A Mellow Brick Road...: Happy Birthday, Buddha!!!

Happy birthday Jude Liam “Buddha” Grills Holsapple!!! Mommy and Daddy literally remember when you arrived to forever bless our lives, our little white haired Viking Prince. We carefully constructed your name, as we did with your sister, deciding on “Jude” as an expression of our belief you will become a muse of music and art and athletics and science, all things magical and mystical and remarkably unique and boldly expressive like the song by same name by the Beatles, the best rock band in history. Your middle name, “Liam,” was an intended homage to your Momma and Grandma and Great Grandpa as their middle name is Lea and of course Daddy’s name begins with an “M” and Liam is a distinctive Irish name and we promote our German-Irish-American heritage. “Buddha” is a recognition, remarkably, of a nickname given both your Mommy and Daddy, and Daddy’s source of spiritual guidance. Mommy and Daddy both believe in equity in relationships and mutuality of honor and respect and both the name Grills and Holsapple are your given last names to carry the torch forward into history and what we know of eternity. You are a special, special, special child, young Buddha!

Happy birthday, Buddha! Mommy, as is her way, went all out to have a memorable birthday party and celebration for you and of course Grandma and GiGi and GiPa were co-conspirators in making it all happen, with Grandpa Kurt and Great Grandma Penny joining in, Great Aunt Betty, Aunt Ti and family, Aunt Jane and Uncle Gary, Aunt Dianna and family, Aunt Angela and family, Aunt Luci and family, and of course Arlo and Allie and Ella and Dora---special strawberry baseball cake, peanut butter and chocolate cake, special Blondie’s baseball cookie “cake,” pizza and bread sticks and GiGi’s special punch---and gobs and gobs of presents and a special card from your Great Papa, a special gift from Grandma Betty, Aunt Debbie (who also called you), Aunt Terrie and Aunt Diane. You were in 7^th heaven and fully occupied by it all Mister Two Year Old. We were disappointed that Brother Ryan and Sister Holly, Sister Kelly and Brother Aaron, and Brother Sean all couldn’t make it to join in the celebration.

Mommy, frankly, gets a very special, especially special Mommy award for pulling it all off, as she has been very sick for several weeks now, still her attention to detail would never let on she has not been feeling well at all.

By the time the party ended, and our guests had all gone their way, and we were left with giving you “night, night” hugs and kisses and smothering you with special acknowledgment of your very special presence in this universe, Jude Liam, we were all ready to settle in for some rest, even you! There are never the right words to express the love and joy you and your sister bring to this world, and once again both Mommy and Daddy are speechless and spellbound at our blessings and our beautiful, special, remarkably unique little boy---and we are breathless in anticipation of more adventures with you along the mellow brick road as you grow and develop into the man you are meant to be. Love, love, love---happy birthday!!!

PS Mommy is super sick, as are the two of you, so Mommy will later add birthday pictures. Plus, Aunt Dianna down the road has them on a disc, since Mommy's camera wasn't taking clear pictures, so I'll have to fetch them from her :) She was nice enough to allow Mommy to use her camera.