Thankful for special people--Happy Birthday Y'all!

For some reason, I am surrounded by people with October birthdays. The last week in October is especially chock full of special birthdays. This week I am thankful for the following people who have birthdays this week:

This is my friend, Michael.....






Here he is again our senior year in high school (with another friend). I probably met Michael when I was about 3 or 4. We lived in the same neighborhood growing up and went to the same school. We were close friends all through grade school, high school, college and now. He is so funny and so kind. Even though we don't talk as often as I wish, he has been like a brother to me and I know he would always be there for me. Michael turns 40 this week!!! Happy Birthday Michael! And he will kill me for putting these on here if he sees them!



This is my best friend from college, Marianne. Here we are with some of our children (the ones we had at the time). Marianne has 4 children now. She is an incredible mother, wife, friend and Christian woman. Marianne is the kind of person who ALWAYS puts others first. She is amazing. She also turns 40 this week and I am blessed to have her in my life. Happy Birthday Mar!!! I love you!



These two pictures are of "Uncle Moon." Uncle Moon is my sister's husband. I have known him since I was about 17 years old (more than half of my life). In this picture, Harry is kissing him. Uncle Moon got his nickname from the book Goodnight Moon. When Dave used to read it to Will, he used to say, "and a picture of Uncle Joey (his real name) jumping over the moon." Will began calling him Uncle Moon and it stuck. We all call him Moon now!



Uncle Moon is also a very funny person. I think the boys are trying to have "Unc Moon" hair in this photo. He is an ambitious and hard working husband and father. He has been the GREATEST uncle to all the peanuts and he is Will's Godfather. We are grateful for him. Happy Birthday Uncle Moon!



Next week is also my darling husband's birthday. I have bragged about him so much on here! He is seriously the most giving and kind Dad and husband. I love him very much. Happy Birthday Dave!!


Finally, I want to wish my step-father, Al, a Happy Birthday in heaven (I know you are there). Bubba (as the boys called him) passed away last December from Parkinson's Disease. Bubba was the kindest, gentlest, most loving man you could ever meet. He married my Mom in 1986 and was like a father to me for well over 20 years. He was the only grandfather Will and Harry have known. Bubba got his nickname from Will. He wanted to be called Pop-Pop but when Will tried to say that it came out sounding like "Bubba." Since we lived in Texas (land of Bubbas) at the time, we thought it was cute. From then on, he became known as Bubba!

He used to wrestle with the boys, give them rides in the wheel-barrow and read to them. He would get on the floor and play whatever they asked him to--even when it was hard for him. Unfortunately, he never got to meet his only granddaughter (after 7 grandsons!). But I know he is looking down from heaven and sending her lots of love too. His birthday is on Halloween and he is dearly missed. We miss you and love you, Bubba! Below are a few photos of him in a slide show.