Here's the birthday cake Abby and I made for her. We decided to go with a Valentine's theme...I think it turned out pretty good. Chris is always giving me such a hard time about my cakes being lopsided. I must admit, he can make a "mean" birthday cake!
One thing we got Brittany for her birthday were two patches for her letter jacket. She'll be the only girl at her school that has these particular ones. She was SO excited!!!
Here's something else we gave her...she loves the saying on it! As many of you might know, Kenyans are very fast and talented runners, so this inscription on her necklace was perfect! I found it on ETSY; it's made out of a bottle cap!
Abby created the sweetest card for Brittany on the computer and spilled her heart out in it. Brittany read it and started crying. I think my poor hubby is about to head for the hills with all this boo-hooing going on! Isn't this a wonderful "Kodak moment", though?
Look at Brittany's red eyes! They love each other so much.
So, all in all, I think she had a great birthday!!!
Today, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite books. It's called "Letters For Emily" written by Cameron Wright. Here's a summary from the book's website ...
"Harry Whitney, is dying -- not only dying, he is losing his mind. Afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, he knows his ‘good’ time is short. Worried he’ll ultimately be remembered as mean and contemptible, he compiles a book of his own poems as a final gift to Emily, his favorite granddaughter. Harry’s secret hope is that somehow his words will heal tenuous relationships in a family that is falling apart. His book of poems is discovered, but it does little to ease the tension as the writings are quickly dismissed as the babbling words of a crazy old man; that is, until secrets are discovered hidden within each poem.
How could an old man afflicted with Alzheimer’s have created such intricate hidden messages? And what of the hidden gold to which Harry alludes in his poems? As Harry’s secrets are uncovered one by one, his children learn about romance, forgiveness and hope.
Will it be enough to change their attitudes and bring them closer together, or will greed take over and destroy them forever? For better or for worse, their lives will be undeniably altered by Harry’s words in his Letters for Emily."
This is a remarkable true story of the love a grandfather has for his granddaughter, and the lengths he goes to in order to ensure that she will never forget him, even though he's rapidly losing his own memory. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! I think I've read it, at least, 3 times. Trust me, it will touch your heart! I highly recommend it...but, be sure to have a Kleenex handy!
Please hop on over to wish my sweet blogging buddy, Debra, a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I know it will make her day! Enjoy your Monday!!!♥
"It is never too late to be what you might have been."~George Eliot
"Harry Whitney, is dying -- not only dying, he is losing his mind. Afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, he knows his ‘good’ time is short. Worried he’ll ultimately be remembered as mean and contemptible, he compiles a book of his own poems as a final gift to Emily, his favorite granddaughter. Harry’s secret hope is that somehow his words will heal tenuous relationships in a family that is falling apart. His book of poems is discovered, but it does little to ease the tension as the writings are quickly dismissed as the babbling words of a crazy old man; that is, until secrets are discovered hidden within each poem.
How could an old man afflicted with Alzheimer’s have created such intricate hidden messages? And what of the hidden gold to which Harry alludes in his poems? As Harry’s secrets are uncovered one by one, his children learn about romance, forgiveness and hope.
Will it be enough to change their attitudes and bring them closer together, or will greed take over and destroy them forever? For better or for worse, their lives will be undeniably altered by Harry’s words in his Letters for Emily."
This is a remarkable true story of the love a grandfather has for his granddaughter, and the lengths he goes to in order to ensure that she will never forget him, even though he's rapidly losing his own memory. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! I think I've read it, at least, 3 times. Trust me, it will touch your heart! I highly recommend it...but, be sure to have a Kleenex handy!
Please hop on over to wish my sweet blogging buddy, Debra, a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I know it will make her day! Enjoy your Monday!!!♥
"It is never too late to be what you might have been."~George Eliot
33 comments:
Awww!
Great cake-did you make it?
Hey Sweet Friend! Loved this post. Your girls are sooooo beautiful and I love how close they are. Have a GREAT day! xoxo Ang
Awww...that is so sweet!!!
Yes, you can tell the love that your family has for each other!!!!
I'm glad she had a great birthday!!
I am so happy Brittany had a great birthday. You are blessed with a wonderful family. I must get this book. My mother had Alzheimer's before she passed away and it was such a difficult time to see her like that. Thank you for sharing it.
