I have some great men in my life.

I mean really great.

They make my life better,

because they, so responsibly, fulfill their roles

as fathers

Happy Father's Day

Dad

Steve

Michael

Ili

and a special kiss goes to my sweetheart

because he is out there mowing the lawn this morning

when I know for a fact, he wanted to go golfing

Naomi Stayner Gibbs - age 13



Today is my mother's birthday

she is 83





I am her first child





We are best friends






If I had to select a single word to sum up mom

it would be elegant.

She is a true lady in every sense of the word . . .

right down to the lace and linen handkerchief she always carries.




Circa 1988


She has a deep and unwavering testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dad didn't join the Church until he was 72,
so mom single-handedly took us, their 4 daughters, every Sunday.
She sat in church, without him, for 50 years


. . . . and now, they are sealed in the Temple.





I honor my mother for her dedication and perseverance;
it led to the sweet love story they are living now.


******


Mom is wonderful grandmother

She attended every piano and dance recital, track meets, and countless special events for my children.
They know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that their Grandma Nana loves them.

She taught dancing at Arthur Murray Studio

in the '50's





she and dad love ballroom dance









Mom has enriched our life with her spunk . . .

always greeting us at her door performing the Mexican Hat Dance

and without fail, having a little gift for my children.


******


Steve and I loved to travel with mom and dad.
Some of my favorite times were laughing on those trips.

Mom and I would pack our cutest clothes
and try to look our fashionable best every day of the vacation.









I could really go on and on

because my mother means everything to me.





I love you dearly,

Happy Birthday Mom!

Zach is my dear son in law

His birthday is June 20th

since June 20th is also Chloe's birthday (and Father's Day),
Zach gets his birthday cyber shout out today



It is fun having Zachary in our family

because he is passionate about whatever he commits to:

my daughter, Chrissy,

God,

his country,

aaaaaaand his football team.



You haven't watched football until you have watched it with Zach.

and lest you think he is a one dimensional Texas Longhorn fan

here's this:


Zach is an avid 49ers fan.

This is my birthday gift to you, Zach




Chrissy at the Freeman Family Tailgate Party 1990



January 28, 1990 - Superbowl XXIV


We whupped the Broncos 55-10.


Go Niners !



HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACH !


I love you because:

- you are a great son in law

- you are a perfect match for Chrissy!

- you are completely comfortable with who you are

- you place no demands on others to be anything

but what they truly are.

It is a rare and wonderful quality

that you share with some other Freeman guys I know

Now that he is an officially licensed Texas Electrical Contractor,

Steve has been running ads in Houston and San Antonio.

Houston work, means . . .
I get to tag along and visit Mike, Marci and the cuties

It was soooo nice to visit them this weekend

we had fun

swimming

eating popsicles









swimming while eating popsicles








reading stories

playing






more swimming

and we ate at Catfish Mike's





I am becoming a great fan of catfish . . . . YUM!

Thanks guys, for a wonderful time

I love you!

Let's rewind

back to the day I got the call about my dad's stroke.

I was home that day,
doing one of my favorite things:

redecorating

I am hopelessly compelled
to recover pillows, move furniture and add accessories to my home.

Mission:

add green to my red living room.

Not so hard, really. Just your basic Complimentary Color Scheme






That day, two weeks ago,
I was whipping up pillows, making floral arrangements
and pulling out all of my pewter accents
to bring summer inside my home.


so, without further adieu,

I give you


Summer Living Room 2010







green table on loan from Chrissy,
star shaped pewter dish: gift from my dear sis, Jenny, who knows my penchant for stars.



oh, and if I am going to be completely honest,
the picture of me hand stitching is a total set up.
Chrissy did all my hand stitching . . . bless her heart.

I have 2 levels of stress:


Wanna eat too much, anything and everything stress

and

Sick to my stomach, can't eat anything stress.


the first one comes with everyday life and all it encompasses. . . . .
going to bat for Chloe against a teacher who hasn't been fair to her, worrying if I offended my niece and permanently damaged the relationship, deadlines, guilt, money, what to make for dinner, . . . . you know, all that stuff


but the second variety, is the really big stuff. . . . daughter in a coma, dad had a stroke stuff. I didn't eat for 3 months when Brit was recovering from her car accident. Around here, we call it the coma diet. She and I both trimmed down nicely. This past couple of weeks with dad were no different; first thing Chloe said when she put her arm around my waist at the airport was, "you feel thinner".


It's the only upside to these life traumas,
but really folks, I don't recommend it . . . .
join a gym


So anyway, I am back to stress of the everyday variety
and making up for lost meals.


Yesterday, I made Steve take me here






and tomorrow, we are going here.







and I plan to every bite of this







to celebrate the homecoming of this guy






that should put those rolls right back where they belong