Happy Birthday to Donna Daly

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" to my cousin Donna Daly.  We hope you had a great day.  The photo above was taken with her hubby Mike as they celebrated their son Trey's high school graduation this past weekend!   Congrats to Trey Daly as well!  

Franklin Family Connection:  Donna Brown Daly is the daughter of my cousin Pat Brown: who is the daughter of Emily Franklin Kirby Jones: who was the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC. 

family photo Sunday

Haley Grace Elisabeth is dedicated to the Lord by her mom and dad, Rachel and Brandon.  Rachel's parents are to the left and we are to the right.  Pastor Wheeler prayed for the dedication at the end of the Mother's Day service at Victory Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Happy 5th birthday to Mikaya Griego

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to Mikaya Griego who turns 5 today.  Mikaya is the daughter of Cindy's cousin Sheryl. 

Baggett Family Connection:  Mikaya is the daughter of Sheryl Baggett Griego: who is the daughter of Kelsea Baggett: who is the son of Joe and Mildred Franks Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR. 
 

family photo Sunday

We were excited to be in Florida for Haley Grace's newborn photoshoot. 

Happy Birthday to Lori Wardlaw

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to Cindy's cousin Lori Wardlaw.  Hope you have a fun day!  Lori is pictured with her daughter Charlee above.

Baggett Family Connection: Lori Baggett Wardlaw is the daughter of David Baggett: who is the son of Joe and Mildred Franks Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR.

Happy Birthday to Susan Blackstock

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to Susan Blackstock. 

Hope you had a fun day!

Susan is pictured with her sons and hubby, cousin Mike in the picture above.

Baggett Family Connection:  Susan is married to Cindy's cousin Michael Blackstock: who is the son of Robbie Kay Baggett Blackstock: who is the daughter of Joe and Mildred Franks Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR.

Happy Birthday to Rachel Pettit

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to Rachel Pettit.  Rachel is cousin Dianne's granddaughter and is pictured above with her.  

Hope you have a great day!

Franklin Family Connection:  Rachel Pettit is the daugher of my 2nd cousin Ray Pettit, Jr.: who is the son of Dianne Dorman Pettit: who is the daughter of Annie Mae Franklin Dorman: who was the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.

Happy Birthday to Christy Pettit

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to Christy Pettit, wife of my 2nd cousin Preston Pettit.  Hope you had a fun day! 

Franklin Family Connection:  Christy Pettit is married to Preston Pettit: who is the son of Dianne Dorman Pettit: who is the daughter of Annie Mae Franklin Dorman: who was the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.

Happy Birthday to Gavin Michau

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" to Gavin Michau who turns 10 today. 

Hope you had a fun day!

Gavin is pictured with his mom and little brother Garrett above.  

Baggett Family Connection:  Gavin is the son of Cindy's cousin Allison Baggett Michau: who is the daughter of Leslie Baggett: who is the son of Joe and Mildred Franks Baggett of  Pine Bluff, AR.

family photo Sunday



Haley Grace Elisabeth with her great-grandparents this past Mother's Day weekend

We drove over to SC on Friday before Mother's Day and picked up my mom and dad to go to Florida with us for the weekend.  It was a fun and busy weekend with lots of memories made: 
My nephew Philip's graduation on Saturday afternoon,  a "new-born photo shoot" of Haley Grace on Saturday night, a Mother's Day brunch for the all the moms on Sunday morning at Victory Baptist, and a family picnic for the afternoon at Brandon's home with Debbie's family and our former neighbor Paula.   

my, how time flies

Natalie(right photo)

Seems like only yesterday we were in Wisconsin to see our first grandchild when she was 7 weeks old, and now she has turned 7 years old!   In the meantime our sons and their wives have given us 7 more grandkids, with one more on the way in October.   We decided it was time to enjoy our grandchildren more and we would try to make it to their birthday celebration when feasibly possible.  This year we were able to make it to Wisconsin in May since Cindy was not teaching, and we were able  to celebrate Natalie's 7th birthday with the family.  

Meredith, Natalie, and Uncle Mitch(Leah's brother)

Originally Cindy was going to Wisconsin to help take care of the grandkids while Leah recovered from surgery.  Then I decided we should both be there for Natalie's birthday, so I flew up a week later.  Thankfully, the Lord allowed me to go because I was in the hospital Easter weekend and I had already purchased my plane ticket to leave the following Tuesday night for WI.  Looking at the bright side, I am thankful that I did not go to Wisconsin earlier and end up in the ER there. We had spent a few weeks trying to decide whether I should go to Wisconsin for Easter week or for the week after Easter. God directed us to choose the latter. 

Psalm 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

  Ethan and Sophie enjoyed riding the horses at the Pizza Ranch game room!

Happy Birthday to Tony Mitchell

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to cousin Tony Mitchell.   Hope you have a great day!   Tony is pictured above with his wife Debra.

