It’s My Daughter’s Birthday

Michelene Cherry Blossoms

A mother’s treasure is her daughter. ~Catherine Pulsifer

Today is my daughter Michelene’s thirty second birthday. It is hard to believe she is thirty two years old but yes, it’s really true.

I can remember the day she was born. I’m pretty sure it was a Saturday. I was supposed to go to Carla’s bridal shower but Jim and I dropped off the gift and headed to the hospital.  Around 6pm that evening Michelene made her entrance.

She was the first grandchild on both sides of the family. I remember my sister in law Katie bought her bloomers with her name painted on them (I bet I still have a pair saved somewhere!). We spoiled Michelene something good. I think I must have kissed her a thousand times in her first year alone.

Michelene and her brother John
Michelene and her brother John

Over the years, we have shared a love of many things including her father, her brother and her son. She is a single parent and a very good one. I am proud of how she is raising Gavin. I’d go into detail but I’d probably start crying and not be able to finish this post.

We both love nature. She is an inherent gardener and has a garden right now that you would envy. Her dad is a hobby beekeeper and they are planning a business together, raising bee hives and the afterproducts that would create. She puts a bee outfit on and hangs with her dad; this is something I will probably never do.

Though we agree on many things, there are some things we are polar opposites on. She loves hot weather, I no longer do. She loves scary movies, I won’t even watch one. On her thirtieth birthday, she went skydiving! (We didn’t tell my mom until it was over)

Michelene Sky Diving

She worries less about stuff than I do (thank God) and she frequently will put things into perspective for me. We have both been through the wringer at many points in our life. At times she is way more mature that I ever was at her age.

How precious it is to have a daughter. God must have shined on me to give me such a beautiful child, a girl to watch grow up and a friend for life. I am surely the blessed one.

Happy Birthday Michelene!

It's nice to share. Thank you.

18 Replies to “It’s My Daughter’s Birthday”

  1. How lovely! A very Happy Birthday to your dear Michelene. Would you believe it is my daughter’s birthday too? She is 30, and I can’t believe where the years have gone.

  2. Joanne, What a wonderful blog about Michelene. She is the most loving, caring, beautiful woman that I am proud to have her as a cousin. How she gets everything done at her house is beyond me. What a beautiful place. Also
    raising a beautiful son too. I love when mom tells me Gavin always ask if she needs any thing. I love them both,

    1. Hi Linda, she is a beautiful person inside and out and we are blessed to have you all as cousins. I am proud that Gavin will do anything for Aunt Joy and loves his family and grandmothers.
      Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment! xo Joanne

  3. Oh Happy birthday Michelene! It IS hard to believe she is 32…she was 7 or 8 when we met! I love how close you and Michelene are! God never gave me a daughter, but he made up for that with my 2 awesome grand daughters!

  4. “Happy Birthday” to your daughter Joanne and blessings to you as her mom! The picture against those pretty pink blossoms is absolutely beautiful! ! Your daughter looks so much like you in that pic. I love reading your blogs. They are all so heartfelt! Enjoy this special day.

  5. Oh, Joanne, what a beautiful post. You described your daughter so lovingly. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share the joys of life with your child. For mothers, daughters become closer as they get older. Funny though, because I can agree with you about the things that are opposite between you and Michelene. I, too, no longer care for overly hot weather, and I don’t like to fill my eyes or ears with anything that frightens or saddens my soul (I did way more than I should have in my youth, and suffer the consequences of that). Trying to get that junk out of me is a lot harder than letting it in. And I won’t skydive…a friend of mine (she’s much younger than I and has Michelene’s perspective on life) went recently to get over her fears, and she loved it. She’s not a big worrier, either.

    Thank you for sharing this sweet remembrance and a very happy birthday to Michelene! May the blessings of God increase for her and her child.

    Blessings to you, my friend,
    Marianne xo

    1. HI Marianne!
      I do admire Michelene’s spirit and as her mother, I try and let her do her own thing. My mother would never have endorsed me jumping out of planes 🙂 but I want Michelene to be free to do what she wishes. There reaches a point where we can offer guidance or encourage our children, but no insisting. They are on their own and by rights, free to make their own decisions as young adults and either face the consequences or reap the benefits.
      She is a lovely person and for that, I am very proud.
      xo Joanne

  6. I loved this, Joanne. How much I related to everything you wrote! Although Molly did not sky-dive–thank God!–I’m like you; I wouldn’t have told anyone in the family until AFTER she’d safely landed.
    This is a lovely tribute to both of you, Joanne, and to your relationship. There’s nothing that equals a daughter, though having a granddaughter now is close!

    1. I have a grandson but not yet a granddaughter. (Perhaps my son will grant me one!) I actually have some of my grandmother’s pearls saved to make her a little bracelet, if that day comes.
      Thank you Marylin for stopping by and coincidentally Michelene’s adopted Great Dane pup is named….Molly!
      xo Joanne

  7. Nana,

    You’ve been there for me through the thick and thin; it took a lot of learning to be the person I am today. You, Dad, our family and friends have shown me love and compassion the likes of which I only grasped in the past few years of watching Gavin grow into a young man. Thank you for being such a beautiful person and a great example of how to live a grateful and love filled life. I wouldn’t be the same without you in my corner.

    If anyone wants to follow our journey in bees you can like our business at facebook.com/beefuddledfarms Thank you for the birthday wishes!

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