PTI: Birthday Time Here!!

Written by cycleguy on August 23rd, 2010

Pardon The Interruption! I interrupt this blog and its theme to bring you a special announcement:  Today, August 23rd, is my (Jo thinks I should say “our” as if she had something to do with it) youngest daughter, Janna’s 31st birthday!!  (Do you know how old that makes me…feel?)  I know many, okay most of you, don’t care about whether it is her birthday or not, but I am proud of Janna (as I am of Tami) so I thought I would write this post as sort of an “Open Letter to Janna.”  You can listen in if you want.  If not, see you next post.  😛

Dear Janna,

It hardly seems possible it is your 31st birthday.  I can remember when you surprised us with an early morning entrance into this world with a middle of the night awakening.  You weren’t due for another 3 weeks and C-section babies weren’t supposed to do that, but like so much else in your upcoming life, you had a mind of your own.  Where Tami has gobs of brown hair, you were almost bald (or was that blonde hair?)  Your mom’s first words were “Oh Bill will be so disappointed.”  See, that is why you have to love me more than her because I was thrilled you were here. 🙂  I have to admit that I was fully expecting a boy, especially since I had been so foolish to say from the pulpit one day, “I know this one will be a boy.  I put my dibs in with God.”  Since God has a sense of humor, I used to joke that He probably changed the sex after the announcement. 🙂  I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to have you home until I realized that my world was now changing again.  Gone was the easy-care life of having an older daughter (now 4) and here was the diaper-changing, smelly formula, and carrying-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-when-you-leave the-house syndrome.   But we survived, even the middle of the night feedings that I finally hood-winked your mom into doing because it wiped me out for the day (she was a stay-at-home mom).

As you grew, that little independent streak first evident on the nightday of your birth became more evident.  You were not one to sit on my lap and learn to read books like your sister nor were you one to sit on the floor and learn your shapes with that shape-thingy.  No…you walked away whenever you had a chance, however, it was just a week or so later that we caught you sitting on the floor doing it yourself.  Do you sense a pattern here?  😛 Your hair grew out blonde and straight except, of course, when you had that perm done during the “big hair days.”  Aaahhh yes, the glory of blackmail.  The school system we were in at the time thought it was okay to start you a year early to school and even though you were certainly glad you graduated a year earlier than you would have, I am not too sure you were very keen on us at times.  But you hung with the studies (and I forget how many boyfriends) to graduate.  Then you threw us for a loop with “I don’t want to go to college.  I want to stay and live at home.”  Aaah no!!  So, off to college you went, kicking and screaming.  We were so proud of you when you wanted to go back and back and back and graduated.  And I will never forget your words when you went away: “I don’t want to be married; I don’t want kids; and I don’t want to work with kids.”  You just gotta be careful with statements like that you know?  You are married, have a child of your own (the greatest grandson in the world), and you work as an Assistant Director in a DayCare.  Ain’t life grand?

While I can continue reminiscing, I can wrap things up with this: we are sooo proud of you- of the wife and mother you have become and and the woman of God you are becoming.  I pray God grants both you and us many more years because it will be thrilling to see what all He has planned for you.  Happy birthday honey.  I (and your mom) love you very much.

Janna occasionally reads my blog (I think) so if you want to send her a greeting you can respond here.  I will make sure she reads it (she is sort of independent you know?) and sees any thoughts you may have.  😀

 

28 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jan Frame says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Janna!!!!! What a wonderful person you are and a great mommy!!

    What a lovely birthday letter to your daughter Bill, of course it almost made me cry. Janna is a lovely young woman and she is very blessed to have you and Jo as her parents. You have been wonderful parents to her..between you, Jo, and God, you have an outstanding daughter!!! I hope Janna enjoys her special day!

  2. Toby says:

    Happy Birthday Janna!! Hope you’re able to enjoy it through the embarrassment of this post :-).

  3. Tony York says:

    Happy Birthday wishes to Janna!

    I have a ‘feeling’ that you are well-loved by your mother and father.

    And, Bill, what a great way to say ‘I love you’ to the ladies in your life.

  4. michael says:

    Happy birthday Janna.

    @Toby isn’t that what we are supposed to do if we have kids? Embarrass them?

    • cycleguy says:

      Thanks Michael. And I would agree with your note to Tony. BTW folks: if you get a chance drop over to Michael’s blog about his son, Ethan, heading off to kindergarten. Great advice! 🙂

  5. Jim F. says:

    Happy Birthday Janna!

    Life moves fast – just read about Michael’s so going off to Kindergarten and now reading this – I just get the idea that life moves fast!

  6. Happy Birthday Janna! Many blessings on your special day!

    • cycleguy says:

      Thanks Jay. Word for all: Jay’s son has just gone through a “rite of passage” that Jay has blogged about. I suggest you go check it out.

  7. Jaycee (E.A) says:

    Happy birthday Janna. I almost got teary-eyed while reading this. If you’ve got the same genes as your father, you must be a great woman by now. Cheers to the great things God has in store for your future, and I pray for long life and prosperity for you 🙂

  8. Ani says:

    Hi Jana, Happy Birthdaaaaayyyy!

    • Ani says:

      Oh no! It’s Janna. Sorry. I will do it again. Better, I will sing it for her.

      Happy Birthday to you
      Happy Birthday to you
      Happy Birthday dear Janna
      Happy Birthday to you.

  9. jasonS says:

    Happy birthday Janna!

    I turned 31 as well this year and glad to still be progressing. 🙂

  10. Janna Pullins says:

    Thanks everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes. My mom and dad are the best and I love them so much. They have been great examples of a Godly man and woman, and I am so glad that I have them as this example. Thanks Dad for the sweet words and I love you.

    • cycleguy says:

      You’re more than welcome. Mom says I am fortunate you are still talking to me since I gave your age. 🙂 I love you bunches. Looking forward to seeing you and that little guy in about two weeks. (Translate: sitting on pins and needles).

  11. Pinky says:

    Happy birthday to Janna!!!!! I have told MY daughter and will tell her that your 30’s and 40’s are the BEST years of your life! Trust me:):)
    That was a beautiful tribute to your daughter! She sounds like a wonderful woman! I know what it is like to be SO PROUD of your children!!! XO, Pinky

  12. cycleguy says:

    Thanks to all of you for taking the time to say a word or two. I am honored that you would do so for someone you don’t even know.

  13. Tami Grandi says:

    HEY! What about waiting on pins and needles to see me?

  14. Robin Rane' says:

    Happy Birthday Janna!
    Seems you have quite a legacy in this beautiful family of yours.
    I pray the coming year would be full of God meeting you right where you are…
    xo

  15. *~Michelle~* says:

    Happy Birthday Janna!

    And if I may say, from what I know so far, it sounds like you have a beautiful family to celebrate with! 🙂

  16. cycleguy says:

    Robin & Michelle: Appreciate your kind words for Janna and about her parents. Makes a dad proud to see his daughters embrace a Godly life. 🙂

  17. Janna Pullins says:

    thanks again everyone for all the birthday words. You all are to kind and some of you I dont even know. Thank you again….