4 Generations, 2 Birthday Parties, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

A couple of week-ends ago, we traveled back home to celebrate two amazing women in our lives, Eric's great-aunt Vergie and my grandmother. Vergie is turning 90 in August, but we wanted to go ahead and celebrate while most of the family was down to visit. Eric's brother, nephews and great nieces, Aunts and Uncles, Vergie, and his cousin, her husband and their 8 children came from North Carolina, Missouri, and California. We spent the day at John Tanner State Park, where the kids all had a ball. I could say so much about Vergie. She is an incredible woman of God. At almost 90, she still lives by herself. She has the sweetest spirit of just about anyone I have ever met. She always thinks of others first. In fact, she still drives others to Dr. appointments, and other errands, takes her neighbors food among other things. She ALWAYS asks me about my parents and sister and how they are doing. And, she LOVES babies. In fact, while we were at the park, she went over to talk to a mother with a small baby. They were middle eastern and didn't speak much english, but she didn't care. Eric's aunt Sharon said everybody speaks Vergie's language - the language of love. Vergie is a wonderful example to us all of how Christ wants us to be. Here are a couple of pictures from the day. In true Vergie fashion, she is the one on the front, in the middle consoling a child.

Here is Vergie eating birthday cake with the kids.

That same evening, we had a surprise 80th birthday party for my grandmother. She is quite a woman herself. She has been through quite a lot in her 80 years on this earth. I think what amazes me most is the family that follows her. Including my mother, she had 6 children. Whew! That amazes me. Some days, I struggle to keep up with 2! Only 5 are left now. She has 14 grandchildren. We call her granny. Then the most amazing part to me is that she has 20 great-grandchildren! Wow! My girls call her great-granny. I think that is fitting. We didn't have the entire crew there, but all her children were there and even a majority of the grand-children and great-grandchildren. My cousin Joe was even in from Washington state! I hadn't seen him since before Eric and I had even met, so it was great to see him and meet his lovely wife and son!

Maddie and Ella giving great-granny a birthday card

Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday"

Granny and her "children"

We didn't get a group shot of everyone, but this shows a big part of us. Of course, we couldn't all fit around one table. We took up the entire back part of the restaurant!

Happy Birthday Granny and Vergie - We love you!!!