Happy Birthday Ben!

Happy 25th Birthday Benjamin Charles!  

I've been working hard this week to try and get your wedding photos 

edited and posted for today 

but it is now 8:40 p.m. and I am officially giving up!  

There is just no way I'm going to make it by midnight 

so I'm going to repost last year's birthday post!  

Sorry for the old post - 

working hard on a new one (or it may end up being 2 or 3 posts) - 

but you're so cute in the baby photos that I thought they were worth reposting!  

At least I know your mom will enjoy them again!  

Hope you've had a great birthday today!

I love you!

Always have!  Always will!

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Friday, October 11, 2013

Happy Birthday Benjamin Charles!

Today is Benjamin's birthday.  He is 24 today, is in his first year of law school at Carolina, and is happily engaged to Jenny but this is how I remember you best:

You were the first baby that I had the privilege to help spoil in the town where we were living.  And I loved it!  You were such a happy baby and toddler!

Since I did the post on your engagement in July and used a lot of your birth photos then, I'm just going to repost it at the end of this one but I thought I'd post some additional ones 

- from your first birthday party!

Emily, Ben, and Caleb

Always had to have a book handy for you...

I still remember buying this outfit for you!  I was so excited that I found an outfit that had that many basketballs on it!  You, obviously, preferred the toy you were playing with but at least your mom was happy with it!

  

And a few more photos, just because you're all so cute!

Happy Birthday Benjamin Charles!
I love you!  Always have.  Always will.

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What I posted on Friday, July 19, 2013

Great News for Benjamin and Jenny!

I found out some great news on Wednesday.  

Benjamin and Jenny are engaged to be married.

Benjamin is the oldest of 3 sons born to some of my very best friends, Cindy and Harold.  We have been friends since 1987.  I met them when they had only been married 3 years.  I was 19.  We've gone through a lot together over the last 26 years and that is an understatement.  I was so excited when they told me they were going to have a baby.  I was thrilled when Benjamin Charles finally arrived in October 1989.  

(Cindy, Harold, Janna, Benjamin, Jenny - July 4, 2012)

I'm not sure how long Ben and Jenny have been dating.  The first time I remember meeting Jenny was when Rob died.  I have liked her since the first moment I met her.  And I know that Jenny is a very regular reader of my blog so that makes me like her even more!  

I remember in great detail the night when I first met Benjamin Charles.  I went straight to the hospital after I got off of work and, of course, I have a photo of me holding Ben for the first time.  I also have a photo of Harold and Benjamin.  I honored Cindy's request for no photos of her that night.  Sort of wish I'd snapped one anyway : )

A friend of ours, Jody, visiting Ben for the first time.

As I was looking for these photos, it made me laugh at how organized my photos are from those years.  I had it labeled and dated and I even noted on this one that it was out of order.  Wow - how times change!  My children's photos are in boxes!

Again, this photo page is labeled!   

My cousin, Caleb, was born 4 months after Ben.  They were my little buddies and they were each other's little buddies as well.

(Benjamin and Caleb 1990)

(Caleb and Benjamin - July 4, 2012)

I loved my little Ben from the moment he was born!  And even though distance made it difficult for me to be a big part of his life after Rob's ministry moved us out of town when Ben was 10, my love for him did not change.  It only grew.  And even though he is taller than me now, he will always be my little Ben.

And I am thrilled that Benjamin Charles has found his soon-to-be bride!

For them, I pray for a happy and blessed engagement.
The anticipation of one's wedding day is one of life's sweet treasures.
The anticipation of the marriage (or at least it was for me) is even sweeter.

Congratulations Benjamin Charles and Jenny!