Slideshow - December Family Birthdays

Happy Birthday to cousin Emily Mitchell

Happy 21st Birthday to cousin Emily Mitchell today! (picture with her brother Elliot was taken Christmas Eve)

Franklin Family Connection: Emily is the daughter of cousin Tony Mitchell: the son of Judy Franklin Mitchell: the daughter of Earline Franklin Gwinn: the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Franklin

walking in a winter wonderland

I took the grandgirls for a walk to check out the snow that was left over on Monday afternoon. It was very cold but we needed the exercise and fresh air!

(from top clockwise) Natalie, Brielle, Sophia and Meredith

Duke update

Duke has released this year's digital yearbook for the Duke Blue Devils Basketball program. Their next game is at UNC Greensboro this Wednesday at 7 PM. It should be broadcast on ESPNU

Check it out at this link. (digital yearbook)

Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith are two seniors that lead the team this year.

family photo Sunday

We hope you all had a very merry Christmas like we did. The house was full (15 of us) and the grandkids were all excited. This photo is from Christmas morning with my grandson, Layton Andrew (Josh and Janelle's boy). We enjoyed our "white Christmas" in Georgia (first time in Lawrenceville for snow on Christmas since 1882) and snow is still falling today, light flurries. Church is one service today at 10:30 AM so hopefully we will make it there safely! Our snowbirds from WI and PA are not too impressed with our snow event so they are not worried about driving to church today :)

Happy Birthday to cousin Brooklyn Baggett

Cindy's cousin Noel and Lisa Baggett's daughter, Brooklyn Grace, turns 7 today! What a special day to have a birthday, Christmas Eve! Cindy's dad (J.L.) was also born on Dec. 24th. Hope you have a great day! (You can tell from the photo above that Brooklyn loves being in the Girl Scouts)

Baggett Family connection: 2nd cousin Brooklyn is the daughter of Noel Baggett: the son of Kelsea Baggett: the son of Joe and Mildred Baggett.

Happy Birthday to cousin Kimberly Arthur

We wish a happy birthday to my 2nd cousin, Kimberly Arthur, today! It must be rough having a birthday right before Christmas :) Pictured above with her family, Husband Paul and three children: Dylan, Kaitlyn, and Derek.

Franklin Family connection: Kimberly (Walker) Arthur is the daughter of my cousin Gloria Dorman Walker: the daughter of my dad's sister Ann Franklin Dorman: daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin

Happy Birthday to cousin Miranda Pettit

I noticed on facebook that my 2nd cousin Miranda Pettit has been celebrating her birthday for the last week. So let me add my "Happy Birthday" wishes to all the rest. (Pictured above with her mom and youngest brother, Preston)

Franklin Family connection: Miranda is the daughter of my cousin Diane Dorman Pettit: daughter of Ann Franklin Dorman (dad's sister): daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin

signs of Christmas along the journey

We finally finished decorating our tree, and Christmas is "around the corner." We are looking forward to having our three sons and their families home for Christmas this year. With seven grandchildren, it should be a fun time for all!

Happy Birthday to Nyah Brown

Cousin Jeff Brown's little girl Nyah turns 2 today! Happy Birthday and hope you have a great one! In this picture from the past summer, Nyah is pictured on the right with her sister, Neeley on the left and cousin Emilee in the middle.

Franklin Family Connection: Nyah is the daughter of Jeff Brown, whose mom is Pat Brown: daughter of Emily Franklin Kirby Jones: daughter of Charles C. and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin.

family photo Saturday

We finally finished decorating our tree (the ornaments above have adorned our tree each year since Christmas 1984) and I added some more lights outside. Just one more week to go until Christmas day! Looking forward to our three sons and their families joining us for the holidays. They should all be with us for the family Christmas Eve party at cousin Judy's.

(Note: since I will be posting some birthday blogs on Sundays now, I have decided to post my photo of the week on either Saturday or Sunday each week now)

early winter for Georgia

Winter has come early this year in the south. It is still a few more days until the official start of winter, the 20th of December, but we have already had snow in Atlanta and enough ice last night to cause about a thousand wrecks on the local highways and byways. Fortunately for me, I worked at home yesterday so I did not have to slip and slide like others. We made it home from church last night safely, even tho Cindy did slip on the ice outside church. Thankfully no bones broken! This morning we had our first icicles of the season!

Happy Birthday, Payton Arthur

Happy 1st Birthday to my sister's grandbaby, Payton Noelle. She looks a lot like Loretta, doesn't she?

