2014 BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Happy Birthday Mommy / Lola! 

2014 marks our 4th year in continuing the “Birthday Tradition” that Marla started in 2010 when she created this blog to celebrate your 75^th birthday. Cards, words etc.. are all precious but soon cards are misplaced and words spoken are forgotten. So in keeping with the times, what better way to “preserve” words of affirmation than through cyberspace?! 

Each year we’ve chosen a different theme to express our love. This year we are sharing words of encouragement through an acronym of your name: ALELI A. S. Each Family was responsible for one letter and as a summary here is our acronym:

A-   ADMIRABLE

L- LEGACY

E- EVERLASTING

L- LAUGHTER

I- INCREDIBLE

A.  – AGELESS

S.-   “SOUL”

It is our prayer that God would use our words to breathe HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT to a woman we are all proud to call MOMMY and LOLA!   Enjoy Reading:

A - Admirable 

Lola we, the Sharpe family, find you admirable for the following reasons: 

You are admirable because you raised a wonderful, loving and smart woman who we had the privilege to call mother. 

You are admirable because you always put family first before anything else. 

You are admirable because you are so generous and sacrificial no matter what circumstances you may be facing in your own life. 

You are admirable because you always try your best to be there for significant family events in our lives (birthdays, graduations etc) despite the distance that may separate us. 

You are admirable because you remain strong through anything life may throw your way. 

You are admirable because you continue to have a strong faith in God. 

We love you so much Lola and each and everyone of us admire and look up to you! We wish we could  be there for your birthday but we are sending you big hugs and kisses from us! Have a wonderful birthday! You are deeply loved! 

Doug, Jonina, Ben, John and Amanda

L – Legacy

Legacy is a gift handed down from one person to another.

Mom, Thank you for the Legacy of values over valuables; sharing what you have learned and not just what you have earned.

      

Growing up in a culture and a generation where social classes were so distinct and the class divide so pronounced, you taught us the value of RESPECT and genuine LOVE for people of ALL walks of life.  You corrected us repeatedly to call them “helpers” and not “maids”.  Yaya and her family is just one of the many examples of your value at work.  I marvel at how confidently and comfortably you are able to talk to people in different sides of the pendulum- from the “Who’s Who” in society to the ones who society looks down on. Your example taught us that people matter to you because they matter to God.

Not only have you impacted Carlo and I but Chloe and Justin as well . Please click on and re-read http://alelistrattan.blogspot.com/2010/07/from-chloe.html

      

       “When children start from a values vacuum- with none taught and none learned- they will float at the mercy of circumstance and situation, and their lives will never be their own”

Mom, Thank you for your Legacy! Your Legacy of Godly Values, has made us grounded in the God who loves us and died for us that we may have abundant and eternal life.

Happy Birthday Mommy…Big Hugs and Love, 
Sandra, Carlo, Chloe and Justin!

 E-  Everlasting

Everything about you will always be enduring in our hearts and minds….your beauty, joy, love, selflessness, your embrace. 

   

      Happy birthday, we love you!- 

      Dino, Jannette, Vinz, Vera and Dana

L-  Laughter:

You are so full of life!  You have had your share of trials and laughter has kept you young and vibrant!  You have taught us that no matter what we are going through in 
life, we can always find a reason to laugh!

We Love you!  Vivien, Brian, Dani and Grant

I- INCREDIBLE:

Websters Dictionary - Amazing, Unbelievable, Beyond belief.  . This word describes you mom because that is the example you have shown.

Your Incredible Beauty - You have shown not only through your outward appearance, but through your actions that you are the most beautiful person in the world. You have taught us the importance of grace under pressure and how to love completely and honestly.

Your Incredible Sacrifice - You have shown us your sacrifice for us. When dad died you supported us through your hard wok and dedication and left all you knew behind because you felt it was the best for us as a family and our future.

Your Incredible Love - Mom even though we don't talk a lot and that pains me... We  always feel your love, even from thousands of miles away or half a world away.Your example of unconditional love has shown all of us the importance of it and of living life with it.

Your Incredible Patience - You have taught me the importance of patience... That life's best things come with patience.

Your Incredible Faith - You have taught all of us the importance of believing in God. That all we have is thru his Grace.

Mom I hope you have a great day on his day that God decided to grace us with your birth. We love you..... 

Alvin, Theresa and Michael

A- Ageless! 

Lola, you are simply beautiful inside and out. I can only hope to be as ageless as you.

Happy Birthday, my Lola! Love you 

Taysha, Stephen, and Braden 

S-  “Soul”

because you have been my “Soul Mate” for the last 32 years.