Happy Birthday

Today I was thinking about how when it is your birthday everyone calls you up wishing you a happy birthday. It is like if you've done something grand and glorious that deserves recognition. Honestly, the "birthday kid" has not done much or anything to receive this recognition except to live another year. You receive presents and cards celebrating this momentous event which means you are a year older, have a little more know-how, and are taller (whichever way it is at that particular time of your life).
But honestly, I think instead of receiving all these wondrous wishes and gifts you should pause and

1. give thanks to God that He allowed you to live this extra year

and

2. give a big thank you to your mother for the labor and pain she went through bringing you into the world, for all the tears and worries you put her through while growing up, and for all the love and tenderness she gave you when you needed it.

Thank you God

and Thank you Mom

Museum

Robert and I along with one of Robert's friends (JL) from church went to the Columbia State Museum. It was fun and interesting. We really enjoyed the science hands-on section. We found out that JL has the strongest hold while Robert and I are equal. I was able to make my penny go around that funnel thing the longest, then Robert, then JL. Then we tried a balancing thing-a-ma-gig. First, Robert did 3.3 seconds, I did something like .3 seconds, and JL did 1 second. When we tried it again I did .1 second, Robert turn got messed up, and JL did almost 4 seconds.
We went into a 1 room school house and asked Robert to be the teacher. He wouldn't so JL was the teacher and he promptly told us to go stand in the corner. :)
We "road" on a train, hid from Robert, talked about WWII and Vietnam, sat and watched 2-3 different video clips, and skipped the part about evolution but looked at some of the animals - keeping in mind that what was said was hogus bogus. All in all it was fun. We got there close 1:30pm and left close to 5pm. I'd say we got our money's worth.

news

Things are going well for Jesse and me.
In November we had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner with all of Jesse's family and my sister Alissa. In December we had Christmas dinner again with Jesse's family.
In January, precisely Jan. 6, Jesse's cousin had a little boy. He name is Conner. He is doing great and so is his mama and papa.
Another highlight of January is that my brother, Robert arrived by plane. OK, no it wasn't January it was Dec. 31 around 6:30 pm. We looked high and low for a job for him and finally in February he was hired at McDonald's. It is close by our house so that he can walk there. He can walk the stretch in 20 minutes but normally takes 25 minutes. I walk with him once and it took him 35 minutes.
About 3 weeks ago my parents came and stayed a few days with us. Robert and I went to Charlotte airport. We had an enjoyable time together. Last week from Thursday to Friday, Jesse, Robert and I joined Mom, Dad, and Alissa in Greenville for Bible conference. Then on Saturday we had a family picnic in the park. My cousin Shelly was able to join us. It was nice.
Jesse is at a training class far far away in a country called Cincinnati, Ohio, so Robert and I are on our own. I am counting the days for his return