December birthdays!

 We started off on the 1st with Brynnli's 23rd birthday.  She wasn't in town for it, but we gave her her present at Thanksgiving to take home.  I just took a picture of her at Thanksgiving since I knew we wouldn't be seeing her the day of.  She's our oldest grandchild...crazy how they grow up!  She's had some hard times, but she's on the upward now.  Love her so much.  Hate having them grow up, leave home and be away.

Now it's time for Paul's birthday.  Too bad he had to miss the big birthday dinner with the family that was planned for the day after Thanksgiving...dang Covid!  But we got some gift cards from a former employee that borrowed our scaffolding last week, so for our date we ate at Texas Roadhouse.  He said he wanted a great steak for his birthday...and he got one that he didn't even have to pay for!  It was a really delicious early birthday dinner.  Today he'll be cooking a lot of his birthday dinner - pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans with almonds.  The family will come over for cheesecake tonight to celebrate.  This is a big one, #70, but big plans just weren't his plans, so it's not a big party like it could have been.  We made cheesecake for many last night and bought one from Costco too.  They are both really good!  Paul is the love of my life and I can't think of any bigger blessing in my life other than the gospel.  He's such a loving, kind husband, father and grandfather.   He's a hardworking, taking care of everyone.  I don't have words to say how wonderful he is.  He's truly the sunshine in my life in so very many ways.  Happy Birthday Paul!  I love you more than "birds (words) can say" or tongue can tell!  Happy #70!!!  Can't believe we are getting that old...you and me!

"Good temper, like a sunny, day, sheds a brightness over everything; it is the sweetener of toil and the soother of disquietude."  Washington Irving

This was the quote of the day in my Franklin Planner today, and it is a good description of Paul. The kids, in-laws and grandkids wrote things they love about Paul in a book for  him. It really shows what an impact he has had in lives of  family members and how much love and "sunshine" he does bring to all of us.  I wish I could put them all here, but I'll just leave you to read them in the other book instead.  

We had as many here as could come and it was great crowd! Juge read the cute book they made for Paul on his 60th birthday - "60 things we love about Dad".  It was pretty sweet!  We sang and Jem helped Paul blow out his candle.  We opened presents and visited and ate 2 kinds of cheesecake - both yummy!  It was a fun evening.  Jem is the only little one right now, and he was pretty darn cute and helped entertain all of us.  Happy 70th Paul!  We love you! (Jay, Brynn and girls gave him a sweet call just before it all started.  He loved it!)

(The only thing I didn't love about this whole thing was the idea of 70 YEARS OLD!!! We are both getting way up there and the thought of one of us kicking the bucket and leaving the other is not a pleasant one.  We've just been together so long - 48 years now - that it will be really hard to be apart even for a little while. It's just a worry in the back of my mind that if Grandma kicks the bucket her revelation about him being the child that would take care of her will be taken care of the the Lord will decide Paul can then be done...and I'll be here without him for a while.  Not good! Guess we better keep G'ma here as long as possible, but I know she'd sure like to be moving on too. Guess it's all in the Lord's hand no matter how I feel about it anyway.)

(On December 9th, Kaia Kawehiokalani Lillywhite was born to Jerel (Supe) and Kalehua (Beacher) Lillywhite.  She's getting her very own, separate birthday post this year!)

Last up for the year, and December, was Gaige!  It was #17 for him!  He's such a cute, smart, fun guy! The girls really like him...well, everyone just really likes him,  He's easy to like! He has a great friend group that have been really supportive in the hard times he's had with his parent's divorcing.  I'm really grateful that he does have good friends there for him.  He's a super athlete even though he's small in stature.  He was a really little baby and has had some struggles with getting his growth, but he's large in heart.  He's a Junior this year.  His sport is running now.  He's done others, but is happy with this now.  Happy Birthday Gaige!  We love you!