Where are you going, my little one, little one?

 See her? Like any number of little one year olds on their birthdays, she's sick. Big old runny eyes, a temp, and probably an ear ache. But she's sweet, all dressed up, with a brand new push button blue phone. She has her very own cake, too; I don't remember what kind it is, but, just guessing from the picture, it looks like an applesauce cake with caramel frosting. There's a lot of foreshadowing there!

There's self same little girl in her back yard, pulling dandelions with a great deal of concentration, then lifting her arms for a pick me up and a hug. This is a girl who has always been free with hugs, whether giving or receiving. Generous with smiles, generous with phone minutes, generous with cakes, cookies, pies, pop and chocolate. Need a pick me up? I know where you can find one...

Skip several years, and there's a mop of hair blowing out some candles. Oh, no, on second thought, that's what you saw first thing in the morning in the Hurst household. No talking allowed, even for the morning people, until chores were done, cereal consumed and the hair pulled away from

the face. In this picture, the smoking candles issue in the teens: fourteen candles mean high school, big hair, big glasses giving way to contacts, FFA, a driver's license, a butt ugly white pickup, a wreck, or two, or three....

Off to college. The home body grits her teeth and becomes a Tiger. She meets the love of her life..

..

....well, OK he usually doesn't wear this expression

There, that's much better. 

 Here's the lovely bride to be; the little girl a lovely gracious young woman now. ...

..And now, like the old song goes, turn around, and she's a young wife, with babes of her own.

Uh oh, better set Abbie aright

Enjoy your birthday candles, Lee. God bless you as you've blessed us!