Anniversaries...

"they didn’t have you where I come from

never knew the best was yet to come
life began when I saw your face
and I hear your laugh like a serenade

how long do you want to be loved
is forever enough, is forever enough
how long do you want to be loved
is forever enough
cause I’m never, never giving you up"…

On September 4th, Ben and Adrienne celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary by renewing their vows and making their marriage and commitment to each other legal in the sight of the law.  

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to Ben and Adrienne!

*****

  Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Kristin and Alan as well!

Sept. 5, 2009

More August Birthdays!

Another year has rolled by and once again our August birthdays make us rejoice!   I am grateful for all of you born in August but on Friday I will be singing all day (quietly to myself), Happy Birthday to You to Mike and Aidan.

Michael, one of the most memorable days of my life was the day you were born in 1965.  To me you were a miracle that happened before my very eyes.  My boy, a son that I would love forever...and I will.  Despite that 18 year old mother you had, you have done well for yourself and I am so very proud of you.  Just remember, the one thing you did get from me, in abundance, is my love and devotion.  You're proof, love goes a long way.  I love you so.

As for you Aidan...I hope you have a Happy, Happy Birthday.  I sure do wish we could play a game of pool together but I'll be sure and give Uncle Mike extra kisses and tell him that he will just have to take them because I can't give them to you on your birthday!  I love you and I love the way you are growing.  I'm still hoping we can Skype sometime.  You could tell me all about your new school and the things you are doing.   You are so interesting to talk to.

Terr/Grandad and I are sending our best wishes and all our love to both of you.

A Special Celebration for Ben

August 16, 1972

Mimi's Project

Each year since 2003, our family of 22 has vacationed together for a week in Grayton Beach, Fl. That first year I bought red suspenders for each of the grandchildren, who put them on and sang a song to Grandad who financially made our vacation possible. Since then, the children and I have spent an hour or two each day of vacation working on a "Mimi's project" that marks our time together for that year. We have done art shows, movies, plays, talent shows, photo perspectives of Grayton Beach, a music video and this year a scary movie, all of which make me smile to go back, watch and remember.

My Grands are growing up. This year the gift of their time was for me. In participating in Mimi's project, older teens who would have much rather been doing other things than playing with their Grandmother, unselfishly joined in to my whimsy and played a role in our 2012 project. Thank you, precious grandchildren for again giving me your time, love and devotion.

The result is, "I Know Where Your Beach House Is". I hope you look back on it, years from now, with a smile, for these are the good years and we made them that way.

Thank you, Andrew, for helping edit the film; you saved me hours of work putting it together.
Forever our time at Grayton will bring me good memories.

Mimi

And now ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I present this years 'Mimi's Project"...

Let us know what you think!

We're home!

  

(Ben and Adrienne already headed for home...but where's Shannon?)

More later!

P1100915 from Croft on Vimeo.

Mimi's prayer

I pray for safe travels for all those who are flying home today for summer vacation, for that safety to continue tomorrow on our car trip to Grayton and finally for a sweet, happy, trouble free time together as we enjoy each others' company at the beach.  I give thanks for the opportunity to have you all together once again!  Amen!

Double the Celebration!

Today our day will begin and end in celebration!  It's Ford's 17th birthday (count 'em, 17!) and tonight our children and grandchildren will be coming in from California and Korea for the start of family vacation.  But it doesn’t stop there!   We will continue the celebration Saturday morning, on Molly's birthday, as the caravan begins its annual trek to Grayton Beach, where we will meet up with the rest of the family for a week of fun and sun together.

Joy, joy, joy, oh, happy days!

Happy Birthday to Ford and Molly!!!!!

A visit with Mama

 Boy was I blessed when I arrived at Mom's on Saturday night to fried chicken, homemade pimento cheese sandwiches and fresh sliced tomatoes from my sister's garden!  I know how hard that was for Mom to do and it touched my heart that she went to so much trouble.  She hasn't fried chicken in years and had to take frequent periods of rest to make this delicious meal for us.  It was not in vain, I enjoyed every morsel!

 Morning smiles are hard to put on her face, pain keeps wanting to interfere with her happiness, but this one she managed and, even without make-up, it becomes her.

 Again, Mom rose to the occasion when we (she, Judy, Louis and I) decided we needed to take a trip to Kentucky to see my Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Bob.  They have been having terrible health problems but rallied, received us and we once again were able to love on each other.  Their lovely daughter, Sally was there caring for them and that was a bonus for us!

I thought brother, Hugh, and his wife Natali were at their mountain cabin but while we were gone they dropped by Mother's and we missed seeing them.  I wish I could have made that happen; spending time with my birth family is such a blessing to my life.  To this day, they feel like home.

I hope you always stay close to yours too.

