feet are so small.
6. She took ballet lessons for eight years and is an amazing dancer.
7. Her children make her happy. (v.28)
8. Her husband praises her. (v.28)
9. They all say, “Many women have done great things, but you surpass them all!” (v.29)
10. She was a VERY colicky, fussy baby. (bringing it back down to earth here…)
11. When riding in her car seat as a baby she would cry loudly if the sun got in her eyes.
12. She loves animals but doesn’t want to have another thing to take care of. Why?
13. Because she has FOUR children! (Ashlyn-7, Madysen-6, Kadyn-4, and Judah-2)
14. She absolutely LOVES sports…especially football and is very athletic.
15. Adventures and new experiences jazz her.
16. Her children seriously adore her.
17. When she is pregnant, her laugh becomes a snort.
18. The heart of her husband, Nathan, safely trusts her. (v.11)
19. She knows WAY more than I do about the book of Revelation.
20. She could have been an olympic diver. (That might be stretching it, but she’s a great diver!) (more…)
Posted in Family on 16. Sep, 2010
I guess no matter how old they get, I’ll still be amazed at the age of my children. I remember when Destiny turned eight years old, and then six weeks later Courtney turned ten. I was truly amazed that my kids were getting so old. They look REALLY old here, huh?! All three of us look so sophisticated and beautiful.
Well, two days ago Destiny turned twenty-seven. My second-born baby is 27 years old?! It can’t be! Just yesterday she was hopping backward down the hallway with the end of the roll of toilet paper in her hand. Just yesterday she was sitting at the dinner table for two hours with a mouthful of vegetables that she refused to eat. Just yesterday she was telling everyone on the stage what to do during her ballet recital. Just yesterday she was telling me that she had committed her entire life and future to a God who loved her with a Love that she would never fully comprehend.
Yes. Des is twenty-seven years old and pouring her life out for this generation here in Brussels, Belgium. I love her more than I could begin to express. She’s the exclamation point in my life.
Also in case you haven’t heard, she is carrying our 8th grandchild! I went with her and Jon to her first doctor appointment which happened to be on her birthday. I had never had the privilege of seeing a sonogram of a twelve-week baby before, and I have to tell you, I was fascinated. I’ve seen quite a few sonograms in my life, but this one was pretty special. At twelve weeks the baby is only 2-3 inches long, so its image fits entirely on the screen. The baby was kicking and moving his/her little arms around. At one point he put his hand to his mouth then all of the sudden flipped over! It was the coolest thing to see! I immediately bonded with that little bundle of preciousness and can’t wait till she is here! (You notice I used “he” AND “she”, cause I don’t have a clue.)
Just think. This baby is at the prime age for abortions. In Europe 50% of all pregnancies end in abortion. This hit me hard while I was watching this baby in that examining room. (more…)
Posted in Family on 08. Sep, 2010
Shana tovah! For a sweet new year!
Tonight is the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets and the Biblical new year. It is the fifth of Seven Feasts recorded and defined in the Bible as “The Feasts of the Lord”. Our family is celebrating with extra sweet challah formed in a round loaf and dipping apple slices into honey as our pre-meal fun! I have found that the grandkids love the holidays. They don’t necessarily remember from year to year what it all means, but they definitely remember the food we eat. This morning Ashlyn (7 yrs old) started jumping up and down when I mentioned round challah along with apples and honey. “Oh, I remember! I remember! I LOVE apples and honey!”
We try to make every holiday something that the kids will enjoy and remember. If the kids remember, then it makes it more fun for the parental units as well. The Feasts of the Lord are meant to be enjoyed, and they are precious family times!
The blowing of the shofar comes from Leviticus 23:24.
“Tell the people of Israel, ‘In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar.’”
(more…)
