Think You Can Hold Up?: A wonderfully full week.

#3 Birthday Party:
So there was the pre-birthday party at the farm last weekend. Then, there was her actual BIRTHDAY. And THEN, there was last night. Birthday party #3. Mary has officially made up for lost time and has celebrated her birthday MUCHO.

Last night, she was surrounded by all her grandparents. There was oohing, there was aaahing, there was hugging, there was eating, there was laughing..... it was a GOOD time.

Oh. And there was also picture taking.....

My friend, Elaine, makes the cutest cakes on the PLANET. I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love Mary's cake! We all just stood there and stared at it for a long time, and, honestly, I cried a little when we started cutting into it. Thanks, Elaine, for making a VERY special cake on this VERY special day for our VERY precious girl.

And, since Mary missed her first birthday at home, Elaine also made her a SMASH cake!

Daddy, I'm so happy... we just keep having these parties!!!

Pushing the first opened present of the night: a pink grocery cart! Thanks, Nana and Papa Chuck!

Is this cake for me?

Sipping Mudger's water was a favorite activity of the night.

I love it when she cuts those eyes at people....

Don't blow them out, Dad... I want to TOUCH them. (No fingers were harmed in the taking of this photograph.)

We vacated the Minnie dress when the smash cake was brought out. She studied it for a while.....

then decided that it was pretty fun!

And then you pair that smash cake with some ice cream.....

..... some COLD ice cream......

..... and you've got one happy girl.

Loved by Nana and Papa Chuck.....

Loved by PawPaw and Mimi.....

And loved by Mudger and NightNight.

Then it was time for more presents. Cause poor girl hasn't gotten a THING for her birthday.

Studying the two dollar bill that was in her birthday card.

LOVING the Minnie Mouse coup car! Perfect!

Thanks, PawPaw and Mimi! Our little Minnie Mouse LOVES her new ride!

I wish you people could have been in the room when we all circled around her at the dining room table and sang Happy Birthday. She sat in that chair and just smiled and smiled..... and looked around the room at everyone standing around her..... her family. She grinned the sweetest grin and just kept looking all around that circle like, "Are you guys singing to ME? How great!" I don't know what was going through her mind, but I know what was going through MINE: THANKFUL. I am SO thankful. And for the LAST time until NEXT time: Happy Birthday, sweet girl.

A Mary Shower:

Since we were in celebration mode around here, Joe's company threw Mary a shower last Wednesday morning in Birmingham. And SHOWER us, they did! Her closet is now totally and completely STOCKED with some of the cutest outfits you have ever laid your eyeballs on! There were also backpacks and puzzles and stuffed animals and books and pajamas and toys and bath stuff and booster seat high chairs and more! SO MUCH STUFF! Mary had a great time meeting the sweet folks that Joe works with and loved EVERY present that was opened. When Joe opened up (yes, I let JOE open all the presents.... since these are his people and all.... and he LOVED it.....) the first couple of outfits, Mary decided it was time to TRY THEM ON and started taking off her clothes. We quickly talked her out of getting naked right there in front of everyone, so she did the next best thing: LAYERING. She wanted to wear IT ALL. She (and her parents) had a LOVELY time and are so thankful to have such kind people as friends (and coworkers!).

I completely FORGOT my camera that day, but I took a few with Joe's phone!

Mary really enjoyed the BALLOONS at the party. We're not sure she'd ever SEEN balloons before.....

And then there was THIS. I think every grown up in the room was tense and waiting for that thing to POP and scare her to death. It never did, though.....

Here, Dad.... let me show you how to do this. I'm good at it.

Let me just see what's in the bottom of this thing. Cause there's GREAT stuff coming out of it!

This is right about the time that Mary wanted to start trying ON some of those pretty outfits..... Dad.... help me get this thing OFF!

And that's when she started just putting it ALL on....

Joe: "That kid right there is going to look CUTE in this outfit right here!"

Mary Powell LOVES socks. Like LOVES THEM. Do you see the look on her face as Joe pulled this bundle of socks out of the bag? Later that night, she put on EVERY one of those socks at the SAME time. SIX socks on EACH foot. At the same time. Layers of socks - her favorite thing.

"Um, Dad.... I know you like them and all, but....um.... I think that pink furry bear and rabbit you're holding are supposed to be mine."

Thank you for a wonderful morning celebrating and SHOWERING our sweet Mary!

A Good Visit:

This morning, we all headed back up to Good Springs for a special graveside service for James, Joe's grandfather that passed away a couple of months ago. James' sister had become ill just prior to his funeral, so they had decided to delay the graveside portion of the memorial and bury his ashes when she wasn't in distress. (She had been taken to the hospital immediately after the service.) Now, I imagine that things rarely get very rowdy in Good Springs, but today, they seemed especially peaceful. Once again, I felt like I had stepped out of the craziness of life into another world. It was great to be able to take the boys with us this time and I kept telling them to be observant and just see what they notice about the place and the people..... and they both mentioned on the way home that they get now what I've been talking about. (Cause I MIGHT have mentioned the beauty of its simplicity a few times when things got crazy around here and we are all going and coming constantly....)

Jack brought his violin along and played Amazing Grace and There is a Fountain at the cemetery. It was SO quiet.... and then he started playing. Very sweet. Then, we all circled up and held hands and Joe prayed.

Growing up as a preacher's daughter, I've been to MANY a funeral in my day. MANY. I've been to sweet funerals and very, very sad funerals. And I've been to graveside services where the tents cover the quilted chairs that sit next to the elaborate caskets set inside large vaults. It may seem weird, but I find a sort of beauty in all of that.....

But today was a first for me..... and it might be my favorite. Today, at the graveside, it was Joe, Mikki, Jack, Max, and Mary along with James' two brothers, Glenn and Damon. When we finished with the violin and prayer, those precious brothers, who had ministered to their brother as caretaker through months of sickness..... did the last thing they could for him. They buried their brother. They didn't just WATCH while someone ELSE buried their brother.... THEY buried their brother. The three men in the world who meant the most to James Hartley: his two brothers and Joe Powell - took turns digging. Then they placed his ashes in the ground, covered it up, and placed a lovely bouquet of flowers on top. Some might find that strange..... but I found it to be absolutely precious. Then we all went "back to the house" to visit (and, of course, drink a cup of coffee!). When we got back, Damon asked Jack to get his violin back out and play for the sisters (who didn't feel up to going to the graveside). So, there in the front yard in Good Springs, we had ourselves a little outdoor concert. Jack did a great job playing some good ole gospel hymns and Max promised to practice up on that cello so they can do a duet when we go back for a visit!

Not fancy.... but SO sweet. James would have LOVED that these three men took care of him in this way. Cause he would have done ANYTHING for them......