Friday, August 16, 2013

Our August Gifts


  • A celebration of life love and family;
  •  could no other make of such a joyous occasion. 
  • Brought together through love,
  • Bound together through commitment and loyalty,
  • Our times together have made for celebration. 
Ben (8/16), Mike (8/25), Aidan (8/25), in ways that differ from night to day,
you have made August a rare and beautiful month for this family.
Happy Birthday to the three unlikely Musketeers
that will forever be our family stronghold.  


Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Facebook post not sure you saw...but for the record...


Once there was a "little girl" who dreamed of happily ever after...then it all went wrong...Two miracles survived that dream, so hope was not lost. Then in 1977 a Knight on a shiny red motorcycle appeared and began to make life complete again. He convinced that girl, by process of elimination, that he was the one that could make her dreams of forever come true. It all happened so fast but she knew was that he was smart, ever so handsome and she loved the way he adored her.

As you might have guessed, that girl was me and today, well almost, July 9th, 36 years later, I am still living the dream. It's been the best of times even in those few days when times weren't so good. He is still my knight in shining armor, fighting my windmills and encouraging me to fly as well as to walk by his side. He has loved our children and been the man they could count on, always keeping our family united. He invited God to be the center of our home and with that we are strong. He made me more than I ever thought I could be and for that I am indebted.

Maybe I went too far and got too personal but all this is to say, "Happy Anniversary TLC"! This year I am publicly saying (well, to my children and other readers of Chatterbox):  YES!, I WILL marry you again.
 l

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day to the BEST!


Nothing says, "I love you", like Terr, Mike, Shannon, Tom, Alan and Daddy...
I guess the word Daddy sums it all up; makes you really special.
Happy Father's Guys.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Mother Turns 86...

I say that softly and with much respect, for this is what a lady of 86 years deserves.  

Personally speaking...

She has known me all my life.  She has been there for me through the good and the bad.  Her home has always been mine and those whom I love, hers.  I love her like I want to be loved and she will always be part of who I am.

 Happy Birthday, Mother.  May God bless your every breath.
 

Friday, May 31, 2013

Moving On

Wow, what a month this has been!  Tonight, we had our fourth 8th grader graduate from middle school, that means four grandchildren moving on to high school this fall!...


Congratulations to Joe, Emily, Keegan and Morgan!  This marks a big milestone for all of you and we are very proud.  May the next four years be the best years ever, may they give you time to grow into the person whom you want to take into the next level of your lives.  We are here to back you up and support you with all you need to be successful.

Awards and summer activities:
Joe:  Is moving from the only school he has ever attended, St. Martin's, to St. Pius where he will begin his high school experience.  At St. Martin's, for the second year in a row, Joe was selected the Most Valuable Player on the baseball team, which won its first championship in school history!   He finished strong academically and is very popular with his classmates and friends.  He is playing on two baseball teams over the summer and ready to be a team player for St. Pius, attending football workouts three mornings a week, football camp in late July, followed by practice to begin soon afterwards! 

Morgan:  
Morgan is graduating 8th grade at Woodward.  She has been on the Honor Roll every semester there.  She will be a Counselor in Training at the Pine Lake Arts Camp.  She came in 2nd in the Southeastern Region in Rock Climbing, but will be taking a break from competitive climbing this summer (Though she will climb some outdoors for fun in Minnesota and around the South).  (Personally, I am hoping this will give some time for the three young Ya Ya's to have a few lazy days at Northcroft this summer!)

Emily:This morning, at Wesleyan's Awards Ceremony  Emily was recognized as one of the two outstanding artists in the middle school, and had one of her drawings unveiled and added to the School's permanent art collection.  She also received an award for her "quiet leadership in history studies".    


 She is swimming this summer on their country club's swimming team and will be a camp leader at Camp Issy and Emily for the third year in a row! .

Keegan:  Keeg had a successful ending to his career at middle school. He is headed for a strong academic finish the year, around a 3.7. He will play on the All Stars team for junior's baseball and plans to work at a baseball camp while he is in town this summer. He's really looking forward to Grayton and seeing his cousins!! ... (Aren't we all, Keeg!)  

Now, la piece de resistance: Our first High School Graduate!
Ford Gilman Croft
Graduated Magna Cum Laude, (with great distinction) 
 from Woodward Academy

Ford Croft's Woodward Accademy Graduation from Croft on Vimeo.

...a day we will not soon forget.

Ford graduated from Woodward and will be going to Georgia Tech in the honors program, where he plans to major in Industrial Engineering.   He finished his baseball career with a Varsity Letter!  He was on the "Golden Eagle" Honor Roll every semester at Woodward, and graduated Magna Cum Laude.  He was a national Merit Finalist.  This summer he will be lifeguarding at Georgia Tech, and working as a camp counselor for Bill Melvin's baseball camps.

Honorable mention:
Today, we attended  two award and and honors programs at The Wesleyan Schools.  Eighth grader, Emily's, as well as the high school awards.  It must be noted that Andrew was honored with the "Outstanding Male Sophomore" award and also achieved the Iron Wolf Award, for his sustained contributions to the school.

The following was read aloud before receiving this award...



The good work these kids are doing is mind-blowing, and this is only the tip of the iceberg...Aidan is doing incredibly well with his new love, the skateboard, and also in baseball.   Issy is headed for another championship with her cheerleading squad!  She leads a dynamite (and prosperous) summer camp with Emily this summer; and she was also beautiful tonight as an Acolyte for her brother's graduation service at St. Martins.

I know I write often about good news...but this is exceptional!  "To those that much is given, much is expected."  Great job parents, they are not falling far from the tree!  Continue to guide and love unconditionally and let's all commit to pray daily for these precious children that God has given us.


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mother's Day

I am going off tomorrow to deliver special kisses and hugs to my mother.  I am so grateful for the privilege.  I am leaving my daughters, who are mothers, in the good hands of my grandchildren, where I am sure they will be honored for the superMoms that they are.  I am so proud of you all.  Proverbs 31:2
(and of course Keegan is 14!...almost the same day as Em!)
For Mike, Kate, Shannon and Ben (as well as Tom, Alan, Adrienne and Simon), you are the cream of the crop and it is a privilege to call you mine.
**************************

Happy Mother's Day my blessed Mama!  See you tomorrow!