Happy Birthday, Mar Ran & Ann!

Happy Birthday to a woman who is ageless and timeless and eternally beautiful on the inside and out! And that is the truth! Ann is a wonderful human being, a best friend, beautiful woman and we are so very fortunate to have her in our lives! My only regret is that we didn't get to know her before 2002. But I feel like I've known her all my life! Anyone who meets her becomes her friend. She's like a mother to me and a sister at the same time.

Bill & Ann at their home



It would take me days to sum up all that Ann is to so many people, and even then only scratch the surface. It's a fun project I intend to do and complete. For today, we will wish her the best birthday of all, and MANY more! Wish we could have been there with you to help celebrate!



She's the President of our son's fan club! She has members in CA, TX, LA, OH, IL, NY, NC and more! People we've never met! We were fortunate to get to take our new baby to her house on our first visit we had with him. She made him feel a welcome to the family that has just grown ever since.



He trusts her implicitly. Today he called her to sing the birthday song for her, as only a 5-yr old can do. Yay!



Ann just loves his curls, so we let him keep them last Christmas when we drove from NM to CA. She always makes him feel so loved, how could a child be so lucky, how could we have gotten so lucky to have her!



Mar Ran & Chris



Married almost 45 years, and still happy together!



Ann's hobbies are too numerous to list, would take days to describe and give them credit. Here's her annual tradition of a lamb cake that she makes every Christmas. She's been making them for decades!



A money boutonniere, a gift for one of Bill's award ceremonies.



Ann has some of the most beautiful porcelain dolls. She makes the body parts, fires them up in her own kiln, paints them, makes their hair, and makes their clothes. I never saw such an amazing collection of dolls. She gave me one of her baby dolls that she made, before we got Chris. She slept in his crib until he arrived! Here is one that stands near the fireplace. On this day, she was keeping company with the cookies, carrots and milk left out for Santa's visit.



Ann,
You are amazing! I hope you have the most wonderful birthday day, week and month! Can't wait to see you in person again!

Love to you both always!