Shea's Magnolia Tree

My baby will be 12 years old on January 22. It floods me with emotions that are almost overwhelming yet bring so much joy. I have been busy planning her birthday weekend coming up at Disneyland. We are staying at the Disneyland Hotel for 2 nights with Amy & the girls as well as Hayley. I am surprising her and have invited Libbs & Patti Watti & all the girls up for her birthday dinner at Goofy's Kitchen on Saturday night. It should be so much fun! I'm keeping busy with party bags and wrapping her gifts, yet this morning I was reminded of why I love her birthday so much. On the day that I found out that I was pregnant with Shea, I immediately thought that her due date would be in January which is when the Magnolia Trees get their blossoms. I took a picture of a Mag Tree by my mom's house on that very day that I found out the wonderful news. The day that I had Shea, Rob went and took a picture of the same tree so that I could see it in full bloom. As Shea has grown, each time we pass the tree, she always says, "Look Mom, there's my tree." She noticed the other day that all the baby buds were starting to appear and I told her that soon...we would have beautiful blooms. This morning as I passed it, there they were...what seemed to be a million little baby blooms just waiting for next Monday to open on Shea's birthday. As a Mommy, so many things make me tear up, but that tree does something to me. It represents faith that each year will bring new hope and a fresh start. Is is crazy that I will drive out of my way just to see our tree? I don't think so. I think it's so worthwhile!

Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile.

Sir Wilfred Grenfell