Happy 6th Birthday Presley Rose

Dear Presley,

You are 6.  I cannot believe that 6 years have gone by since that wonderful Mother’s Day morning.  What a gift you were to us then.  Little did we know just how amazing you were going to be. First off I want you to know that for your 6^th birthday we got you a kitten and her name is Ginger. You picked her out and you named her.  She is a sweet kitten and you were VERY excited!! Savannah and Aunt Sissy came to visit you for your birthday. Nana and Uncle Brett came by as well.  It was a fun week full of surprises and cup cakes ;).  At 6 you are so much more than we would have ever dreamed. You are smart. You read on at 3^rd grade level. You spell incredibly well. You are doing so well in school and are very eager to learn.  You have read 6 chapter books this year and you can label all of the states on a blank map of the US. You love to dance and it is a gift that you have.  Your favorite color is purple. Your favorite person in Kat and your favorite thing to eat is probably donuts ;). 

Presley, you have such a sweet and gentle heart. You are kind and friendly to everyone you meet. You call yourself the Queen of Nice ;)  You told me that you are nice even when you do not want to be so that everyone is happy.  You make us laugh every day.  You are silly and a dreamer and I am SO grateful that Jesus let me be your mama.  With your determination and will you will do anything and everything you put your mind too.  Our lives are good. We have a nice house, daddy’s practice is doing well and we are all healthy. It would be hard to ask for anything else.  You are a great sister.  You love Josie and Kat is your best friend.  You have no idea you are a middle child, I have made sure of it.  You are special in every way. You have these gorgeous blonde curls that get you attention from everyone that meets you.  God has great plans for you Presley Rose, He has told me so.  You keep dreaming. You keep believing that you can do anything and I promise you, you will do everything you ever dreamed of and more!!! I can’t wait to watch. Thanks for being my best friend. Mama Loves you. 

Happy 9th Birthday Kat

January 19, 2017

Kat,

You are 9.  It seems impossible, but it is true. I cannot believe another year has come and gone.  I find myself wondering if I served you well each year as they pass. But then I realize what a fantastic human being you are and I remember that where I am failing, Jesus is succeeding.  I cried this year, again.  I was sad 8 was over. You were a tremendous 8 year old.  Even Ms. Meg said you were the greatest 8 year old she has ever known, and she has an 8 year old J.  For your birthday party this year we took you bowling with 12 friends and your sisters at Kings Bowl.  It was quite the party.  Everyone had pizza and we had Mexican chocolate cup cakes with cinnamon icing at your request.  Your present this year was a sound system bought by us and Big and Janet.  A microphone, a speaker and a mic stand.  It is a pretty awesome set up for a 9 year old, but you have earned it with how hard you have worked.  I’ve done a poor job of keeping up with journaling, so this year for your birthday letter, I am going to tell you what your 2016 looked like ;) 

January – You turned 8

February - Daddy too us to the Disney Magic Show, We had a great painting birthday party, You went to your first Nashville Predators game.

March – You started taking gymnastics

May – On the 15^th William was born

June – We had Presley’s Suzuki Party and you sang Georgia On My Mind and Glorious Day

You started writing your first song this month. 

On the 15^th you prayer to received Jesus into your heart.

25 – 80’s Show at FBAA and they invited you back to perform the next weekend.

27 – You went to day camp for the first time this week.

July 15 – you started writing “Letter to Jesus”

August – You competed in the county fair competition with Mama’s Broken Heart and were NOT chosen in the finalist.

9^th – You auditioned for Once Upon a Mattress in a class of 32 kids ages 11-7 and took the lead.

Sept – We took you to the Carrie Underwood Concert

Oct – On the 1^st you sang at the Storytellers Museum with Dan Wilt and Mark Cash in an impromptu performance of My Church.  You stood on Johnny Cash’s’ stage and they were playing his guitars. They invited you back to sing with the WS Holland Band.

Oct 8 – You sang with WS Holland on the Little Stage. This was your first full band performance and you were amazing. 

Oct 11 – I took you to Gigi’s Cupcakes and told you about your period while we ate a pumpkin spice cupcake.

Nov 4-6 You performed as Princess Winifred in Once Upon a Mattress and you were AMAZING.

We spent Thanksgiving at the beach this year with Big and Janet and the rest of my family. 

Dec – on the 7^th you went to Simeon studios and recorded Jingle Bells with Presley and Kendall. Edwin Portillo was the producer.

Dec 10 – We went to The Hideaway Farm and you sang Rockin Around the Christmas Tree at the Johnny Cash Christmas Party accompanied by Kaye Gramble and Tyler Sumners on saxophone

Dec 11^th we took you to see SHEL at 3^rd and Lindsley

Dec 17 You attended a Christmas Tea Party at Daisy Schaplan’s house

Dec 21^st you got your ears pierced at Lone Wolf tattoo in Franklin, TN. Jake pierced them and you had Presley go first.

Jan 2017 – You auditioned for The Sound of Music and got the roll of Brigitta J  (You wanted Maria, of course)

So baby…that was your last year in a nut shell.  Quite the year if you ask me.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the next one.  Kat, you are bright and gifted and kind and beautiful.  I would be lost without you.  One day, you will be here and I will be gone.  And when that day comes I pray that you remember that you are capable of EVERYTHING you are dreaming of. That Jesus lives in your heart and loves you in a great way.  And that making me a mommy, was the greatest gift anyone ever gave me.  It is a privilege, my sweet girl, to assist the Lord in raising you. 

Mama