While I'm at it, this one's for you, Mel-Mel (a.k.a "Kate")

Guess who's turning 10 this weekend? May 31, 2008...go Melly, go Melly, it's your birthday, it's your birthday...

July 31, 2004...with your cousin, Piper....you are so gracious with
the younger folks in your life!


"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion..." can anyone tell me what movie that is from, besides you, Beck? This is Mel's quote to describe her life with 2 older brothers...they constantly pick and harass but she handles it like a champ. mostly.

Six going on sixteen

Princess Leia hair

Sweet sand castle building 7 year old!

Happy 10th Birthday, Miss Melanie Kate!!



Melanie joined us on the last day of May in 1998...I labored all thru the night hours, which, to me, is kinda spooky for some reason, and while David slumbered ever so peacefully next to me on the bed, I prepared to welcome our 3rd child...unbeknownst to us, our first daughter!



For some reason, the 2nd phase and her actual delivery took a while...because her little chin was up. After what seemed like 2 years of pushing and crying...down into the canal she came...bloop, bloop, bloop...when her little head, loaded with lots of dark hair, came forth...the midwives noticed a loop of cord around her neck...yikes. scary yet praising the Lord that she was ok! When she actually came out...and I discovered her female parts, we were in some shock...why? because I just didn't think it would be a girl...I loved my little boys but longed for that little slice of pink heaven! On the videotape that Beck was in the midst of making, she started crying and sniffing while doubting my looksee.



She looked like she had been beat up when she was out and settled...blood shot eyes, herniated belly button, splotches on her skin, which one ended up being a big, bright strawberry birthmark on her arm...but to us, she was the most beautiful little girl and gift from God!



She weighed in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was born at 4:06 in the morning...Thank You, God, for such a bright, well-adjusted from the get-go kinda gal! We still aren't sure, to this day, how we ended up with her...if we hadn't been there ourselves, we would definitely wonder. But she is a replica of her father's sister so that does help.



Thanks, Mel-Mel, for your good attitude, sweet, patient spirit, help with the younger sibs...you are invaluable to me anyway but your mothering gift has been such a nice gift to our family! You are intuitive, compassionate, helpful, caring and tender-hearted. Kind, funny, energetic and smiley!



You are one Decade old...double digits...ahhhh. 3 years from teenagedness!

I will try to dig up some earlier shots of Miss Mel-Mel...We are so blessed to have you in our lives, MKY! You da bomb!

Yet another walk down memory lane...

one can see where my daughter gets her open-mouthed grin...hmmmm.
A younger days collage...love the big 80's hair!!
I'm the little chicklet in the blue Little House on the Prairie outfit circa 1976
You are probably wondering why I'm walking down memory lane again...tomorrow, December 18, 2007, I am turning 35. Can you believe that? I just can't believe that I am that OLLLLLLLLLD!! now, I know it's really not that old but I can remember being 16 or so and thinking people that were 23 were gettin' up there...but 35?? c'mon. I just can't grasp that! I still feel and act as if I'm 16.
all right then...the top pic is obviously from the summer of '73. I love that Molly makes this same face...but then again, I think most babies do. her face is much rounder than mine was..I guess I've always had the long, angular face. Pic #2 is a little smattering of family photos...I think you can tell who I am...In the older pix, I'm the one with the big, straight up hair or short bob-ish hair...Becky never liked to have her hair too short and she is the same to this day. The bottom pic is a classic. I don't have many pix of myself with my dad's dad. We got to ride in his Model A (is this correct, Dad?) car in the Bicentennial parade of 1976 (duh) and weren't we just so cute waving our little flags. Grandpa Gaines was so cool...he passed away when I was 9 so I don't have many memories of him but he was so handsome. I will have to post some pix of him on here...whatta looker.
Anyways, think of me on Tuesday, I'm sure my back will start hurting (more than it already does), my hair will turn just a bit more gray, and my eyesight will finally fuzz up. Pray for this ol' gal.
I will try to post on here later on...I've got SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to do to get ready for Christmas, which is, ya know, about a week from now...ahhhhhhh.

Happy 14th Anniversary, David Dear

Thanks for taking this cool pic, Matt
Dec. 30, 2006
13 years of marriage under our belts here, though
it's been years since I've worn a belt.

yikes. just plain yikes. check out E's beard and 'stache
Laurie lookin' like Wynonna and David w/Will's fox head on him

Saturday, November 27, 1993, I became Mrs. David Franklin what's his name and he tied on the ol' ball and chain. I still can't get over how fast the past 14 years has gone. It's kinda sad in a way but also kinda cool. does that make sense? I've always imagined myself as a wife and a mother...so in that sense, I'm doing exactly as I had hoped and as I had prayed. I am so thankful for the incredible husband that the Lord has given me. We have made it thru some pretty iffy times, there have been times that he hasn't liked me or I haven't liked him but we've stuck together and will keep on keeping on. Love is an act of the will, a commitment...not an easy, flowery deal or feeling (don't those feelings leave quickly? yes ma'am, yessir)...it sure beats being alone. I am so thankful to have this man to trudge through the hard, scary days of raising kids and hoping you aren't scarring them too badly. I am so glad that he isn't afraid to discipline our kids and tell them why and hug them, tell them he loves them, spend time with them and if he can't do something that involves the kids, he usually won't do it (unless it's a date with me, a rarity), he is forming their character, helping them to get over themselves before they end up as a twenty-something whiner and crier. (he's still working on me though) I am glad he isn't afraid to stand up for what is right and for Christ! Thank you for your testimony, David. You are a blessing to me. I have some more pix to post! lucky you!