Franklin Family Connection: Tony Mitchell is the son of cousin Judy Mitchell: who is the daughter of Earline Franklin Gwinn: who was the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.

photos from Mother's Day weekend

We enjoyed spending the weekend in Jacksonville, FL with Brandon, Rachel, Charlie and our new grandchild, Haley Grace.  It was a special weekend in several ways as I was able to bring my mom and dad with us. It's rare these days when my dad will agree to go on a long trip.  They stayed with my sister, Debbie, who lives around the corner from Brandon.   On Saturday we drove to Deland, FL to see Debbie's son Philip Logan receive his diploma from Stetson University.  Then on Saturday night when we returned to Jax, Rachel and Brandon were finishing up a "newborn photo shoot" of Haley Grace. 

Cindy and I took our turns posing with the baby, as well as my mom and dad (great-grandparents) and Rachel's mom and dad.  Sunday was Mother's Day and it was "baby dedication" day at Victory Baptist Church. We were thrilled to be there to see Haley Grace dedicated to the Lord by Brandon and Rachel (and Charlie T). 





In the afternoon Brandon and I grilled burgers and hot dogs for a combined "Mother's Day" and "Graduation" party.   All in all it was a fun-filled and busy weekend!

Happy Birthday to Leah Franklin

Wishing "Happy Birthday" today to Leah Franklin.  

 Leah is married to our middle son, Stephen.

Pictured above is Leah and Stephen with their children, Natalie, Meredith, Sophie and Ethan - taken at our church this past Christmas.

Franklin Family Connection:  Leah Johnson Franklin is married to Stephen Franklin: who is the son of Tim Franklin(me): who is the son of Gene Franklin: who is the son of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.

Baggett Family Connection:  Leah is married to Stephen Franklin: who is the son of Cindy Baggett Franklin: who is the daugher of J.L. Baggett, Jr: who was the son of Joe and Mildred Franks Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR.

family photo Sunday

We were able to take Mom and Dad to Deland, Florida yesterday to attend their youngest grandson's graduation from Stetson University.  Philip Logan, my sister Debbie's son, graduated from the School of Music on May 7, 2011.  Philip is pictured above with his girlfriend Lisa Bottomly.

Happy Birthday to Winnie Baggett

We wish a special "Happy Birthday" to Winnie Baggett (Cindy's mom) today!   Hope you enjoy your special day and Mother's Day all-in-one!   Winnie is pictured with my mom, Martha Franklin, in a photo taken last summer in Arkansas.

Baggett Family Connection:  Winnie was married to the late J.L. Baggett, Jr: who was the son of Joe and  Mildred Franks Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR.

spring colors around home

We were a little impatient for spring this year, at least I was, because we had such a cold  December and January.  So near the end of February we stopped by the "Family Tree Nursery" in Snellville and picked up several plants.  A worker helped us pick out "spillers", "fillers", and "thrillers" to fill two hanging baskets and we have been enjoying them all spring on our front porch. 


Cindy has been looking for a yellow rose bush for several years, but it seems the yellow roses sell out first.  Last year I tried to find one for Mother's Day, but they were all gone.  When we were at the nursery in February, they had just received their first shipment of roses that week and we were able to pick out a yellow, long stem rose bush.  Tuesday when we returned from Wisconsin, two roses were in full bloom on our back deck.  You can see from the picture below the beautiful roses it produces. 

Happy Birthday to Gloria Walker

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to my cousin Gloria Walker.  Hope you have a great day! Gloria is pictured above with her daughter Kimberly. 

Franklin Family Connection:  Gloria Dorman Walker is the daughter of Annie Mae Franklin Dorman: who was the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.

Happy Birthday to Doug Alexander

Wishing a "Happy Birthday" today to Doug Alexander.  Doug is husband of Cindy's niece Kim (Pictured above) Hope you have a great day! 

Baggett Family Connection:  Doug Alexander is the husband of niece Kim Baggett Alexander: who is the daughter of Sam Baggett: who is the son of J.L. Baggett, Jr: who was to son of Joe and Mildred Franks Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR.

Happy Birthday to Natalie Franklin

Happy Birthday today to our oldest grandchild, Natalie Marie Franklin, who turns 7 today! 

We are in Wisconsin to help celebrate the big day!  

Pictured above Natalie is holding her cousin Madilin.

Franklin Family Connection: Natalie is the daughter Stephen Franklin: who is the son of Tim Franklin(that's me!): who is the son of Gene Franklin: who is the son of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.  

Baggett Family Connection:  Natalie is the daughter of Stephen Franklin: who is the son of Cindy Baggett Franklin: who is the daughter of J.L.Baggett, Jr.: who was the son of Joe and Mildred Baggett of Pine Bluff, AR.

family photo Sunday

My mother (Martha is 2nd from the left) with several of her nieces in a photo from cousin Dianne's birthday party last week.  Left of mom is cousin Judy, right of mom is cousin Dianne.  Dianne's sisters are at the right - Gloria and Barbara.

Happy Birthday to Dianne Pettit

Wishing a Happy Birthday to my cousin Dianne Pettit.  Hope you have a great day!    Your children did a fantastic job celebrating your 65th birthday last week.  Dianne is pictured above with three of her children and most of her grandchildren. 

Franklin Family Connection:  Dianne Dorman Pettit is the daughter of Annie Mae Franklin Dorman: who was the daughter of Charles C and Mattie Belle Keeter Franklin of Clifton, SC.