HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!!!

Well, by the time I got the pictures posted, it is already the day after Alan's birthday. However, I have had fun remembering the occasion of his birth in a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I will never forget the feeling when they placed him in my arms after announcing that I had just given birth to a boy. It was wonderful!!! The only problem was that I had planned and prayed and expected a girl. A girl would have evened it up nicely with 2 girls and 2 boys--perfect and complete family. I knew I would never give up this precious little blonde guy, but I was just wondering where my girl was. I now know that God had a much, much better plan.

I still wouldn't trade my happy, loving, amazing son for any girl in the world. I thank God for him daily. I could not have imagined 39 years ago (at the tender age of 24) that we would enjoy the blessing of watching him grow into such a wonderful Christian husband, father, leader and professional who loves and inspires so many of us on a daily basis. He is a blessing to our family, our church, and our community, and we are truly proud of him. Happy Birthday, Alan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!!!

Happy 39th Birthday to our happy Brazilian son!!!

WHETHER IT'S...

Whether taking his family on vacation to show them his wonderful country of birth (now 39 years ago)--Brazil...

Or building sand castles with his kids on the beach in Rio...

Or teaching his girls about the big waves in life...

Or helping them up when the big waves come...

Or just playing soccer in Brazil with all his Brown Brothers' competitive heart along with A.J. and new Brazilian friends...

Or just being proud of his son...

Or loving on one of his girls...

Or preaching God's Word at a church in Brazil (with his dad translating)...

Or proudly baptizing his first daughter Allison in the lake at Providence Point...

Or taking time in the airport to play with Brazilian kids...

Or spending hours making beautiful handmade baseball bats for each of his nephews for Christmas...

Or just having a good time playing baseball with the his nephews and brothers...

Or playing with his newest nephew, Malachi (with A.J.'s help)...

Or encouraging his niece Bailey...

Or coaching a Little League baseball team...

With his brother, Cary...

Or becoming one of the newest Trustees of Midland Christian School...

Or doing business deals with his dad (even by a pool in Brazil)...

Or raising an incredible family that anyone would be proud of...

Or being an amazing husband who is still madly in love with his precious wife...

This is one fine man in whom we are so very, very pleased!!!
Happy 39th Birthday, Alan!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL!!! In case you ever wondered, this guy still acts like the cat that caught the canary--one very happy man! He picked a winner, no doubt!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL!!!

Happy birthday to one of the most loving, giving, generous, kind, and sweet people in our whole family! What a happy, happy day for all of us when a young woman sat on a picnic blanket in the chapel at OC with a determined young man who had just presented her with a ring and asked her to marry him! Praise God she accepted and we have all been blessed by her since that night. One of my all time favorite memories is the look on Jill's face--total shock, deer in the headlights--when she walked in the house at Tod and Lee Ann's. But she recovered, and actually married into this wild family, and I really can't imagine what we would do without her.

Jill, thank you for all you do to bless us and encourage us and give of yourself to us in every way. I know of no one who deserves a grand celebration more than our Jill. We truly all thank God for you. You are sooooo special--certainly one of a kind. Happy, happy birthday!!

Lena in the bluebonnets