Thursday, October 12, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIMI! Can you REALLY be FORTY?

Mindy Rose!

My wild Irish Rose.

Oh!  How my dad would 

have loved you.

You look so much like

his side of the family.


You were born 10/12/77

just a few minutes after midnight.

You dad kept urging me to 

HURRY UP AND HAVE THE BABY

so that you could be born on

your Uncle Paul's birthday.

I was NOT good at being

told what to do then.

I'm still not very good at it-shhhh.


We weren't much at picture taking back then.

We had a Polaroid camera~

everyone did and

we were no exception.

It took quick pictures

but they were BAD.

And film was expensive

and we were oh-so-poor

when you were tiny.


Your sister, TPot, thought you

were her own personal pet.

And you were so good-natured

that you let her feed you

whenever she felt like it.

Sometimes she fed you 

Hershey's cocoa right out of the can.



You were her best audience..

Always a step behind her

because you were only

a year younger.

If she sat in the leaves

you sat in the leaves~

You loved your birthday parties

at Happy Joe's Pizza Place

and rode the carousel whether

it was turning or not.

You would stay on

until we pried your fingers

from the horse.

And Oh! How you loved

being a bride.

I lost count of how many Halloweens

that you dressed as a bride.

YOU were ALWAYS a bride

and your brother was ALWAYS

a rabbit.

And, then, one day I turned around

and you were a young woman.

A young woman 

with a passion for singing

and a passion for the Lord.

You made a missions trip to China..

and saw a different side of life..

You came home

older and wiser.


You were beautiful when

you were in high school-

And your hair...Oh! Your hair..

Complete strangers would come up to

you and ask you where you got

your perm..

Your answer was always the same.

~From God~


And, finally, you didn't need to

dress as a bride for Halloween anymore.

No indeedy!

You would dress as a bride 

for your wedding

which was held outdoors.

Your Dad performed

the ceremony and.

it was a dream wedding

to a man that loves you.


Three years later you had BigBoyE

And when Big BoyE was 2-1/2 

his brother, Charles-In-Charge

joined him.

And -then you were blessed with

our sweet little

Baby Bright Eyes.



You all make a beautiful family-

even when you-know-who

acts up!


You live in another state-

but close

enough where we can get

there in a day's travel.

Happy, Happy Birthday

Mindy Rose!

I won't be celebrating with you this year,

as you know,

but I will be there in spirit.


Love you to the moon and back!

SEE you soon!;>)

your photo name

49 comments:

Vee said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful Mimi! Love the story you wove and the story that final collage tells. Too funny!

Susie said...

Happy Birthday to Mindy. She does have the most beautiful hair. I love it. She's your Irish girl. Diana, I think there's a bit of you in that feisty blonde baby girl. LOL Praying for your SIL , Mindy and the little ones. Blessings to all, love you, xoxo, Susie

Lisa said...

Well written, sweet post. Happy Birthday to your little girl! She is beautiful.
Lisa

Sylvia said...

Happy Birthday, Mindy, your Mother sure knows how to show her love for you and memories! Bright Eyes must take after you Diana, always making us smile at her sweet safe!

Chatty Crone said...

Happy birthday Mindy - I can just feel the love your mother has for you. You are a beautiful girl and have a lovely family.

krishna said...

Happy birthday Mindy...the memoir is so beautifully written.. love n hugs to all of you..

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Mindy! God bless your special day.

Kathy said...

Happy birthday to Mindy! What a lovely post.

Kim said...

What a lovely tribute and a beautiful girl...just like her momma. Hope it's a Happy Birthday! :)

Betty said...

I hope she has a great birthday. Our Daughter turned 40 this year too. Time goes by too fast.

Simply LKJ said...

Happiest of Birthdays Mindy! Praying you have a blessed day celebrating with your precious family and friends.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

She is a beautiful girl and how wonderful to have a daughter like her! Happy Birthday!

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

A beautiful celebration for your Mindy Rose. She is a lovely woman with a glorious mane, a loving husband and beautiful children. May her birthday be celebrated in style with your loving wishes and special post dedicated to her. Xo

Wild Oak Designs said...

Isn't fun, to see them grow up?? To watch what they do?? She is beautiful, just like her Mom.....
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

Pam said...

HaPpY BiRtHdAy to your beautiful daughter! I love and hold my memories of my children growing so close to make heart.

HIBISCUS HOUSE said...

