36 years ago today

At 7:52 this morning, thirty-six years ago, two weeks pasts her expected arrival date (she was quite comfortable where she was, but I was miserable), my Leslie made her appearance into this world, but more importantly, into my world.  What a beautiful baby she was!  She was such a happy baby.  By the time this picture was taken, she had rubbed all the hair off the sides of her head (destined to come out, I'm sure) and this 'mohawk' remained.Yeah! Her hair grew back. This precious smile would greet me every morning when I walked into her room to get her out of her crib.   Bless her heart, she had fever in this picture which developed into the chicken pox. Leslie was a joy throughout her entire childhood.

Mama Trudy crocheted this dress for her.  Leslie was a petite little thing all the way through Jr. High.You can't see them in this picture, but she had the sweetest little pale freckles across her cheeks and nose.  I always told her that's where the angels kissed her.  I LOVE this picture.She indulged me... who am I kidding, she loved having her picture made and my favorite hobby was taking pictures of my girls. In jr. hi., Leslie was a cheerleader and found herself at the top of most of the pyramids, to my anx.  She loved gymnastics, cheering, volleyball and basketball and I loved watching her in all. 

She was also a very bright student (God blessed her with a photographic memory) and one day she came home from school and announced to me that she thought she would graduate Valedictorian.  Something about their National Honor Society meeting that day had inspired her.  I told her, "Go for it!  You can do it."

One of my favorite pictures of Leslie taken when she was a junior in h.s.  She was dating a certain school mate and they broke up so she went to the beauty shop where a good friend was the beautician and she said, "Timmi, make me a new woman."And Timmi did!  I loved her new do! 

Leslie took a growing spurt in high school and was 5'9" tall when she finished growing, which came in really handy for volleyball and basketball. And by the way, she DID graduate as Valedictorian of her senior class at Kaufman High School, Kaufman, Texas!  Another favorite picture of mine.... so beautiful (inside and out).Leslie received an academic and athletic scholarship to Weatherford Community College in Weatherford, Texas, for two years and then the same to East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas.  Graduating with an Education BS degree in English, Leslie began her teaching and coaching (volleyball) career in Rockdale, Texas, which she ended several years later in Lorena, Texas by way of Fort Worth (Paschal High) and Gatesville, Texas.  I loved visiting her at every school she taught and coached at and I loved how her students loved her.  She was an excellent teacher. 

Leslie met Khalil Coltrain at a Baylor baseball game. (Khalil was their trainer)and it was love at first sight.  They were married on November 24, 2001.  I was so honored when she asked me to walk her down the aisle.Yes sir, Khalil, you did good! (you did good, too, Leslie)Of all, Leslie's accomplishments, and there are many, she will be the first to tell that Pook and Diesel are her finest. I am so proud of my daughter... so thankful for her many talents... so grateful that she's using her God-given singing talent to praise Him... and to make a long story short, I am so blessed that God blessed me with Leslie 36 years ago today.

Happy Birthday, Leslie, and may God continue to bless you as you have blessed me and many others.