Happy Birthday Mimi

I meant to have this ready for

October 12th- Your real birthday.

But we were traveling..

So..better late than never!

Happy Belated Birthday

We weren't much at picture taking back then.

We had a Polaroid camera..

everyone did..

we were no exception..

Took quick pictures..

But they were BAD..

And film was expensive

and we were oh-so-poor

when you were tiny.

Here you are-

with your Godmother..

newly born and being baptised.Your sister, TPot, thought you

were her own personal pet.

And you were so good-natured

that you let her pat you

whenever she felt like it.

You were her best audience..

Always a step behind her

because you were only

a year younger.

You seldom had the bathtub

all to yourself.

You usually had a bath with

your sister and sometimes

your baby brother.

However, you were a

water baby from the get-go.You loved your birthday parties

at Happy Joe's Pizza Place

and rode the carousel whether

it was turning or not..

and would stay on

until we took you off.

And, again, as usual..

a group picture with sissy

and MamasBoy...

who always stole the show.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.You had a pet named Sugar..

who had the worst dog breath

God ever gave a dog..

But you loved her anyway.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..

and came home

older and wiser.You loved horseback riding..

and rode whenever you could.And were beautiful for your high school prom..

where you wore a dress

that looked a lot like

a bridal gown..

and gave us a hint

of how beautiful you would be

as a real bride someday.

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.

When you were real little

you would toss those curls and say,

in your sweet, sing-songy little voice,

There are two kinds of people in the

world...those that have curly red hair..

and those that wish they did.

One time when you were about five

you told someone who

asked you where you got that red hair,

"I was running through Hell and my hair caught fire!"

We were mortified..and of course..

made the mistake of scolding you..

so that became your

Trademark Statement.

"I was running through Hell and my hair caught fire!"

You were our naughty mouth..

our door slammer...

our wall kicker..

but you also gave us the

least amount of trouble

as a teenager.
You were SUCH a good girl..

The girl that all the Aunts & Uncles loved.

You graduated high school..

left home for school..

came home..

and one day...one day...one day..

You were 21!

How could that be possible?

Your older brother got married

and gave you a niece..

who shares the same middle name...

Rose You ran the company business with your Dad

and bought him out..

and then...one day..

a man from the

Florida Keys

came along and swept you off your feet.

And, finally, you didn't need to

dress as a bride for Halloween anymore..

No indeedy..

You could dress as a bride for your wedding..

which was held outdoors..

and your Dad married you..

It was a dream wedding..

It was magical..But the magic didn't stop there.

Your magic continues..

Because 3 years later..

you were blessed

with this little

darling.

The best Birthday present

anyone could ever wish for.Happy Belated Birthday-Mimi...

You did good, honey...you did good!