Four Years of Sunshine

Happy 4th Birthday to my Mini-BFF, Princess Parker!! ❤

"Though she be but little, she is fierce."  ~Shakespeare

Today marks four whole years of sparkles, strong opinions, Disney princess movies, the cutest laugh, and the one-of-a-kind magic that is Miss Parker Elizabeth! ❤

Her mom and dad didn't find out the gender ahead of time, so getting the bow pic was a memorable and happy surprise that called for lots of pink hearts! lol  From the moment she arrived earlier than expected, this tiny preshface has brought color and joy to every room she enters -- the world is truly brighter with her in it!! ❤

As a close friend of the Wilson fam, I have loved watching her grow and seeing her personality develop!  Lately, it makes my day when her eyes light up with excitement and she screams "Lindsey!!" running to hug me when I come over!  Her laugh is contagious and her energy is magnetic, and she does everything wholeheartedly - including her sweet hugs!

Parker is a wonderful combo of playful and silly, opinionated and passionate, sensitive and bold.  She feels things deeply and freely, and (much like her dad) her face is very expressive about those feelings, which means you rarely have to wonder what’s on her heart!

I love that she knows what she wants and how to speak up for it, and she can be entertainingly sassy and strong willed -- not easily swayed into changing her mind!  She also has a kind and caring heart - it's the whole recipe for a wonderful leader down the road!!

She has two incredible parents who have poured love and guidance into her life, along with exceptional grandparents who delight in her and a big brother who is already her protector and sidekick.  With that kind of supportive crew behind her, there's no limit to where she’ll go!
#worldscutestshootingstar

Parker Elizabeth, thanks for being my friend and Facetime buddie and honorary niece, and thanks for posing for so many pics with and for me!  You are a sparkling ray of sunshine in a world that needs more light - keep shining!  You are beautiful inside and out, and I'm grateful for all the pure JOY you bring to the world!  I love and adore you, and I'm here to cheer for and support you however I can as you continue to grow. ❤

God made you very special, and I hope you always get super excited about your birthday, because YOU are worth celebrating big!  I hope this birthday and your much-anticipated Belle party this weekend are all you've been dreaming of -- full of chocolate, candy, ice cream cake, mo-mos (tomatoes), Ranch dressing, bouncy houses, Disney princesses, heels and hair crowns, laughter, fun presents, great friends and family, and everything you love most!!  (And honestly, I hope you continue to feel the safety and freedom to be sad and cry and side-eye the cake if you need to, even at your very own amazing party.)  You are a delight, and I'm excited to see the good things God has in store for you!

Happy 4th Birthday, Mini-Miss!

❤ Love Always,

Your Forever Fan and Honorary Aunt Lindsey

"Let her sleep, for when she wakes,
she will move mountains."

“She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.”

~Proverbs 31:25

Okay, last but not least, here's a fun slideshow to end this very-extra birthday tribute post! lol

❤ ❤ ❤

Eighteen

Happy 18th Birthday to my oldest nephew, Triston Michael! ❤  In some ways, it feels surprising that we’re already here!  In others, it feels like he’s been an adult for a while now.  He's resilient, intelligent, and mature for his age, and I'm confident he has a bright future ahead of him!!

This post will be 18 pics/collages as a tribute for this milestone birthday marking official adulthood.  (Above is our 12-15-24 dinner at Tucker's to celebrate him being on Christmas Break and my last day of class!)

* * * * * * *

We first met back in 2010 when Josh and Rachael started dating -- he was 3 and Carter was 2.  This = him looking through the kid's Bible I got him + an adorable LifeChurch lobby pic + them coming to see me and visit the Jenks Aquarium!

So little and cute in their PJs - their first Christmas Eve with us!!

T&C enjoying some watermelon at the DeBusk get together -- that pic was framed in Jace's nursery room!  And I love his bright summer smile in the pic on the right (both of these are at JB's pool/hot tub)!

Rach and T after he lost his first tooth - major news!!

He's the oldest sibling on both sides of his family, and he's always been an awesome big brother (to Carter, Jace, Kyndal, Mason, Bryson, and Emberlee)!

I'm grateful we have a good connection and loads of good memories together!
These pics = After opening his first Macbook on Christmas Eve 2019, Mandalay Bay Beach at our Vegas trip summer 2022, and Serendipity 3 during our NYC trip this January!!

Just hanging out on the stage after the R&J wedding in 2011 + the hoverboard Christmas!

