Happy Birthday to me! Charlotte Family photographer
In 1981 I was 11 years old. I adored Strawberry Shortcake, dancing, ballet, I didn’t have glasses yet, I had just moved to Windsor Hills Elementary in Oklahoma City. A new year of school had just started. charlotte family photographer
I had no idea what was ahead.
I wasn’t thinking about the day I could finally drive, date, be in love, college, or living out on my own. I loved being with my family, playing with my sisters, and walking to school (it was just through the gate next to my house). My dad was the awesomest guy I knew and my mom was the coolest mom ever. I was lucky and I had no idea.
Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond..
…played on the 8-track in our ginormous mustard yellow station wagon while we took road trips. We didn’t wear seatbelts and we slept in a lumpy, homemade bed in the way back. We played the state license plate game and made bologna sandwiches out of our cooler while we drove.
The 80s weren’t in full swing yet. Big hair, rockin’ bands, leggings, Sperry Topsiders and Vans were just beginning to make appearances, records and 8-tracks were the only way to listen to music with cassette tapes being a distant dream.
I was living a little girl’s dream and didn’t even know it.
I had 2 fun sisters that were my best friends, brothers that were young and sometimes annoying and more often than not pretty funny, and parents who were still in love.
Most of my friends’ parents were still married and divorce wasn’t as common as it is now. Our basement was turned into a room where my mom created an afterschool/summer program for my friends who had moms that worked. We learned to sew, bake, put on plays, and every afternoon we did jazzercise to “Africa” by Toto.
Life was blissful and happy. charlotte family photographer
Now…30 years later life is not exactly what I thought it would be and better than I could have hoped. I’m living a dream life with the love of my life, the birth of each of my kids is something I can barely put into words, we have a beautiful home, and love that fills it. There’s definitely the occasional arm punch, pinches, frustrations, a lawn that goes too long before it gets mowed, dirty dishes in the sink, fights over who gets shotgun, who sat next to mom last, and all of that jazz.
The fact is, my family is the greatest adventure I’ve ever had.
And I’ll take any reason to celebrate that!
So…on my birthday I’m putting the gift of familyness out there for the world. And hoping you’ll like it.
xoxo,
Davina
PS I would love for you to have my e-book. You can get your free copy by CLICKING HERE.
4 Comments
I adore you!
It’s been a great adventure seeing you infuse this site with your love, compassion, and just that awesome vibe with which you live your life. Thanks for more than 17 years of adventures and here’s to an eternity more of them together.
Love, Mike (your man and biggest fan)
I couldn’t have done this without you. Many nights you’ve sat listening to my ideas, concerns, copy adjustments, and so much more. You’ve been my idea bouncer-off-er, listener, encourager, hug-when-I-need-one-and-when-I-think-I-don’t, and so much more. I love you!
Happy birthday Davina! Oh I love your site and this blog!! Your mom sounds fabulous – love her afterschool “program”! I was imagining your jazzercise – I loved Toto! 🙂
LOVE it. Love, love love. And I love Mike’s comment above. Melt. 🙂
Families are the best!