Grace had a birthday yesterday. She turned 15 and woke up early to hug her Dad before he went to work. None of the children had school yesterday which was a treat for her….to have the day to celebrate. Just after 9a.m. her big brothers finally woke up and she could open her stack of gifts that Seth and Sarah had helped me wrap.
She received a candle, three fabric mesh bags for treasures, a book on nail polish styles, socks, a sketch pad, an art book, and a necklace.
Then we sat around trying to figure out what to do. She wanted me to take her shopping so we decided Jacob and Ethan would stay home with Seth, David, and Caleb. Grace and I took Sarah and picked up Aunt Cassandra on the way to the mall. It was a beautiful day. After our day of ice we had a day of 65 degrees. Grace sketched in her new sketch pad and played tunes for us, as we drove along.
We ate a nice lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.
Sarah needed to use the bathroom and I surprised Grace by asking her (even though it was her birthday) to take her little sister to the restroom. While she was gone I took the opportunity to flag down our waiter (whom Grace was in love with) and order her a piece of chocolate cake for her birthday. The girlies came back and after a while, Grace was surprised with a piece of heavenly cake with ice cream on top, placed in front of her by the charming waiter.
When it was just the four of us again she asked, “How did he know it was my birthday? Did you tell him or did he overhear something?”
There were four long handled spoons so we could share and it was DIVINE. Cassandra only had one bite because she has been overindulging in leftover Halloween candy.
Grace bought herself a new ring and a belt with her birthday money and Aunt Cassandra bought her some thick comfy socks from GAP (Grace has a thing for nice socks).
We left the mall way too soon because the boys needed to be taken to practice and Grace needed to go to Drama rehearsal. Before we left the house for practices, I took a few “Look Who’s Fifteen Now” pictures to document her special day.
Aunt Cassandra helped me with the children at the playground so I could get my Bible study lesson done and then we headed home so I could start dinner and make some phone calls. I picked up the boys at 5:30 while the rest of the family watched Tangled with Aunt Cassandra. Back home again (busy day), I finished Grace’s special requested dinner, chicken Alfredo. Uncle Isaac arrived and Rich picked up Grace at 7:30. We were all singing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday by 8pm.
It was a Reese’s peanut butter ice cream cake.
*****
A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown
Grace is an adorable, well adjusted 15 year old teenager who loves school, family & friends, sign language, reading, her pets, Jesus, singing & drama. She is a responsible and capable teacher’s assistant to her beloved chorus and drama teacher. She is in Honors English. She knows what she believes and she is not afraid to share her beliefs in a loving, respectful way. She has her tough days but has good friends to talk to. She is very loving and likes to give out hugs. She hates to see people she loves hurting and would do anything to help them. She likes texting, pinterest, and instagram (at home on the iPad). She is a jeans and cute/casual top, with sneakers or UGGS kind of girl. She has lovely long hair and pretty brown eyes.
I am thankful to have a daughter GRACE LILLIAN, watching her grow is a blessing and a joy.
She said when her Dad hugged her the morning of her birthday he called her a little girl about five times. She understood what he didn’t say, “I don’t want you to grow up too soon.”
Good to be Home 
Happy Birthday to a beautiful fifteen-year-old! I still think of her as a baby. Yesterday I drove up to Moraine State Park to take some photos and I remembered the time many years ago when we took our little ones to play there in the leaves.
That day seems like yesterday, Christie, and still stays in my mind as a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday, Grace! You are a beautiful girl, inside and out! 🙂
Happy Birthday! Beautiful! How can this be 15? I remember watching her when she was 5 when you and Rich went to Fl. Amazing! Such a sweet sweet girl!
She still remembers that, too, and so do I! Thanks once again, ten years later. LOL
Your very welcome! ;). I mentioned to Jeremy that she was 15 and the first thing he said was about that weekend we had her and how she would come up to him and ask to sit on his lap. ;).
Grace is a beautiful girl, inside and out. One of my grand-daughters will be 15 the day after Christmas, another grand-daughter was 13 in Oct. My oldest great grand-daughter will be 15 the 15th of this month. We always celebrate these 3 birthdays together instead of having a big family party. This year I will take them to the Pottery Bayou shop where they each can paint a piece of pottery. Then we’ll com back to my house for tacos and birthday cake. Some of the rest of the family will probably come then.
That is a wonderful plan for your great/granddaughters, Gracia. It will be such a fun day for you.
Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter! It seems time just flies by so quickly! My oldest just turned 12 and I just can’t believe how fast the years went by 🙂
Thank you for the birthday wishes for Grace, I’m going to make sure she sees all these nice notes here later when she gets home. Time does fly by so quickly, having older children is strange and wonderful all at the same time. Happy Birthday to your oldest!
Happy Birthday to your lovely Grace Lillian. Sounds like she had a special day.
Can’t believe she is 15!
She’s beautiful, Shanda.
Such a gift these daughters are.
Happy Birthday to her. ❤️
Yes, your Kate is beautiful and I cannot believe how quickly everyone is growing. I’ve been watching your children grow up on the blogs. 🙂
Shanda, It has been so interesting to watch Grace (well, all of your children) grow up on the pictures I have followed over the years on your blogs–and now to see her as a lovely young woman, which indeed she is, Thanks for sharing and allowing us all this unique picture of you and your families life. Happy birthday to Grace. she was named very appropriately. freda
Dear Freda, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, it’s always good to hear from you….I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog through the years, thank you for sending along birthday wishes for Grace. Hope you are well!
A very happy birthday to a beautiful 15-year-old! It looks like Grace had a great birthday — how nice to have the day off from school!
Happy Birthday Grace! You are lovely! Love sharing your day with you via mom’s blog.
She is Beautiful and sounds like a lovely young lady!
Happy Birthday to Grace! And happy “birth” day to you too!!!
happy birthday Grace, you are beautiful
On the 12 of November. My baby girl of eighteen leaved for college. Our kids grow-up too fast. You have a beautiful family.