HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE

Happy Birthday to our Sweet, Lovely Susie We are so glad you are part of our family. We enjoy your creativity. We admire your many talents. We appreciate your constant support of your husband and his family. We all think you are amazing.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth Joy

Happy Birthday Beautiful Elizabeth Joy What a joyous Christmas we had as our dear little bundle of joy arrived 2 days before Christmas. We took her home on Christmas Eve and she spent much of the night on her Daddy's chest sleeping after her mother rocked her in the exquisitely painted rocking chair Opa had given them and sang Christmas carols attempting to soothe their fussy little newborn. Christmas day was spent bundling little Beth up and proudly taking her to the Bielefeldt and the Sevey family parties of the day. The little gingham quilt we wrapped her as we took her out for her first excursion was red on one side and green on the other side - a perfectly wonderful Christmas gift wrapped so lovingly. Parenthood - a time of tears and laughter had begun.

Christmas Week at the Bielefeldt home began with a celebration dinner with Dessie and her children, Marty, Annethel and Frank. We had a delicious (if I do say so - and I do) meal including ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamy green beans, cheese rolls made with Marsie's french bread recipe baked in a muffin tin, and a scrumptious sweet potato casserole made by Missy using Beth's special recipe. For desert we enjoyed blackberry cobbler and pumpkin cobbler topped with cinnamon whipped cream.

We shared the most special Christmas gift ever with each other as we passed around a piece of paper with our name on it and each secretly wrote a possitive statement or word about the person whose name was at the top of the paper. This gift is to be read at any time we personally feel the need to be encouraged. I have already read mine several times. Tears and laughter were abundant.

It was especially delightful to have Jared and Missy and the little girls join us. I noticed little Felicity wandering around looking at and touching the various Christmas decorations as well as giving us an original piano recital.