Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. I woke up this morning with a verse in my head and heart..."You saw me before I was born. Everyday was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14,16

The girls wanted to stay home from school and declare my birthday a national holiday! So, I decided to take the party to them...I took cupcakes to school and we ate lunch together. Ally made me this birthday card. (below)

Dove is my favorite chocolate...These Dove Bananas Foster are heavenly. Thank you Honey for the chocolates!
Ally made me this beautiful bracelet. It says "MOMMY IS THE BEST" I can't wait to wear it all the time!
Olivia made me a key chain that says "I LOVE JESUS, I LOVE MY MOMMY"


I received so many birthday wishes...here are just a few I wanted to remember:

Paul Patrick: Today, many years ago... Well, not THAT many... God gave the world a gift. One that I will treasure always, my wife. I thank and praise him for you. Without you & your support, I could not be near the man God wants me to be. We are a team. Love you honey, have a wonderful day.

Ann Patrick: I hope you are having a wonderful birthday. you are a living testimony to God. He did make you special.

Kelly Martin Stamps: Happy Birthday Bethany!!!!

Angie Nix Slone: Happy Birthday, Bethany! Knowing your testimony...that verse fits you to a tee!! God had a precious plan for your life and you are a living and breathing testimony of Gods amazing grace!!!! (((hug)))

Cindy Upton McCorkle: Happy Birthday!!! Lots of good people born on this day...haha!! Have a great one!!!

Carolyn Russell Larimer: Have a great B-day!

Amber Brown Williams: Happy Birthday Bethany!! Hope your day is very special!!

I couldn't imagine not having friends and family to share my life with. Thank you all for making my life SWEETER!
We are celebrating my birthday Saturday with some close friends. I will post back then with the neat gifts and cards I received. There's nothing like having multiple birthday parties. We celebrate all week long!

Happy Belated Birthday Mom!

Ok...Before you think poorly of me writing a belated birthday wish for my mom, I just want to say, I sent her a card and called her on her birthday which was Friday, March 20th (3 days ago) The girls and I sang Happy Birthday to her over the phone. My mother isn't a computer savy gal and I knew she would probably never see this post, But then I thought, others see my blog and I want to take a moment and brag on her. My mother is a very sweet and caring person. Growing up we had funny times, sweet moments and our mother/teenage fights too. God has grown us so much over the years. My mother has always been there to help us (me, Paul and the girls) no matter what the cost. She has always put herself last when we needed help. I talk to her daily. She works full time for an opthamologist in Memphis, Tn. She has a servant's heart, caring for my grandmother daily, and visiting her sister-n-law in the nursing home. She is always on the go providing for everyone and seems to barely have time to take care of herself. She is a hero to so many people.

Mom- You have the heart of Jesus. You extend yourself to the fullest and in the end when you feel unappreicated you still serve. Jesus see's your heart. I see your heart. We love you. You are appreciated more than you know by people who see you serving everyday.

This is for you..."God Is Crazy About You" Max Lucado

IF GOD HAD A REFRIGERATOR, YOUR PICTURE WOULD BE ON IT. IF HE HAD A WALLET, YOUR PHOTO WOULD BE IN IT. HE SENDS YOU FLOWERS EVERY SPRING AND A SUNRISE EVERY MORNING. WHENEVER YOU WANT TO TALK, HE'LL LISTEN. HE CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE, AND HE CHOSE YOUR HEART...FACE IT, MOM, HE'S CRAZY ABOUT YOU!

Wishing you very Happy Birthday...We Love you!

Happy 1st Birthday Zoe!

Zoe 8 weeks old
Zoe 1 year old birthday party!
Zoe eating her cupcake...well inhaling her cupcake!

Zoe was born March 22, 2008. She is one year old. She had a fabulous day with her family. We fixed her a tenderloin dinner. We then celebrated with cupcakes (which she loved, she tried to eat the cat's cupcake too) and presented her with her presents which were a squeeky cupcake toy and real Ham Bone with lots of meat on it. After inhaling all the goodies, we took her on a walk through the walking trail we love to go on. She loved it. I'm sure she is pooped and ready to go to bed. Well, as I'm writing she is still gnawing on her ham bone. Here's a little about Zoe.

She is a Brussels Griffon breed. If you've seen the movies "As Good As It Gets" or "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" you will see her breed in those movies. They are very smart dogs. She was easily house trained. She loves all of her family but is constantly at my side. Wherever I go, she is my shadow. Paul jokes that "heaven forbid anything happen to momma...The dog would surely die!" She sleeps in the bed with us. Usually like a human, under the covers with her head sticking out on my pillow. We tried making her sleep in her own bed down in the floor by ours but that didn't work. She is a very good, loyal, affectionate dog. We love her so much and she is a permanent part of our family! Happy 1st Birthday ZoZo!

Happy Birthday "My Other Mom"!

Today is my mother-n-law's birthday. This is a picture of her with "puff" her cat. Don't be fooled by this sweet looking kitty, she is really a terror! But, occassionally she lets you love on her. Mom, we are so blessed to have you as a mother, grandmother and friend in our lives. This is our birthday wish for you

God gave a gift to the world when you were born— a person who loves, who cares,
who sees a person’s need and fills it,
who encourages and lifts people up,

May the love you have shown to others
return to you, multiplied.
We wish you the happiest of birthdays,
and many, many more,
so that others have time to appreciate you
as much as we do.We love you, Your Children and Grandchildren in Arkansas!Paul, Bethany, Olivia and Ally

Happy Birthday Ally!

Ally is 7 years old today! What can I say about this beautiful girl? When Ally was born she had a high bilirubin blood count. That is fairly common in babies born earlier than 40 weeks of pregnancy. I wasn't worried until she was admitted to the hospital a week after she was born. Her bilirubin was getting higher and the doctor couldn't find out why. I was scared when they admitted her. I knew I could only turn to the Lord in this time. The nurses shaved her head and inserted an Iv into her scalp. They placed her under the lights to get her bilirubin to go down. I knew right then, she was going to be a strong child.  She was a fighter! She grew and we knew we had a "strong-willed" child. God showed Paul and I how to break her strong will without crushing her spirit. Thankfully we mastered that when she was young. Today, She is a gifted child, very intellectual and balanced. She is a leader. She is not afraid to tell her opinion or how to do something effectively. Her grammer is precise and she is a perfectionist which can be bad at times! Her heart is tender and pure. She is one of those that people gravitate toward. She is bubbly and lights up a room with her smile and laughter. She reads her bible and loves Jesus with all of her heart. 

Ally, you are a gift from the Lord. We are grateful God put you in our family. You make us complete. I am so proud of you for the young girl you are and the young lady God is creating you to be.  My prayer for you this year is that you will continue to read your bible. That you will love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. He will direct and guide you. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. We love you so much! Happy Birthday!

Love, 

Mom, Dad and Sister