My trip ended with a visit, with Judy, to her daughter, Abby's new home with her husband to be, Nate.  Afterwards we all went to a wonderful Tea House and talked of weddings and Abby's recent mission trip to Haiti.  I regret that I didn't get pictures of this, another memory made.

Thanks family for spending such quality time with me.  I love you for always.  (Hugh/Natili, come visit us in Atlanta! Better yet, come to the mountains and show us how to install some security cameras at the cabin. :))

Count Down to Grayton!

Can't wait to make more memories!

A 4th of July Weekend Celebration

To Terrence...

You and me, for better or worse...

I'll be the there.

May our Golden Pond always be beautiful!

Happy Independence Day!

... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy.

  Thank you America for giving us an opportunity to raise our children in the care and safety of this land. Thank you America for allowing us to work towards being all that we can be.  Thank you America for the brave men and women who continue to fight for the privilege of being free.  God Bless America!

Birthday time!

July 2

                                                                             June 30

Ford runs over 'em!

Facebook noteworthy note from Grandad...

Terrence Lee Croft

My oldest grandson, Ford Croft, age 16 just pitched a complete game against one of the best teams in the country, the East Cobb Royals, and beat them 13-3. Scouts were there to see the opposing pitcher. They were watching the wrong one! The game was part of a tournament played at Birmingham-Southern. I am very proud!

YEA, FORD!

Amazing Gifts

We all can sort of visualize and feel the thrill of hitting a triple, getting someone out at third base, catching a grounder or sliding into home plate at the last second.  We can burst with pride when our swimmers pull with all their might to tag the next relay teammate to win a race or see the collection of ribbons declaring ever improving time scores with increasing laps.  We can understand with amazement the strength, concentration, determination of our champion rock climber, our golfer, our cheerleader and most of all our scholars...but unless you see the production it is hard to imagine the overwhelming delight of young people, singing, acting and telling a story on stage that moves you to tears.

This happened to me last night when Grandad and I went to see Andrew perform in The Red Phoenix Theatre Company's production of Les Miserables.

I knew little about the famous play.  I knew some of the story, had seen bits of the play on television, but never really understood all of what was going on.  I knew it was, for the most part, difficult singing, a long show and I anticipated it being even harder to appreciate because junior high and high school students were performing  it.

Well, like Susan Boyle's 2009 audition on Britain's Got Talent when she sang Les Mierables', I Dreamed A Dream...I was blown away!  I was excited to see Andrew sing with such sincerity and passion, to watch him take on characters so unlike himself, convincing us that he was brutal, a drunken womanizer, a brave but frightened soldier and then a dead one.  His choral work has really paid off this year, as he took on the challenge of making his part hold up to the standards of the lead players.  Again, I was blown away!

This truly gives you a flavor of what we saw last night, just on a smaller scale...



Andrew has two shows today in which so much energy will be shared and burned  for a sold out theatre.  Break a Leg, Andrew, to you and the rest of the cast.  Thank you for sharing your remarkable gifts.

Starring... 

(Well, from Mimi's point of view)  

ANDREW S-C!

For further information:  http://www.14thstplayhouse.org/14thcalendar.asp?date=6/29/2012&id=1197

Ford's a winner!

Kudos to Ford!  This past weekend he found out that he wowed 'em on his SAT exam and he also performed super well on the baseball field!   Nothing like a successful weekend!

Summer Joy

Kate's Simon has a birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Simon!  Wish I could make you a cake and help you blow out the candles.  May all your wishes come true.

Joe and Mike won the Druid Hills, Father/Son , Father's Day Golf Tournament.

Congratulations Guys!!!

 Keegan  has a gift and is using it in a kindergarten preparedness program this summer!  The 4 and 5 years olds attend school from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where Keegan was carefully selected as a student volunteer and acts as a teacher's aide in the classroom.    From the head of the program; his praises are being sung for the excellent job he is doing!  After class he then heads to the baseball field for All Stars practice every day from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.  Keep up the good work Keegs, we're proud of you!

Andrew (seen here in the stage production of OKLAHOMA) is in rehearsals with the Red Phoenix Theatre Company, getting ready to present LES MISERABLES on June 29th and 30th, at the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta!  Break-a-leg, Andrew! 


Send me your news of swim meets, rock climbing, baseball, camps and exciting adventures so we can all enjoy what you are doing.  I hope everyone is getting excited about our GRAYTON trip coming up soon!

 With Love and Gratitude, 

Mimi 

(...and special heartfelt thoughts for LOP from Merry) 

An Audience with the Queen on her 85th!

 Our Queen Mother turns 85 years young and we had a celebration!

 Mom, Judy, Louis, Hugh, Natali, Terrence and I met on the top of Mount Eagle to unite our best wishes.

 We had a delicious meal at a lovely restaurant called High Point...

Where once again her children said thank you for a life time of devoted motherhood.

Happy Birthday, Mama.  You are loved and endeared.  Long live the Queen!