My sweet Erin turns 11 years old today!
No one on this planet makes me smile more than her.
She is unlike any other child I have ever known.
Her heart is filled with such a pure spirit,
but it has seen so much ugliness in the past couple of years.
School for one thing has been a challenge for her.
As you all know, kids in general can be cruel.
She isn't very athletic and is shunned for it.
She has a less-than perfect smile and is teased because of it.
She has a mind of her own and because she doesn't
"follow the pack" is ostracized because of it.
I have wiped away so many tears from her
and have cried twice as many for her.
I wish for her, a year of happiness and a growing confidence in herself.
I also wish that she realize that she is not the sum
of what other children think of her.
She is my angel, full of sweetness and light.
Happy Birthday Erin!
This weekend we also quietly celebrated the 50th anniversary
of the birth of my of my husband.
He doesn't like the sound of 50.
So I bring it up as much as possible. lol
He just wanted to spend it with our little family.
We made him cards and gave him many gifts.
I tried to buy him 50 gifts,
but ran out of ideas around gift #27.
I printed out photos of him
over various years and added his age to the photo,
cut them out and taped them to each gift:
It is true that cute little boys grow up to be cute big boys ;)
I also got my craft on...
I bought a jar and filled it with 50 Hershey kisses
added some American Craft Thickers and ribbon
and typed out 50 reasons why I love you
and stuck them in each kiss.
They ranged from the bittersweet:
"...you are not sad that you don't have a son."
to the tragic
"...you love me even though I am not a size 0."
to the romantic
"...you kiss me goodbye every morning while I sleep."
to the above and beyond
"...you clean up vomit when the girls are sick."
to the truth:
He loved it and said it was his favorite gift.
Gotta love a man who likes a homemade gift!
Stop back tomorrow for the page I made for the June gallery
over at Write.Click.Scrapbook!
It's gonna be a great month :)
-Jody
What an awesome gift, Jody. Your daughter is so sweet :) And I love all your reasons - you crack me up :)
ReplyDeleteJody, you are an inspiration in so many ways. I have a daughter just like yours. She walks to the beat of her own drummer... and sometimes pays the price for it. I often say, though, that I don't know what made me laugh before she was born. Kudos to hubby for appreciating your gift. I love it. Karen Buck
ReplyDeletehappy happy birthday to your sweet girl! I had a "less than perfect smile" when I was a kid also. My parents couldnt afford braces, and people made fun of me. But I turned out ok. Erin will too. because she has a strong, caring, supportive mommy!
ReplyDeleteand happy birthday to your hottie hubby too!!! I love the idea of 50 gifts. and I could totally never pull it off. lol. I think I may have to life that hershey kiss idea though!!
Aw!! Those are some great reasons. ;p Happy birthday to your hubby and to Erin!
ReplyDeleteLove that last photo.
It brings tears to my eyes to hear how cruel kids can be. Wishing Erin a VERY HAPPY birthday and a wonderful year!!! I can tell by your layouts what a sweet and amazing child she is!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your husband too! (= LOVE your thoughtful gift!! Enjoy your day! (=
her sure does...looking hot at 49 ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Erin and Hubby xxx
That made me cry thinking about all the love that went into that gift for your husband. You are awesome! How special.
ReplyDeleteI was also crying thinking about your sweet Erin. My Avery very much has a mind of her own and is unbelievably special. She starts kindergarten in the fall and I am terrified that her teacher and the other kids won't see what I see and she will have a hard time. Oh, the things I worry about.
Praying for an incredible year for your girl.
I love your talent. The gifts are terrific!
ReplyDeleteAnd a gift for your daughter: there's a new book out about how kids who don't quite fit in (which would include me as a child) end up doing pretty well as adults. It doesn't make the now easier, but it does give a little hope.
Your daughter is so lovely.
Gosh Jody you get me every time - I think your posts have reduce me to tears more times than I care to mention. I love love love your gift to your hubby (the thought that went into that is priceless sweetheart) and your sentiments behind your daughter's birthday wishes ..... it breaks our hearts when our kids are seen to be 'different' doesn't it ..... on the one hand we want them to be so individual and on the other we need them to be a part of the crowd. Often our girls are so beautiful and often on the 'outside' for what we see as mum's as being really odd reasons .... I know how you feel - and know that one day our girls will be looked up to .... we just need to give them the confidence and faith to keep being themselves xxxxx
ReplyDelete