April,
That cakes looks yummy! And I loved the necklace!! I have a friend who has all girls and he says "I live in the estrogen ocean"...lol
Thanks for the birthday wishes my friend! Happy Monday to you! ((hugs)) from Florida!
The cake looks really yummy! I am so glad that Brittany had a great birthday. Thanks for the book review. I will have to find this and read it.
Super Day! I love that necklace...that is so cool.
Happy happy birthday! I love that necklace..that is so very cute and unique!!!
I have never heard of that book but it looks wonderful. I may check that out!
-sandy toe
The cake is darling-and the book-could be hard for me to read (I have a family member with the beginning of Alzheimers...very difficult subject for me) but I would like to give it a try...
I have to add:
I love the quote at the end of your post. My husband is planning on following some dreams of his, and this is what he needs to hear today-Thanks for that one!
Such a great post.
I think the cake looks wonderful! Love the necklace.
Happy birthday, Britt!
WoW is she gorgeous! I have a seventeen year old son who would be drooling over my laptop right now!
It does a mother's heart good to see her children express love for each other. Thanks for sharing. Now, I'm off to Debra's place.
Happy Birthday Brittany!!!
My oldest just turned 19, so yes, I feel your pain. I love how your daughters are so close - it's beautiful to see. I got teary eyed just seeing your beautiful pictures!
Definitely do the swap!! Because NO ONE is going to be able to flake out on it or Mamarazzi will blast them on her blog, lol! And yes, I send two packages out and only got one in return. It was very sad!!
What a pretty cake! I love the bottle cap necklace, my son is a runner too and I need to go searching for one of those for a keychain. Very cool! Thank you for the book review...I wa thinking before you even said have Kleenex handy that it was a tear jerker! Happy belated birthday Brittany!
Oh your girls!! Sisters are such a blessing! What a special birthday! Thanks for sharing!!
Great and creative gifts, April. I love etsy. It's one of my favorite "go to" places.
Just the description of the book made my eyes water. I can't imagine what it would be like if I read this book! :)
Thanks for the tip.
i think your cake looks wonderful! love the pictures of the girls and the necklace is awesome! i think i'll check out that book at the library. thanks for the recommendation!
Happy Birthday to Brittany!!! Looks like she had a birthday to remember... and I love the little bottle cap necklace!
April you look too young to have a 17 year-old- you two could pass for sisters!!
Your daughters are so sweet! Such great pictures and thanks for the book! I'm going to get it this coming weekend! I can't wait to read it!
I just caught up on your weekend posts and your thoughts for Brittany - what sweet posts! I'm so glad you and the girls had such a great weekend together. What a true blessing to have such a sweet relationship with your daughters! Thanks for sharing your heart...
Happy Birthday, Brittany!
Happy Birthday Brittany!
April, you have some wonderful daughters:0)
Hi proud momma April...that cake looks really pretty to me...bet it was good too...also, sweet photo of your girls! ;-) Bo
I love birthdays...and boo hooing! That's a cool necklace too...bet she loved it!
Hi April
The cake you and Abby made looks delicious. Did you save a piece for me? How special of Abby to make Brittany a card. I am sure she will treasure it forever. I love the green necklace and the patches look interesting, are they something the girls collect?
I will look out for that book. Thanks for recommending it.
Lindsay
Awww... I hope all my girls are so close some day.
That book sounds great.
I loved the birthday cake - it was very pretty! And I think it's so sweet how close your 2 girls are...awww!!!!
April,
What a great post. Your girls are sooo lovable-I feel like I know your whole family!!
I saw the book in Target but already had an armful (hee-hee). Now that I have your thumbs up I will get it. Always love a good cry! :-)
xoxo
Jane
Awe. You're daughters are so adorable. I hope my son and daughter get along when they get older. Right now at 7 and 3 they like to drive each other (and ME!!) INSANE with their bickering. AHH!!!
That cake looks good enough to eat! ;)
I love your girls. How sweet. In my heart I am a Kenyan, not because I am fast, but because I am IN LOVE with their beautiful babies. Awwwwwwwwwww.
What a wonderful bond those two share! That is the sweetest!
The cake looks great! You both did a wonderful job. That necklace is so cool too.
Thanks for the recommendation! I am always looking for good books to add to my reading list!
Oh, so so sweet! I hope she had a wonderful birthday.
Post a Comment