Oh how touching. Happy Birthday Mindy. Diana you have such a talent for writing and we can see from your eyes the love and joy. Thank you.

Pom Pom said...

Aw! Happy birthday to your good girl! She DOES have lovely hair! What a sweet mama tribute. You're so loving, ND!

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

What a beautiful story and beautiful pictures! She is GORGEOUS!! And yes, that hair - oh my so beautiful. You know, I had to do a double take because friends of ours have a daughter the same age who got married a year ago and just had her first baby. She and your daughter could be twins!!

Cristina Garay said...

Beautiful tribute to your beautiful girl, Diana! Happy Birthday Mindy Rose!

Connie said...

What a lovely family and so many sweet memories. Happy Birthday Mindy Rose!

SImple and Serene Living said...

Happy birthday to your gorgeous Mimi. I always answer the same way as she does. My perm came from God. xo Laura

Debra She Who Seeks said...

She's accomplished a lot for only being 40! Happy Bday to your daughter!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Happy Birthday Mimi! My daughter will be 40 this December, I can't believe how time flies.

Red Rose Alley said...

Happy Birthday Mimi! A lovely daughter, wife, and mom, Diana.

love, ~Sheri

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

What a beautiful post - Happy birthday to your Mimi!

Debby said...

Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter.

Cheryl said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet girl! She is so beautiful...just like her Mama. :) Sending love and hugs to you both!

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

Happy Birthday to Mindy. I am sure she cried when she read this. It is so full of love and so touching.

Debby Ray said...

What a beautiful tribute to your beautiful Mimi, Diana. Man, you almost made me cry! It's no wonder why those grands are so adorable...look at their mother. Happy Birthday to her! My oldest will be 40 in less than 2 years and that makes me feel....OLD!

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Diana, so nice to meet you and thanks for following my blog. This is a sweet tribute to your daughter for sure!

Celestina Marie said...

Happy Birthday to Mindy. She is such a beautiful girl with a lovely family. Your birthday tribute is very special!! Wishing Mindy the best year ever filled with continued blessings. xo

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

This post is a wonderful celebration of your beautiful daughter! How quickly they leave us and have babies of their own. Still trying to get used to that!

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Awl- what a sweet birthday present for her.

You have the sweetest family, Diana. ♥

Rose L said...

So sweet!

amazingsusan said...

Lordy, Lordy look who's forty - Diana's Mindy Rose! Happy Birthday :)

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

Beautiful tribute to a beautiful daughter! Happy Birthday!

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

Beautiful tribute to a beautiful daughter! Happy Birthday!

Nonnie said...

Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter. Such sweet memories.

Janice Kay Schaub said...

What adorable babies and a beautiful post. I loved reading this one
Janice

BeachGypsy said...

Happy happy birthday wishes to Mindy! She's so pretty and those family photos are just great!

Junkchiccottage said...

Happy Birthday Mindy. Your beautiful soul deserves to shine even brighter today on your birthday. Enjoy your special day.
Hugs
Kris

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

A beautifully sweet tribute to your wonderful daughter! I enjoyed the trip you took us through the years of her life, and I had to smile at the antics of little Bright Eyes LOL. Happy 40th birthday Mimi!

This N That said...

Hard to believe that another birthday is upon us...you...her. Time sure flies. Lovely as ever..

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Happy Birthday to Mimi. Diana, Mimi is a beautiful woman and her hair WOW. She has a wonderful family and you can see the love. Bright Eyes is a beautiful little girl.
Hugs,
Mary

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter. They do tend to grow up so fast but the wonderful memories are what counts. Love this post, Diana..Happy Weekend..xxoJudy

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Happy Belated Birthday to your beautiful daughter!! I love seeing those family pics, and Bright Eyes is such a hoot!
I also read the post on the Weiners...thanks so much for the chuckles. I can just picture them walking around the store. What fun memories for them!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Happy Belated Birthday to your sweet and lovely daughter, Diana! Such a nice tribute - loved all the photos and the cute memories. Time just moves too fast, doesn't it? My daughter just turned 40, too. I keep wondering how my kids became older than me! haha! Hugs xo Karen

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

You were on break for awhile and I'd checked in once or twice ( still on break ) so I stopped for awhile. Glad to see you back and this is just such and lovely AND fun post about your daughter :)

Sally said...

You have such a beautiful family! The little one acting up like my great grandson. :)

xoxo