DELICIOUS Coconut Cream Pie from Breadwinner's Cafe. Totally worth breaking my diet! I couldn't believe the explosion of flavor! Haha I'm such a food fanatic...it's terrible. And then the next several pictures are of my brother Randy and our good friend Josh Daughetee. This kid is so sharp. He really goes out of his way to make everyone feel loved and special. We had so much fun talking to him--only for the last hour or so though because he was being a good guy out teaching with the missionaries. So Josh! :)
Below are pics of the (left to right) Daughetee, Farmer, and Seegmiller couples. We have been great friends for years! I didn't realize how much I missed them until we saw them again last night for the first time in FOREVER!
Look at these pictures of these beautiful children and tell me that families are not part of Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness. You can't, can you?? Children are such a joy. They are my life....I have six younger siblings and I've been babysitting amazing little kiddoes since I was 11. They make me sooo very happy! I love their sweet and fun spirits. Goodness I can't even begin to explain how much I love them!!!!
I got a few of my presents pretty early. I got an Exhibit II Android touch screen phone from my mommy. It's so cool!!!! It's touch screen and I get internet (wifi) on it and everything!!! She also got me some adorable pajamas that I am in love with. I never wear cute pajamas. I always wear old t-shirts and tank tops and that's about it. These are so cozy and very adorable. :) My daddy got me some antique, beautiful piano scores. They are old hymns and lullabies and sweet music like that. I love this gift, too, as it really makes me smile to think of my dad looking through so many music scores and looking for just the right ones for me. He is so thoughtful. He has always loved my music. I'm not great at all hardly, but my daddy makes me feel like I am. He's so sweet. He's one of the biggest reasons why I've stuck with piano for so long is because I know it makes him so happy! So his gift to me means so much. :D Another gift from Mommy was that she took me out to go shopping for some clothes. I bought everything with money that I've earned with all of my babysitting, but I could not have done it without her. She helps me stay focused and teaches me how to save and make good choices while I shop. It was a lot of fun to be with her and my sisters. We took our time and really enjoyed spending it together!
I got many gifts from others, too! Aunt Lesa gave me some nice makeup and taught me how to do it properly, some tips that I needed very badly! Mema gave me 25 dollars (she sends 25 dollar checks to ALL of her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren for their birthdays every year. She is so sweet!). Mimi and Papa also gave me 35 dollars so that I can buy some more clothes. That really helps!
Sister Chelius, a family that I babysit for in my ward very often, gave me three boxes of Bounce dryer sheets. This gift is hilarious and so nice because of it's story....One night I was helping her fold her laundry and I noticed that all of her clothes smelled SOOO good. I asked her why and she explained how they used these dryer sheets, something my family never uses because it doesn't seem worth it to spend 6 dollars for a box of them. I had only mentioned this once and it was a while ago, so it was very sweet of her to remember that! I also got a very beautiful homemade bracelet from Sister Seegmiller last night!!!! I love it so much!!!! It is pink and white and dainty and loose and just perfect. I love it all the more because she made it. It is made up of hundreds of little beads that she had sewn on one at a time, made with lots of patience and kindness. It will help me remember her too since we haven't been able to see them ever because they moved to TN a few years ago. So far away. :(
It was another wonderful gift to be able to see them (the Seegmillers) again last night. The only bad thing is that their visit is because of terrible circumstances: a family from our old ward, the Griffins, are having a funeral for the father and grandfather, Vince, this Tuesday. So what brought the Seegmillers here was not good at all!!! But it was great to see them again just the same. We met them at the Daughtee's house, another family that we absolutely adore. Fortunately, THEY are still in our Stake, at least, but we don't see them very often, either. It was such a joyful reunion!!! We talked and talked and laughed and talked and laughed. :) I hadn't realized how much I had missed all of them until I saw them last night!!!! I hope we will be able to get together again soon!!! (I hope no one else has to die to make that happen, though!)
So that was my spectacular birthday. I am so grateful for the people in my life. Oh, that was another thing was the hundreds of "Happy Birthday!"s that my many friends from all over the place had posted on my Facebook wall! I felt so loved. Thank you to everyone for making my day so special!!!!!! I am so excited to be 18!!! I am in Relief Society with Mommy now and I'll be graduating from High School very soon so I can start working (hopefully) as a full-time nanny and beginning my college education! Whoo! Life is so great. :D
I love you guys! Love,