Happy Birthday Lori

A new baby daughter ... so beautiful ... so sweet ... so cherished ... and you loved to sleep!!! Your older sisters and brother were all born in the fall and I must say that you being a spring baby, made for a much more pleasant pregnancy. Your two sisters that followed you made their appearance in late July and September, so I must say that being pregnant with you was definitely the easiest. We had only picked out one name and that name was for a girl. Although we had no idea that you would be a girl. We both loved the name Lori and I can't remember ever considering anything else. While we were still in the hospital, you began sucking your left thumb and you loved that thumb for years to come.

Just a few hours old.

My new baby daughter, Lori.

Your brother and sisters were so excited to meet you. They took turns holding you and feeding you your bottle.

So content . . .

Four months old.

You loved playing in the water.

At Myrtle beach when you were two years old.

Three years old.

You and your older sister, Rachael, look so much alike.

Your fourth birthday.

Four years old.

When you were four years old you were the little flower girl in cousin DeAnn's wedding. DeAnn made your little dress to look just like hers. You even had a garter to match.
You were so cute. And you did just what they told you to do.

This is a picture of you four kids inside of "Fat man Squeeze". You all fit just fine, but I had a little trouble getting through since I was pregnant with Francie and she was due in one week.

On your fifth birthday, Grandma Nan came out for your birthday party. She kept your present hidden in the trunk of her car and then after you had opened all your presents she took you outside and opened the trunk. You were so excited. She had bought you a new bright red bicycle with training wheels.

You took your new bicycle for a ride down the street.

First grade. I just love those braids!!

You loved playing at the park. Notice the Strawberry Shortcake shirt . . . it was one of your favorites.
It's amazing that you never had a broken bone, because you were always climbing, running, and playing.

You and your great grandpa Orval. He and great grandma spent many hours watching you children while I worked. Actually, I think grandpa spent more time sleeping on the couch while great grandma cooked in the kitchen and you kids just had a great time playing.

Your first time at modeling. This was at a Pathfinder Mother - Daughter Banquet. You loved the dress and purse. You picked it out yourself at the store that sponsored the event.

You and your brother and sisters when we lived in Illinois.

When you were a new born baby, Pastor Knight was our pastor in Okla. City and he was the pastor that did the dedication service for you. When we moved to Pennsylvania, he and his wife had moved there and he studied the Bible with you and baptized you along with Rachael, Ryan, and Shannon. I love this picture.

When we lived in Pennsylvania, you became the chief cook and you enjoyed trying new recipes. Many of the recipes that we have in our family cookbook are ones that you discovered. This is a fruit pizza that you made. It was delicious!

You played in the bell choir.
You played oboe and clarinet in the Academy band. This is a quartet ensemble you played in.

You also took piano lessons and this is you practicing to play for your eighth grade graduation.

Your high school graduation. When you were in the tenth grade you asked me if you could skip eleventh grade, so I checked into it, and you had enough credits, so you graduated a year early which didn't make your sister, Shannon too happy, because you graduated before she did, because your name started with "L" and hers started with "S". You also got your drivers license when Shannon got hers. During the driving part, you were instructed to parallel park. You commented, "Oh, good! That's my specialty!" Wrong!! But you did get your license. And, then I remember your first accident. You ran into someone, and then told the police officer, "I was stopping, she just stopped faster than I did."

This is one of your senior pictures. You are beautiful.

You decided to take nursing and I was able to get you into the nursing program in Texas (I had a few connections in the office where I worked). I had to buy you a car and the car we found that I could afford, was a stick-shift. You were sure you could learn to drive it, so I bought it for you. I was worried about you driving to college all by yourself, so I drove down with you and helped you set-up your dorm room. Remember how I made curtains for your room at the local Walmart store? The manager let me set up a sewing machine in the fabric department. And, then do you remember when you had to park on a hill and you kept rolling back, and back, and, back, until you ended up in the flower bed of the campus and had to ask the maintenance man to help you get out of the flower bed? You never let anything stop you if you had your mind made up to do something. You finished your nursing in Seattle and you amazed me with your skill in driving and parking on the streets of Seattle. You had to drive me around because there was no way I could start at a stop light without rolling down the hill, and I certainly couldn't parallel park.

You are a very special auntie. And you spoil all your nieces and nephews.

Bridesmaid in Rachael's wedding.

Bridesmaid at Natalie's wedding.

I have the fondest memories of you and I driving from Seattle to Walla Walla for four years in a row to attend a special Mother's Day Brunch at Francie and Natalie's college. We would take Brewster and we made numerous stops along the way. We had such a fun time together.

Lori and her sisters in Jamaica.

Your wedding in Jamaica was perfect.
Gorgeous Bride!!!

New mom.

You are a wonderful mother to Anthony.

I am so very proud of you. You have always been there for your family and able to solve problems and make things happen. I remember when you came to be with me when I had my surgery and it was so nice to have you caring for me at the hospital, although at the time I wasn't so happy. You insisted that I get up and walk, and it seemed that I would no longer get situated back in bed and you would tell me, "let's go for another walk". I left the hospital several days earlier than the doctor had told me I would, and I know it was because of your loving me enough to make me do what I didn't want to do. I love you so much and I hope this birthday is very special for you.

Happy Birthday!!

Love,

Mom