Laurie Lee

Today is my Laurie's 36th birthday. Wow! Where did the years go? Our big girl, she weighed 9lb/12oz (the exact same weight as both me and my brother). And as red as her hair is, we didn't know it was red until we got her out in the sunlight that beautiful day when we took her home. When she started talking, Katey had to translate for the first 3 years. And since then I've noticed that's not unusual with first-born & next-born. As she grew, the hair got redder - not strawberry blonde or auburn, but every single shade of red all mixed together.

Those of you who know her now will be surprised to know that when she was little, she would hardly talk to anyone besides Katey, Terry & me. Even people we saw frequently caused her to scamper behind me with an occasional peek around to see if they were still there. Yes, you read that right. Do you know Laurie now? She never meets a stranger. The first time she meets you, within 15 minutes she will have found an acquaintance, friend or family member that you have in common. And she will remember you forever. No longer that shy little girl who hid from everyone!!

I've been thinking about her all day. (And you wonder why I'm tired?!) The mother of 6 children ages 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, and 1 she still finds to cook amazingly delicious meals, make craft-y things out of sheet metal, sell Taste of Gourmet food mixes through networking and work/serve in her church. (Are you tired yet?) Oh, and she homeschools her children!!

Smart, beautiful and very artistic, she walks her own path. It's not always easy, but I do so admire her for being more concerned with what God wants her to do than with what others think of her. She and husband Dewayne trust the Lord and follow Him.

My Laurie. She'll be here soon and we'll eat spinach/artichoke dip from Old Venice. We'll talk and laugh and she'll be on her way. (Tonight she's helping Katey with Kids' Disciple Now - the craft part.) And I'll be tired when she leaves. I do love that girl. Happy Birthday, Laurie.