Happy Birthday to your Momma

 

Happy Birthday to our oldest child Rebekah.  I still remember holding you in my arms for the very first time and thanking God for being able to participate in a miracle.  I was amazed by your perfection and tenacity (it was long labor) but there you were perfect and complete and ready to change our lives forever.

You took 2 very inexperienced people and slowly shaped us into parents.  You knocked off our rough edges and taught us valuable life lessons.  You taught us how to improvise, how to function on very little sleep, how to love deeper than we ever knew we could.

You broke our hearts with your tears and made the day brighter with your baby laughter. (Still to this day baby laughter is the best sound in the whole world!)

You were the big sister to baby ZooZoo.  You were Mommy's little helper and quickly learned how to have an adoring audience with your siblings.  You were their protector, the instigator, the hero, and the villain all wrapped up in one.

What a miracle to watch you with your own daughter now.  You have grown into a very strong, independent woman with strong opinions and deep convictions.  I love how you encourage Emma to be a soccer player, princess, scientist, ballerina, ringette player, Brownie, and reader.  You are a great example of a strong, compassionate, knowledgeable woman and a wonderful role model for your daughter.

Wish we could be there to spoil you.   Love Momma

Missing my Emma Girl

Dear Sweet Emma... I'm missing you today as I looked at my refrigerator artwork you drew of our family this past December.  I love the smiles on all of our faces and that you are in the very center  of the picture.   What a lovely holiday we had with all our grandchildren together at Auntie Suzy and Uncle Tim's home in Tennessee.

Great Grandmother's Girl

Dear Emma,

I want you to know how special and dear you are to your great grandmother.  She asks about you every time I talk to her and she always says, "She is such a sweet girl."  

Great grandmother was so pleased you wanted to visit her this summer.  She was especially pleased that you liked playing Parcheesi as that is her favorite game.


She told me after you left that "I don't know why that child likes me, but I'm sure glad she does."

Great grandmother will be 88 on January 11th.  She and your cousin Henry share a birthday.  Great grandmother is blind in her left eye and has limited vision in her right eye.  She is very independent like you and very determined to live on her own. 

She was complaining about not being able to see very well and you gave her a big hug and said, "You might not be able to see very well but at least you are alive." 

You made me so pleased when you hugged her and said, "Great grandmother I like you very much."  I don't know if my mother heard that but I will never forget the love and kindness you showed her.

Thank you for wrapping her Christmas gifts for her to open at Christmas.  She really loves to see you dressed up in your new princess dress with a tiara.  You also made her a special Christmas card that she kept.

You make my Mom very happy to have such a sweet and loving great-granddaughter.  Thank you for taking the time to get to know my Momma and for loving her.

Poppa and I love you and pray for you every single day.

 
 Your Cheerleader ....Diva

Princess Day

Dear Princess Emma,

   Poppa and I arrived safely in Canada a couple of days before your Momma's Foot Surgery.  I found this princess dress for you and it fit you perfectly.  We were able to get groceries and pick up some needed supplies as well as get familiar with your teachers, school, and the hospital.

You and I went to a Mother's Day tea at your school.  You were amazing and a great server.  What a special treat for Diva to meet your teacher and your friends.

We were so glad to see your grandparents, John and Gladys Peters.  Your grandmother made the cool poncho that you are wearing.  We had not seen your grandparents in four years so it was fun to see them again and find out what they are doing since they retired.

Your Momma was amazing and healed very quickly.  She was very proficient on her crutches but was so glad to go to a boot and be able to walk again.  She will be so glad when she can run again.

Diva wanted a feather in her hair too.  Your sweet Momma put some in and I wore them proudly for 2 months.  It made me think of you and your Momma every time I combed my hair.

Poppa was Diva's hero.  He was able to drive all over Saskatoon and did not get lost  ( well not too much).  We made you homemade lasagna and you loved it.

We have such a great time with you.  We love you so much.

   Diva and Poppa

Can't wait to see you!

Dear Emma. ...We are on our way to the airport to come see you and your Momma.  We will be there late tonight.   I can hardly wait to see you.  We will have so much fun together.

We will get to go to your Mother's Day Tea Party at your school while Momma is recuperating from her foot surgery.

What fun we will have being Momma's nurses.  I want to see your school and meet your friends.

