November 17 is my oldest daughter's birthday. I can't believe she is 25 today. It seems like such a short time ago that we were waiting anxiously for our first child to be born. We thought we were all ready to be parents and had such lofty ideas of how great this was going to be. Well - it has been great, but certainly not because we were such great parents! God blessed us 25 years ago with this precious daughter. We were shocked right from the start because we really never expected to have a child with red hair. Within a day, we also were surprised by the temper that went with it. She was a strong willed child right from the start, but what a joy also. Laura has always had such a kind caring spirit. She is the child that always cared about the other kids. We had teachers tell us about her concern for other kids in the classroom from the time she was young. When she was quite young she told me she prayed whenever she heard a siren because someone may be hurt. She was also the kid who would stand up for what she believed - even if the teacher (or her Mom!) didn't agree with her. She has grown up to be a talented young women and more importantly she is a child of God. She is such a blessing to us and we thank God for allowing us to be her parents.
Happy Birthday Laura - we love you lots!
Happy Birthday Laura - we love you lots!
Here she is at about 3. Looks like she is enjoying herself!
Laura and Aaron last year, shortly before their wedding.
What a gorgeous girl, happy 25th birthday to her! Are there any red heads in your wider family? I have a aunt who had red hair and a Grandfather, but no one else this generation.
ReplyDeleteAww, happy birthday to her!
ReplyDeleteHi Mari. We leave Auckland on Dec 18th and go to the South Island where we will spend Christmas and New Year just us 4. We don't get back until Jan 5th - imagine, no blogging for 3 weeks. I will have lots to share when I return. We did this last Christmas for the first time and loved it, so low key, no house to decorate, easy meal to cook. We spent Christmas Eve in a lovely Town that was originally a French settlement, set in a valley with a river and beautiful Olde Worlde Houses.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute! So it's the red hair that explains my 1st born too?!
ReplyDeleteHow very sweet. Happy birthday to her
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing you have! We were surprised to have a redhead, too. Lindsey has auburn hair. Hers was black and then turned red by 3 month. Our girls sound very much alike.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to all of us as you celebrate the gift of Laura!
Looks like she's enjoying herself in the 2nd picture as well- hee hee!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Laura- we love you very much.
What a beautiful woman you have raised. I'm guessing she's as proud of you as you are of her. Happy birthday, Laura!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww, she is so adorable as a 3 year old or as a grown woman. Happy birthday to Laura!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! And I have to say that any of the good in me is because of the awesome parents I had. I have been so blessed to have been raised in their home and to have them in my life! They're the best. I love you Mom!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Laura. You were such a cute little bugger. (still are) I remember that picture well. Strong willed - no way. I have never seen that side of her! :) Love you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Laura!!! its funny about the red hair b/c when i was getting my hair hightlighted i was told my friend that it looked sorta red,then i was told that grandma had red hair! anyways cute pics too ;)
ReplyDelete~Kay~
Your a great mom!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!!!!!
ReplyDeletehard to believe that you have a 25 year old daughter ...
ReplyDeleteshe looks lovely, you guys must be proud!
AW! She sounds like such an awesome person and she is certainly beautiful! Happy B-day to her!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to her!! What a cute pic of her when she was little. She sounds like a great girl. You were blessed with her, but she was also blessed to have you as a Mom!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. You have a lovely daughter. You have truly been blessed. I hope she enjoyed her birthday.
ReplyDeleteMary
She is beautiful...inside and out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing she must be!
Mari,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to a beautiful daughter.
In Him, Joanne :O)
She's so beautiful! They look like a sweet couple. I look forward to happy marriages for our children - one day. It seems so far away, but I'm starting to be convinced. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful daughter. You must be proud! I feel like I just gave birth yesterday!! :) Hee. Hee.
ReplyDeleteI've missed reading your Blog, sure feels good to be back in the swing of things! Missed you Mari.
And Happy Birthday to your daughter too.