Celebrating Karen's birthday

 I remember being overwhelmed with joy when the doctor told me I'd delivered a healthy baby girl!  It seemed too good to be true because I'd expected to have another boy.  She came into the world on a lovely spring day and I remember noticing the blooming forsythia, bright yellow and my life suddenly filled with the sunshine of a new baby girl.

I love this picture of Karen - another image of the light that emmanates from her smiling personality.

These two happy kids could not resist having some fun on their wedding day in 1992.

Lots of things changed in her life when Jacob and Bradleigh took over all her attention.  No matter that they gave her gifts that were things they really wanted for themselves.

Karen ensured we preserved history with lots of pictures of my Mom and the four generations.

Now these two work in the same hospital and I think it's so cool that Bradleigh's following in her mother's footsteps and enjoys the heart-wrenching hospital work.

They both love Disneyland, especially the most scary rides.

We've enjoyed working on lots of projects over the years and now we like to decorate our winter pots.

 Here's a short clip of Karen doing target practice in the snow of the Blue Mountains

And her attempt to get all of us in a selfie along with the gorgeous Blue Mountains in the background.

These two are the best gifts of my life!  Each unique and so different from each other.  Now we can celebrate birthdays and some holidays together!  I'm grateful for all the ways I'm included in their busy lives.  

Now there are three generations and I can't help but miss my Mom when we take pictures at these special events.  At the same time I look forward to great grandbabies when the time is right.

I whisper prayers of gratitude every time I get a phone call or an invitation to share the life of my precious daughter.  You continue to bring light and joy into my life.  I love you!

50 precious years of life

I can't believe my baby sister is 50 years old.  How can that be???  It's only when I look at the calendar that I become a believer.  I think this song was popular in 1967!

Maureen was born just six weeks before Duane - the Easter babies, she on Ash Wednesday, he on Holy Saturday.

 It's a little weird to have a sister, growing up in a home that I was no longer a part of.  I spent time with Maureen, in her younger years, only when our families visited each other.

She came to Oregon City when Karen was born.

And to Moscow for Thanksgiving in 1992,

but my best memories of Maureen are of our travel trips together.  

We met in Leavenworth in the fall of 1993 and it's the first time I ever ate a scone, prepared in our little hotel room by Maureen

She and I visited Duane in Bolder and he drove us to Rocky Mountain State Park

 We visited San Francisco in 1995, sharing Allan's hotel room.

And watching Phantom of the Opera for the first time.

She invited me to join her four girlfriends on a cruise to the Caribbean in 1996.

It was on that trip that we agreed to be old and still wear purple.

She once encouraged all her family to vote for so purple would be the new color for M&M's.

Our travelling together ended in 200o when she married Paul, but now I travel with Marilyn every spring to celebrate Grace's birthday and enjoy the lives of her busy family.

 An answer to our years of praying for her babies

Once the kiddos arrived, our travel vacations ended.

But I love to make an annual trek to Colorado to celebrate Grace's birthday!

 We get to enjoy the end of the year celebrations, and special occasions like First Communion and Mother's Day.

 Maureen loves to come back to Idaho, do a little hiking, and watch her family enjoy summer activities at the Lake

She's taught me how to find bargains at thrift and consignment stores.  She can find shoes, school uniforms, party dresses, and coats at any consignment shop in the world.  I love that about her.

She's always ready for a hike or walk with her sisters!

She's a master at cleaning, doing laundry, and making incredible meals, while being aware of allergies and food preferences!  

She encouraged us to decorate trees, Trees of Hope

Happy Birthday, dear Sister!  Thank you for all the years of traveling, walking, cleaning, reading, and plans to give others a sense of hope.  I look forward to our visit in March and many more precious years of life for you!

Happy Birthday, Anne

Today is Anne's birthday and as I look through my pictures, I discover that most reflect her joy reflected in a gorgeous smile!  She know how to have fun and how to laugh at herself!  She's not afraid to tell stories about her mishaps and her memory.  She loves to play jokes on her co-workers and is brave enough to embarrass her boss.

I love this picture, taken when we first introduced Anne to the larger Kopczynski family.  Even though she's the youngest of eight children she did not always have family to share the holidays.  Anne grew up in Toledo, Ohio on Perth Street, close to the University.  Her mom managed a busy household and her Dad worked as the editor of the Catholic Diocesan newspaper.  

These two did not have a long courtship, choosing to get married at a quaint Bed & Breakfast near Bolder, Colorado in October.

 A year later, this precious child was born!  

There are a lot of things I love about Anne - here are just a few!

When I come to visit the Wessels house, I get to sleep under two of my Mom's quilts!

Anne loves to connect with high school friends - this one joined us for lunch on Bainbridge Island and we lingered so long we almost missed our ferry back to Seattle.

I love that she recognizes things I like to do and asks for my help!  This is Colin's first communion banner that I designed (with the help of the internet) and Colin glued on the grapes.

I love that she's willing to coach soccer!

And play ice hockey!

And loves to decorate an outdoor planter that I bought to honor her mother, Katie

And that she encouraged Colin to have his own mini-donut booth at the Moscow Farmer's Market.

 I love that Colin plays the marimbas, with a lot of help from his mother to haul the instruments back and forth to Moscow Charter School.

I love that's she's a proud Irish women and loves being a 'ginger' along with niece, Bradleigh.

I love that she arranges sleep overs for Colin at Grandma's house

And insists we make lots of Christmas cookies every year even though she rarely eats them and gives most of them away.

I love that she invites me to go on family vacations

And takes selfies of our bike rides!

I fell in love with bike riding when she gave me her old bike in 2010!

I love how she makes me laugh, even when it's 110 degrees and we have no air conditioning.

Happy Birthday