Save some giggles and hugs for me.  

Love you soo much my beautiful girl.  Keep me prayed up, you know Diva is not a good traveler like you.

See you soon!

Missing You

Dear Emma, Poppa and I were just talking about you and how much fun we had this past summer when you and your Momma came to visit. We are getting excited about our visit to Canada and our visit with you. Poppa is prepared to read you lots of stories and play lots of games. Diva is good at singing silly songs, puzzles, crafts, and of course baking (do you think you could help me?) We want to see your room, meet your friends and spend time with you doing the things you love to do. We will be there in just a couple of weeks. We pray for you every day and send you virtual hugs and kisses. Missing you more than hot Krispy Kreme Donuts Your Diva and Poppa

Happy Bithday E

Happy Birthday to our sweet Emmalee. Today is her 5th birthday! She loves school, her friends, and her family. She likes to dress as a Princess but also enjoys soccer and camping. She likes to work in the garden and loves to cook with Momma. She loves to go strawberry picking too. This gingerbread house is one of their creative projects. She loves to color, paint, and make crafts. She also is a ballerina.

Your 5th birthday

Happy Birthday to our sweet Emmalee. Today is her 5th  birthday! She loves school, her friends, and her family. She likes to dress as a Princess but also enjoys soccer and camping. She likes to work in the garden and loves to cook with Momma. She loves to go strawberry picking too.  She loves to color, paint, and make crafts. She also is a ballerina.

What an amazing young lady you are. Poppa and I can hardly wait to come to visit you. Hope you have a happy day!

Know that we love you very much and pray for you every single day.

Blessings,

XOXO

Your Diva

Coming your way

Dear Emma,

Here's some more decorations on our Christmas tree. How do you like my fat country angels? They are made of tin. I have 12 of them. There are four different kinds. I think I love them because they are fat and cute like your Diva and I love country things.


We also have a golden nest on our tree. Our news letters are called "News from the Nest". We gave each of our supporters a Nest ornament so they will think about us and continue to pray for us. We have 6 of them on our tree. I love our birds and bird feeders in the yard. The nest is a place of refuge so it has a special meaning for me. Our little home is cozy like a nest.


I also sent you your Advent Ribbon along with your Mom''s and Dad's. You"ll be able to tell which one is yours because of the ornament on it. It's a little girl with toque, scarf, and blond pig tails just like you." I think you will like the surprises hidden in the little boxes. I'm hoping that customs didn't open them this year like they have in the past. Poppa and I miss you very much and wish we could be with you and your family this Christmas. There are 12 of packages (like the 12 days of Christmas). Do you remember helping your Momma make a Ribbon for Diva and Poppa last year? Diva has never had anyone to make an Advent ribbon for me. I was really honored and so pleased that you made it for me. I hope you like yours.


We love getting your drawings and pictures. Diva and Poppa decided to do some art work for your refrigerator. Poppa thinks it's fun that you raise worms so he thought we should draw a worm for you. Do you like his baseball hat? I think he is cute. We hope to see your worms sometime. Do you name them? I know you take them to your garden in the summer.

Diva and Poppa just sent your Christmas box out Thursday so you should have it soon. Diva has been one busy Santa's helper so I'm really tired . I am so glad to be able to sit down and enjoy the decorations and our tree.


We miss you and love you.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas,

Diva and Poppa

Our Moravian Star

Dear Emma,

This is the star that is on our porch during Christmas. It is called a Moravian Star. Poppa and I got it in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . I have a small one on our Christmas tree.

Poppa still has "your princess lights" on the porch to. Your Diva really likes lights. It makes me feel happy inside.

We love you, miss you and hope you are enjoying the Christmas lights in your home.

Ho, Ho, Ho,

Diva and Poppa

Christmas Decorations at the Nest

Dear Emma, This is the Christmas wreath on the front door of our little Nest. It has buttons, yarn, bright bits of material and small snowmen, and gingerbread men on it with a big raffia ribbon on it. It looks very welcoming to our little country home.

