Today my 3rd child turns 22. OH MY GOODNESS!! Where has the time gone?? The sad thing for me is that she is not at home. Bethany is traveling with a ministry this year so we cannot celebrate with her. But I am so delighted with what God has done, is doing and will continue to do in her heart and life.
Bethany is my quiet, sensitive, domestic, tender-hearted, giving child. Her personality is akin to the faithful friend of a Golden Retriever. She is a peace-maker in heart and a giggler. Her absence has really made a change in the dynamics of our family.
Bethany - 3 weeks old
Bethany - 2 years old
Bethany - 4 years old
Bethany - 7 years old
Bethany - 9 years old
Bethany - 20 years old
Happy birthday, my darling girl. I miss you so much but pray continually that the Lord will use you in mighty ways to touch hearts and lives for His glory!
Linking to:
A Handful of Heart, The Better Mom, Sharing In His Beauty, Monday Musings, Domestically Divine, Time Warp Wife, Encouraging One Another, Women Living Well, Winsome Wednesday, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Builds Her House
I just love the pictures of your sweet girl! It goes way to fast.
Thanks, Tesha. Yes, it DOES go too fast!! *sniff, sniff*
Our 22-year-old is named Bethany, too, Kate. She’s one of the two that will be moving away from home in June. She and her younger brother will both be starting dental school this summer. Blessings on your birthday girl. Those photos are so sweet!
How exciting for you and your Bethany!! It’s exciting to see them grow up and out but it is a loss as well. Blessings to YOU as your two older ones move away.
Jennifer, my second oldest who is only 13 is interested in dental school. Any advice that you or your children have would be much appreciated!
It is a precious thing as a mother to see all of our many years of labor and sacrifice beginning to bear fruit in the lives of our children. You are blessed Kate! And Happy Birthday to Bethany!
Thanks so much, Tara. I completely agree with you – it is a joy to see the fruit of our labor AND I am so blessed!!
A blessed birthday to your darling daughter Bethany. Hi Kate! Thank you for inviting me to link up. I linked up two of my posts on motherhood. i hope and pray these will bless your readers.
Rina
Thanks so much, Rina! I was very encouraged by both of your posts this morning. Thanks for linking up and for sharing your encouragement (and heart) with us all here!
Happy birthday to your daughter! And congrats to you. I got all teary-eyed. God’s blessings on her upcoming year!
Thanks, Melanie! And I loved your post you shared…great encouragement to get outside in this gorgeous weather!
Hi, Kate! I’m glad you found me over at my blog! I have read posts from your blog in the past, but knowing you have a connection (because of your daughter) here in my hometown makes it more special! I am definitely following your blog now! Feel free to follow mine, too! And I love your link-up party! I’m always thinking of things that I could post about how much I love my son! Children are a blessing from the Lord!! I also understand not having a child around on their birthday. My son was in Ohio last year for his 19th. They grow up SO fast!
In His Lo♥e, Ann ✞
Ann, I’m so glad to be following you too. I LOVE finding these “coincidental” links to people I meet online! I’d LOVE to read your posts on your son…yes, the DO grow up so quickly! Thanks for joining in. I’m so glad I found you!!!
My daughter says to go to the high school play April 26-27, it’s a fund raiser. She is the student teacher in theater.
Happy Birthday to her and I pray she has many more and that this day find her with lots of love and laughter…
Thanks Desiray! You are so sweet.
Kate…feel like I know her…some…just from the pictures you posted. Happy birthday to your sweet girl. May the Lord continue to bless her throughout the coming year. And I tried to link up but it wouldn’t let me so I’ll try again in a while. I’ve never had problems before. Weird, huh? Blessings to you friend. :o)
Aww, thanks, Naomi, you’re so sweet! She is really praying that this year God would stretch her out of her comfort zone in ministry and leadership. She has grown so much over this past year, I’m very blessed to watch her!
That’s weird that you couldn’t link up. Hope it works for you. I don’t want to miss your link!
Thanks for visiting Kate and for your sweet comment!
Happy birthday to your youngest (mine just turned 25; I can’t be that old!!) Blessings to your daughter and a safe journey; her pictures are delightful; what a beauty!
Hugs and blessings,
Denise
Hi Denise! I know what you mean…I also have a 25 year old and wonder when I got this old!! ;-D Thanks for visiting!!
All of my babies are growing up so quickly. My youngest will be 18 next month. I am so happy to see them grow up and so sad to see them grow up.
Yes, Elizabeth!! I hear you. It’s a joy but a bittersweet one. Thanks for your sweet comment.
Happy birthday to your Bethany! 22…yes, where does the time go? My daughter is 24 and my son is 26…it seems like just yesterday they were toddlers and running around the house. But, each day and each stage of their lives is a blessing, isn’t it?
Joan you said it! I love when they are newborns and cuddled in my arms for 20 hours a day. I love when they are toddlers and beginning to show their personalities as they learn to talk. I love when they are school age and learning is such a joy. I love the teen years when we enjoy each other in a deeper way than ever before. I love the adult years when we switch our relationship from chain of command to chain of counsel. Each is precious to me and hard to say good-bye to.
Thanks for your visit!
I keep trying to link up, but get an error message saying I need to create a backlink. What in heaven’s name is that and how can I do it?
Elizabeth, you need to put a link to this post (or my blog in general) on your post you are linking up – either with my button or a mention and hyperlink. Once you do that, you should be fine.
Success!