❤ Christmas Eve at Pelican's, surrrious brothers in glasses, dressed up for the CHA program, his baptism Sunday, our "brinner" Christmas 2011, monkey bars at Mom and Dad's, swing at Mom and Dad's, with Alan at Kristin's wedding, and a Parrish family fall photo shoot!

True story - he's the one we call with phone, TV, or computer questions!!

Three of my favorite pics of the four of them!!  (Two at JoBug's, one at 522).

The kids surprising me in the trunk of my car as I was getting ready to head back to Tulsa! lol

Brothers! ❤

Classic tree pic at Woodward Park in Tulsa.  Love them all!!

Timeline hop:  Kindergarten Graduation, candy bar sale in 6th grade, and flying an airplane at age 17!!

Spending quality time with the niece and nephews on the day before the Niagara trip with Mom and Dad!

Rach with T&C at Josh's apartment in 2010 + their rooftop photo shoot 2024!

And #18 = Our escape room adventure + Triston's GoPro swimming pic - love it!

T,

I see you.

I believe in you.

And I'm confident you will change the world!

You've been through a lot, and you have what it takes to keep moving forward.  God is always with you and for you, and as long as I'm around, I am here to support you in any way I can.  I'm excited for your Senior year at CHA ahead!  Praying for continued growth, healing, and strength as you step into the future with a strong foundation and a bright sense of hope and purpose!

Happy 18th Birthday!!

Love you! 
~Aunt Lindsey

❤ ❤ ❤

13 Years

Yesterday was Jace Michael's 13th birthday - so crazy that he's officially a TEENAGER now!!

In honor of that, here are a few throwback pics to celebrate the 13 years I've known and loved him, starting with this one from exactly 13 years ago today, the first time I held him in the hospital room and he wrapped his tiny hand around my finger! ❤

From the beginning, the Jaceman has had a lot of personality!!  He has the makings of a strong leader, and I believe God has great things in store for him!  He is adventurous and entertaining, a fun-loving outgoing extrovert who feels things passionately and cares about people deeply.  And he's a funny one, laughing here about "tricking" Rachael into sitting on a whoopie cushion, which he called "a fart machine!" lol

Much like his friend (and hopefully role model) Chettles, he loves his birthday!!  He's pretty comfortable being the center of attention, and this pic of his 5-year-old b-day makes me happy! =)

He loves his big brothers, Triston Michael and Carter Lee!

"Aww, I'm so handsome!" -his reaction at that age to seeing this picture =)

We all need an encourager like Jaceman in our lives!  This was him telling me I should write a book about eating pizza with lions. lolol  It was random enough that I remember it well!

He was the very cutest baby/toddler!

This = him sneaking up on this woman in his Hacker mask at Rick and Connie's wedding...  "She's gonna think I'm really actually the hacker!"  He laughed so hard at the big reveal taking off the mask. lol  He's the best!

Him disapproving of my prayer pic on Thanksgiving day. lol

Our first parking lot driving lesson! lol

Just wrapping a baby python around his neck, like you do!

Oooh, the hand signs phase. lol

Grinch mood under a festive Christmas hoodie! lol

After one of his early football games last year!

He loves Hawk from Kobra Cai and went all out with the red and purple look through the summer!

He also embraced the perm trend when it was all the rage. lol

High fiving his sister after she made her first goal!

So excited to get his first cast! lol

Our Spider-Man movie day... he was in this pose when the elevator doors opened, and it made me pretty happy!

"Hey, watch me do a backflip!!" (x10,000)  It is impressive, though - throwing yourself backwards takes extra courage!

Proudly befriending Triston's classmates at the high school games! lol

Posing it up with his favorite golf cart!

Making it rain! $$$$

The king of the world, obviously!

Not letting eye therapy get him down!

Hugging Grandad after his stroke - Jace is really great at connecting with older people and little kids... it's a gift of his, and I love seeing it!!

One of my fav summer pics of him doing a cannonball!

Fall photos at Woodward Park with his siblings!!

Looking extra mischievous when his coach was talking to him! lol

Laughing about how he was "SO MAGIC" because the cracker wrapper kept clinging to him. lolol

❤❤ A quiet Christmas Eve moment.

Summer swim for K-Faith's 4th birthday - love this pic of all of them!

Easter Sunday at Mama Roja's - piggyback ride with Grandpa!

And finally, this random cute pic of him happily playing in the grass in their old neighborhood!

Happy 13th Birthday, Jaceman!! ❤

May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth

And see the light surrounding you

May you always be courageous

Stand upright and be strong

And may you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful

And may your song always be sung

May you stay forever young!

~Forever Young, Bob Dylan

(Parenthood theme song)