 Do you know who made it for me? It was your very crafty mom. She made it for Diva one Christmas and now I put it on our door every Christmas. I love it because I know how much time it takes to make a gift. It is one of my special Christmas decorations. This is my Emma Angel. I bought this ornament last year because it reminds me of you. I love her yellow braids and her winter coat and hat. I know it is very cold in Canada so it makes me think of you bundled up in your toque and coat in the snow. I love her smile and I love your smiles too. I hope you are enjoying the lights, the trees, and the fun of Christmas time. We miss you very much and pray for you every day, Poppa and Diva

Look who's on Diva's Christmas Tree

Dearest Emma, Poppa and I put up our Christmas tree this year and guess who is on our tree? Maybe this picture will help. Yes my darling Emma Bug, it's baby Emma. This was taken your very first Christmas. You were so little. Our very own angel. You make Christmas so much fun for us. You make Christmas fun for your Mommy and Daddy too. Here you are in 2008 (your second Christmas). We love looking at your smiling face and remembering back to the lively toddler you were. You loved having books read to you and sitting on your Poppa's lap. You liked trying to pat JJ and Lucy but they would run away (silly kitties!) Here's your 3rd Christmas picture. I love the candy cane-colored scarf. I love your pig tails and the big smile on your face. You changed every year and we love seeing your picture and remembering the wonderful time we always have with you and your family. This is your picture from last year. I love the happy look of surprise on your face and I love your pretty dress. Diva found that dress for you and what a sweet surprise to see you dressed in it for your Christmas picture. You just started going to school and we enjoyed hearing all about your new friends and about your wonderful teachers Miss Chris and Miss Mona. Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures with us. We look forward to seeing your new picture this year. We love you very much. Your Poppa and Diva

Poppa's New resized ring

Dearest Emma,

 Poppa and Diva have been married for 38 years. When we got married we exchanged rings. I gave Poppa his ring and engraved inside of it it says JKW to CTB 7-14-73 . 

 Those were my initials and Poppa's initials and the date we got married. I never take off my rings. The only time I didn't wear them was when I was pregnant with your momma and my fingers were too swollen to fit.

 I took my rings off while I could still get them off. Poppa however has had to have his ring cut off, two times now. The first time he was in Haiti and his finger got a cut and began to swell because of infection. He cut it off so he would still have circulation in his finger.

 Last week Poppa cut off his ring again. This time because his knuckles have swollen from arthritis and started cutting off his circulation again. Poppa had the jeweler enlarge his ring two sizes to a size thirteen. 

 The engraving is gone from inside his ring now and I can wear his ring on my thumb (but it keeps sliding off). Poppa has big hands. My hands are very small compared to Poppa's. Poppa always has nice warm hands especially when I'm cold. I like to hold Poppa's hand. I always feel safe holding Poppa's big hand. 

 I hope you will always feel safe holding on to Poppa's hand too. Love and Kisses XOXO

Diva's Best Birthday Gift

a Princess Picnic

Dear Emma,

Poppa grilled outside tonight and we ate on the porch. Poppa had the twinkle lights on the porch because he knew you would like them.

He calls them Princess Lights. You wore your princess dress and earlier you had on your cape and crown and stood on the sidewalk and waved at all the cars that went by. I had to laugh because most of the farmers just drove on by but all the ladies smiled and waved back.

You have that effect on everyone. You make them smile and forget about their busy day. What a sweet girl you are. We watched Beauty and the Beast again tonight.

We went to Gypsy Hill Park but didn't get to stay for very long. We will have to go back tomorrow.

We love you Princess Emmalee!

Strawberry picking

Dear Emma,

Can you guess what we did today? Finally, we got to go Strawberry picking in the fields near Diva's and Poppa's house. The fields were still pretty muddy. I know my shoe got sucked off my foot while walking out to pick. You were very good at picking the big red berries and very good at eating them too. It didn't take us very long to pick two big flats of juicy red berries. Can you imagine what good things your Momma will make with these berries? My mouth is already starting to water just thinking about it.

I love this picture of you enjoying the sweet red strawberry. I'm so glad we were able to go picking with you and your sweet Momma. We would have been very disappointed if we hadn't been able to pick berries.

Look what your Momma made for breakfast when we got back home.
Yep, strawberry pancakes with extra berries and whipped cream. Yum! What a special treat!

It took us quite a while to wash the berries and put them in the refrigerator. We will take some back to Auntie Suzy (she loves strawberries almost as much as you do!) Won't she be surprised!

Now to make some strawberry pie!

