Amber's 30th

Today is Amber's 30th Birthday!

Amber was our very first grandchild.

She is a very important part of this large family,

and this smaller but still large family,

of course this even smaller but still large family,

and this core family.

I wrote about Amber on her birthday last year and clicking that link will take you to links to all her previous posts with many pictures and stories about her life 'through the years' so I'll just post a few pictures here

and talk about what's been going on in her life during the previous year.  Mostly it's this:

which is a pretty all-consuming job and it's one she loves and excels at.  When I think of Amber and her kids, I think of unbounded joy and patience and so much love as the following sequence will show.  All Knox wanted was to pull her hair...

And this is how she interacts with all her kids.  Of course, they wouldn't be the wonderful children they are without the necessary discipline but even in those circumstances, they know they are loved beyond measure because she and Chris are wonderful, loving  parents.  And speaking of Chris, he and Amber recently celebrated their 10th anniversary!

So the past year has been filled with school, babies, and some traveling.  Over the holidays they went to Gulf Shores with Amber's large extended family where there were pictures on the beach,

restaurant dinners, parties, and even alligators.

Also they recently went 'up north' with Chris' mom and stepdad where they did some fishing among other things and Amber had some real success with Northern Pikes.

and there was the annual sojourn to Splash Universe in April where everyone enjoys the water even though it's cold outside.

So it's been a very busy year for Amber and being so busy might help explain this.  The left side was taken in early 2016 and the right side just recently.

In her Facebook post about her big change, Amber wrote, "Left is 2016, right is a couple days ago. I still can’t wrap my head around it. Over 100 lbs down and no longer diabetic! I have so much more energy and I finally feel good about myself! It’s not just about looking better, it’s about being healthy and being around longer for my family! It’s been a lifestyle change that’s well worth it! Pretty dang proud of myself".  And proud of herself she should be!  We're proud of her too!  AND, not only does she feel better, I think she looks about ten years younger!  No wonder she got carded the other night when we went out for her birthday!

There's so much to say about her that I'm almost at a loss for words.  She so much fun and so cheerful and so loving.  At any gathering you can bet just about anything that she'll look like this at some point during the evening.  

And in closing, I'm going to include an excerpt from the birthday card I wrote for her because it truly describes the person she is!

We were blessed beyond measure the day you arrived

with your evolved little nature and all-knowing eyes

You're a wonderful girl, so clever and pretty

and hardworking and sweet and wonderfully witty,

a wonderful mom and a wonderful wife

a wonderful person who lights up our lives!

So, Amber, Happy Birthday!  Thanks for the being the blessing that you are!  We're hoping your day is wonderful and the coming year is even better - but only half as great as the many more to come!  We could not love you more or be more proud of you!