To My Darling Daughter, Jessica

Twenty years ago this morning was, and will forever be, the best day of my life. It was the day that you, my precious daughter Jessica, were born. Everyone that knew your daddy and I, knew that today was the day that we had dreamed of ever since we first met. You were the catalyst that brought us together. Our hopes of a future, with children, was our dream from the beginning.


I remember the evening that your dad and I first discussed children. We were not even dating. We were just friends. He was telling me how much he loved babies, and how he had always wanted one. He felt that it was something that would never happen for him. I remember looking at him and saying, “If we were together, we would have had several by now”. That my darling, was the day that I think he saw me in a new light. Soon after, we began to date.

You are everything that we could have ever hoped and wished for and more. I look at you, and I see so many others in you, that make up who you are today. When you are shy, I see my dad, your Grandfather Clyde. Your habit of doing things immediately, and not procrastinating comes from Nanny (my mom). Your patience, from your Me-Maw (Butch’s mom), and of course your stubbornness, from both sides of the family. You got that quite honestly. Sometimes, that is a good thing.

From the moment I first peered into your eyes, you were everything that I ever wanted in life. My darling daughter, daddy and I love you and will always love you. No matter what the future brings, please be secure in that knowledge. You have made all of our dreams come true.

We love you Jessica,
Mom and Dad

Grace is NOT my middle name!

Two years ago, we remodeled our bathroom, and when we did I had the contractor put in a detachable shower head with a six foot long hose so that I could easily spray the tub walls down when I got out of the shower, which I do everyday. I also had him install it a little higher because I hate a shower head that is right there at the top of ones head. Anyways, here is a pic of the shower head.

Well, this morning I sprayed down the walls after bathing as usual and must not have placed the shower head back in the holder correctly because it fell, SPLAT!!!, right across the bridge of my nose and I think I saw stars. Jessica heard the commotion and came rushing in. She promptly looked at me and said "Oh my gosh Mom, you're bleeding!!! Ohhhh, I think I'm gonna get sick!". She helped me out of the shower, we got ourselves together and went to the Patient First.

One examination, five x-ray views, some steri-strips, and one tetanus shot later, here I am being chauffeured home.

Here is another view with my black eye starting to really show.

Now, it is eight hours later and I have one good black eye, one kind of black eye, and a lovely knot in the middle of my nose. I look like I went a few rounds in the boxing ring.

Note to ones self. DO NOT fight with the shower head, the shower head will always win.

By the way, my middle is Louise, not Grace.