Franklin Family connection: Payton is the daughter of Benjamin Arthur, who is the younger son of my sister, Loretta Franklin: daughter of Gene Franklin: son of C. C. Franklin.

turning our thoughts to Christmas

After spending several months preparing music and drama, our church choir presented this year's Christmas program, "We Wish You Christmas," six times this past weekend. Our message this year was focused on the simple truth that God became man, took on himself the form of a servant, and by being born in a humble, lowly fashion in Bethlehem. Pastor Finch did a great job as usual putting together a great program of music for the Christmas season. It was actually the first time for me to sing the choral arrangement of the popular song, "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." We began the program with this song which has lyrics such as "everyone telling you 'Be of good cheer' and "there'll be parties for hosting, Marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the snow." Truly for the Christian this is the "happiest season of all." I feel sad for those who can not stand to hear Christmas songs even during this time of the year.

Other songs included "A Winter Walk" by the ladies and "Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella" sung by the men. A couple of songs came from the files of Becky Bonam, songs she had written some time past but never publicly performed. "All the Trimmings" was a light, fun song but the song about teaching your kids about the symbols of Christmas ("No Sweeter Thing") seemed to set the tone for the rest of the program. I will not list all the songs here, but my two "new" favorites were the last two songs. A Dan Forrest arrangement of "The First Noel" is now my all-time favorite arrangement of that song. John Rutter's "I Wish You Christmas" was a special ending as we closed the program in a circle around the audience (surround sound for sure)!

Now I am ready to focus on the true meaning of Christmas as we finish decorating the house, buying and wrapping the special gifts for the loved ones, and preparing our home for Christmas.

family photo Sunday

Charlie T had fun picking out a Christmas tree!

Happy Birthday to Garrett Michau

Wishing a happy 4th birthday to Garrett Michau. We hope you have a great day.

Family connection: Garrett, a 4th generation Baggett, is the son of Allison B. Michau; her father Leslie Baggett is the 5th son of Joe and Mildred Baggett

I took the picture at left (with his mom and older brother Gavin) this past summer.

Happy Birthday, Cousin Amy York

Cindy's cousin Amy (Baggett) York turns ..... today! Happy Birthday and hope you enjoy your day!

Family connection: Amy is a 3rd generation Baggett; her father is David Baggett, the 4th son of Joe and Mildred Baggett.



This picture of Amy holding Charlie T was taken last spring when Cindy, Rachel and Charlie visited Arkansas. Also in the picture is Charlee Ann (Lori's girl) and Easton (Amy's boy)

today in history

Today is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Sunday, December 7. 1941. Check out this link to photos of Pearl Harbor from the National Archives

family photo Sunday

When Cindy's flight landed in Little Rock a few weeks ago (October), she ran into her aunt Dolores Frank's daughter, Mary Ann -far right, and son Monk Franks and his wife and kids at the airport. Mary Ann and Monk are the children of grandmother (Mam-ma) Baggetts's brother, the late Uncle Jesse (Bo) Franks.

Duke update for the week

Wow, if you missed the game maybe you can still watch it on replay at ESPN3.com. The Dukies were very impressive in the game Weds night against Michigan State. Considering that Michigan State was no. 2 until they lost a game last week, this could have been a match up of no.1 and no. 2 and definitely had the feel of a "March madness" type game. The ESPN link below has a video highlight of the game.



Kyrie Irving, pictured, is a freshman from NJ. He has adjusted quickly to college ball and is said to be the next "John Wall". Not sure how Coach K does it every year, but this year's "Diaper Dandies" are exceptional. Just ask ESPN's Dick Vitale :)
***Click to read "Kyrie Irving scores 31 points"

***Another take on Kyrie Irving by Jeff Goodman of foxsports.com - "Irving already playing like a veteran"

For a recap of Weds game, with videos, photos and replay links go to ESPN.COM - Final Score Duke 84, Michigan State 79

Next up for the Dukies, a rematch from last year's championship game - Saturday at 3:15pm on ESPN - it's Duke vs Butler. This game will be played on a neutral court in NJ. **Click to read Game Notes at GoDuke.com

Our granddaughter Meredith turns 4 today!

Happy 4th Birthday to our granddaughter, Meredith Joan Franklin.

Hope it is not too cold for you to celebrate! And we wish we could be there - (Mamma and Pappa)

Family connection: Meredith is a 5th generation Franklin; her father is Stephen Franklin, the 2nd son of Tim Franklin and grandson of Gene Franklin (the youngest son of C.C. and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin)

Picture above was posted on Leah's blog, Meredith is helping take care of her brother Ethan :)