What fun to have you and your Momma here at the Nest.

Looking forward to spending the day with you.




We love you Berry much!

Diva and Poppa

New Bird Bath Bowl

Dear Emma,

 One of the things Diva likes to do is to sit at my desk and watch the birds at the birdbath and at the feeders.

 JJ and Lucy love to sit on my desk and watch the birds too. Poppa calls it Cat TV. I especially like the red birds (Cardinals) and the tiny little Finch. 

 Poppa and I got tickled at you whenever you see a Robin you always say, "Look Diva, there's an American Robin". Do you have Canadian Robins?

Today we went to the hardware store to replace Diva's birdbath. The water freezes in the winter and the bowl cracked in two. I was very happy to know the hardware store sells the bowl part of the birdbath. It is made out of concrete so was really heavy.

 Poppa got a cart to put it in to take out to the car and bought me a really pretty red geranium. I love this picture of you and Poppa.

 You are such a good helper. I call this "Princess Power". Thank you for helping me take care of our neighborhood birds. Looking forward to going berry picking tomorrow. Love and kisses, Diva and Poppa

Ice Cream at Willies

Dear Emma, What's more fun than eating soft ice cream with sprinkles? Eating soft ice cream with sprinkles with YOU of course.

 What's a trip to the Nest without ice cream from Willie's with my favorite girl in the whole wide world. Isn't it amazing that out of all the little girls in the whole wide world....we got the best one? 

 I got the rainbow sprinkles and you got the chocolate ones. You wore your princess cape and crown and we tried to eat the sprinkles off before the ice cream melted and slid off. We like Willies because you eat your ice cream outside and if you make a mess the birds love it.

 What a fun day! Your Poppa and Diva

Fun Friday

Dear Emma, Today is day 4 and is picture day. One thing that Diva really loves is to take a yearly picture with you and your momma and daddy.  You are growing up so quickly and changing so rapidly.

 Today we are going to see Miss Vanessa who takes amazing pictures at our local Walmart. Your Momma has you in a very pretty dress with a beautiful daisy headband. Poppa has on a bright red shirt to contrast with the pink blouse I'm wearing. Your beautiful Momma has on a white blouse, now all we need is your handsome Daddy to make the picture complete. 

 Thank you for the beautiful smile on your face and for cooperating so nicely to take the pictures. I know you got tired and I want you to know how much I love seeing these pictures when I can't be with you. Always know that Diva and Poppa love you dearly and pray blessings over you every day. You are an extraordinary young lady and constantly amaze us.

You bring us such joy. we love you so very much. Your Poppa and Diva 

Your personal cheerleaders!

Making Cookies for the firemen

Dearest Emma,

One reason I love you so much is that you are very generous and like to help other people. Diva and Poppa live close to the New Hope Fire Department and you decided that you and I needed to make the Firemen some chocolate chip cookies. I loved baking cookies with you and you were so excited about sharing them with our local firemen.

We went over to the firehouse and you gave the cookies to the firemen. They let you sit on their big red firetruck and blow the siren. We discovered that firemen like cookies. Thank you for sharing with them.

After we went to the firehouse we ate at Chick-fil-a in Harrisonburg. Mommy wanted to do some shopping so we went to the mall.




Mom likes to go shopping and you were a very good girl. After several hours of shopping we shared an Auntie Anne Pretzel with cheese sauce. Your momma used to work at an Auntie Anne's Pretzel store when she was in college. I bet if you ask her she will show you how to make one.




You also enjoyed riding on the merry go round only the ride was over much sooner than you wanted it to be. You picked the prettiest horse to ride and patted its head when the ride was over. You liked the mall, it was a fun place to run, dance, and wiggle.

When Poppa got home we all went to the Green Valley Book Fair. It has lots and lots of books. Last year for Christmas I sent you "Llama, Llama, mad at Mama" book which you like very much. Your own sweet mama found two more Llama books for you. "Llama, llama, red pajama" and " Llama, llama home with Mama ".

Your Poppa and I are very glad you like to read and love books. Both you mama and your daddy love to read too. Diva likes to tease Poppa and tell him he would read the toilet paper if there was anything written on it.

We had a very busy and fun day. The week is going much too fast. Hopefully, we will get to pick strawberries while you are here.

We love you, little girl,

Your Poppa and Diva