Celebrating a half-century. No, make that an eternity...

On February 8, 1960 a precious bundle of boy was born to Mike and Janice Simmons.  They named him Michael Marlon Simmons...yes...as in movie star Marlon Brando.  Michael Marlon's mother (say that three times fast!) was quite the fan.  The name Michael, of course, is the formal version of the nickname Mike...the name his dad went by...even though his given name is Robert Milton Simmons, Jr.  So...not really sure from whence they got "Mike" .  But, it got passed to first son, Michael Marlon...also affectionately known as "Mike".

 

Here is Michael Marlon Simmons at 9 months old.

Whew! He takes my breath away!!

Is it the onesie?  ...or maybe the thigh rolls?

Book him...he's mine!!

We celebrated Michael Marlon Simmons' 50th birthday on February 6, 2010.  It was a precious time of family and friends.  It was a wonderful time of encouraging and honoring words.  It was a celebration of the redeeming power of the gospel.  It was a time of exalting Jesus and exulting in God's handiwork to the praise of His glory.

 
 

Blowing out the candles proved a bit challenging...

you gotta love some trick candles!

Thanks to my co-conspirator, Mike's boss, I was able to whisk my birthday boy away for a surprise night at The Whitestone Inn followed by February 8...the big day...the birthday...to be spent together...just the two of us.  It was a sweet time of rest...in the spa tub, reflection...over what it would be like to have a spa tub, reminiscing...about the gently massaging spa tub bubbles, and rejoicing...that we now know a little taste of heaven (called a spa tub) is but a 45 minute jaunt from Brewer Street.  (sorry...no photo...it wouldn't do it justice!)

As I prepared and planned for my sweet hubby's birthday weekend, the words "Welcome Home" kept going through my mind.  I believe it was the Holy Spirit's way of helping me shop for the perfect birthday present (pictured below). See, I have had the privilege of witnessing the miracle of God's grace in my husband's life.  Just as the father ran to embrace the prodigal...the Father scooped up His child, Michael Marlon Simmons, cradled him to His breast, and said, "Welcome home, my son. You were lost...but now you're found!"  Michael Marlon Simmons hasn't been the same since...the old has passed away...the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Thanks to Christopher Koelle for expressing the parable of

The Prodigal Son so beautifully.

(pretend the slight reflection of the photographer isn't there...)

So...Happy 50th Birthday, my love!  Thank you for loving Jesus more than me.  Thank you for encouraging me to love Jesus more than you.  I am deeply honored to be your wife.  I am profoundly thankful to be your sister in Christ.

 

I love you more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow!

You're still just as cute as that 9 month old a few paragraphs up!!