Erin's Birthday ~ And Many Thanks To The Village

Happy Birthday, Erin!

I used to watch my niece Erin and my nephew Thomas after their Mom (Ann) went back to work, both Erin and Thomas just so easily blended into our family, and lucky for us my sister-in-law would allow us to tote them to and fro, I'm sure Ann missed them terribly, but she never put any constraints on us. If we had travel plans, Ann very graciously packed their bags and let us drag them all over the place. We had a cabin upstate and Ann would let us take them up there for the summer (well, I spent a few summers there with the kids and Ray and Ann would drive up on weekends).
Erin was just the sweetest little girl, she was kind, she was helpful, she never uttered one word of complaint, and she was a joy to have around!
Erin was always such a tiny little thing, and she still is today at thirty, and she has such a pleasant demeanor, but, make no mistake, Erin knows how to fight for what she thinks is right, and she is loyal and devoted to those she loves.
She is as much a part of me as my own children are, and I always treated her as one of my own, and even today I badger her as if she was my own by nagging her to marry George and start a family and give me some grand-nieces and grand-nephews!

Oh! And one other thing about Erin and I is the fact that we compliment each other perfectly as dinner guests because even though we both love broccoli, I like only the florets and Erin prefers only the stalks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIN!

Summer fun in Paco's Pool!

Ellie, Katie, Erin
(Taken at the cabin upstate with Erin giving the horns to Katie!)

At the airfield upstate in Monticello.



Taken in Smallwood


Senior Prom





Then...


...and now...









'LOVE YOU!!



I also want to thank all the Villagers who did such wonderful birthday posts for me. I was overwhelmed and once again you have touched my heart with your kindness, I am humbled. I value each and every one of you and I'm so glad to have met you! And I want to thank your followers who also wished me well, and some of them even paid a visit here to do so, I will visit them all personally to thank them, if not this week then next week for sure!

I found this poem awhile ago and it sums up perfectly my feelings about blogging and my feelings for my friends here in Blogland:

Serenity
by
Dena Martin

As I look

Beyond the ripples of my reflections to examine my inner self
Those ripples begin to fade
And the reflection lays beside me
Grasping my hand,
The inner warmth shields me
And the vision of my reflection appears.
And I see you.
My friend.