Welcoming #Year49 with gratitude and a very warm embrace. So grateful to have made it this far. Y’all, I’m truly blessed.♥️
My birthday prayer for this year and beyond is to continue to experience God’s love, mercy, grace and favor; to love and be loved unconditionally; and to reach unimaginable heights. Y’all, it’s the final year of my 40’s and I intend to make it great! ~ Shaun
Y’all, it’s my birthday month and the final year of my 40s. All I can say is, WHAT A RIDE! Y’all, if my 40s were a movie, it would win Oscars in multiple categories. Like.. for real! Talk about one wonderfully, crazy decade! If someone would have told me my 40s were going to be wild, I would’ve laughed my head off – “Quit playing!”
So, I always set a theme for my birthday year. This past year I focused on embracing my freedom. This next year it’s Smooth Sailing. I just want to lay back, relax, create and let the gentle waves take me wherever they please. Whatever blessings come my way, I’m grasping them without overthinking. And the troubles I encounter.. HA! I’m handing those over to God.
Yep.. Smooth Sailing.
Well, I still have a little over three weeks to build up to the big event. Today I’m celebrating with a road trip and lunch– both work related but I’m going to celebrate like this event was planned in my honor. Then tonight I’m going to chat with a few sistas as we watch our favorite show, Tyler Perry’s Sistas. Yep.. the second half of Season 4 returns tonight! What a way to kick off my celebration!
Anyhoo.. let me publish this so I can get on the road. Enjoy your Wednesday!
Today’s Hello Sunday is dedicated to my second mom, my bonus mom, Jewelstine. Today’s her birthday!
Here’s our story:
We met when I was only a few weeks old. She was my first babysitter, first Girl Scout troop leader, and my first employer (let’s just say I was her little teacher’s assistant). She took me to my first movie (E.T.), my first theme park (Libertyland), roller skating rink (Rollerworld) and softball game (she was a softball coach for decades). She also gave birth to two of the kindest, giving, compassionate and hardworking people I know – my siblings – the late Alton Sutton, Jr. and my sunshine (which is what my sister calls me), Kisha. If I had to choose a bonus mom for my children, without hesitation, she would be it. She loves unconditionally and gives selflessly. I am so blessed to have her in my life and absolutely honored to call her Momma.
Happy Birthday Momma! Wishing you as much love as you give as well as many, many blessings.Love you always!
At this very moment, my daughter and I should be preparing to leave for France. We were scheduled for a noon departure from New Orleans arriving in Paris tomorrow morning, January 27 – my daughter’s 27th birthday.
In September, my daughter casually mentioned that she wanted to spend her 27th birthday in Paris. Well, as a mom who absolutely LOVES birthdays, I started planning. Long story short, we were booked and ready to go then Omicron happened. Although we are both vaxed and boosted, a couple of weeks ago we decided to postpone our trip because we didn’t want to be either denied going (a positive diagnosis seemed almost inevitable) or one or both of us stuck and quarantined in Paris because of a positive diagnosis. It was just too risky, especially since my son wasn’t going (he didn’t want to miss a few days of school.. he’s so responsible – Lol).
I wish I could say we are really disappointed about not going, but honestly, I can’t. The truth is neither of us wanted to leave my son behind and he didn’t want to be left behind. So I guess you can say it all worked out for the best. When we go later this year, he will be going with us. And my daughter, she’s not missing a thing. After canceling our mother-daughter trip, she planned a solo trip to another destination. At the end of the day, I know everything worked out the way it was meant to be.
Midnight celebration! His sister surprised him with balloons at midnight. Yes, he’s loved!
Y’all, that time between birth and adulthood passed too quickly. Blinked one time and my infant son was a toddler. On the second blink, he was a preschooler. The next few blinks I barely remember – first day of elementary school, middle school, then high school. In a few months, graduation. Not even sure what will happen when I blink next.
Honestly, it has been an honor watching him grow into the young adult he is today. I am truly grateful God chose me to be his mother. Praying that his adulthood is filled with many blessings and much success. Also praying God gives me wisdom to properly guide and assist him through his next phase of life.
Two adult children – what will the next phase of my life look like?