Back when the #Donosaurs roamed the face of the Earth and I was in High School and just 16 years old, I never knew where life would take me. I didn’t know what roads I would travel, what challenges I would face, or how many times life would change the plans I thought I had made. But there was one thing I knew back then, just as I know today.
I loved David. Life has a funny way of taking us down roads we never expected. Some are filled with happiness, while others bring heartbreak we never imagined we would have to endure. Which is why the song the Broken Road is the anthem of my life and our Wedding Song.
When I lost my daughter Suzanne at the end of 2004, my world changed forever. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t carry her in my heart. But through all the heartache, the Lord wasn’t finished writing my story. He brought David back into my life, and in May 2006, we became husband and wife.
This year, we celebrated 20 years of marriage! And with Charlie turning 19 this year, I can’t help but think about another blessing God gave our family. David Sr. and Sherry Cates. Charlie has been blessed to have them as his grandparents, and I’ve been blessed to have them in my life.
You know, when you marry someone, you don’t always know what kind of relationship you’re going to have with their family. You might become friends. You might see each other at holidays and birthdays. You might share meals, stories, and family celebrations. But sometimes, if you’re especially blessed, something much more beautiful happens.
That person becomes part of your heart. That’s what happened with Sherry. Somewhere along the way, she became one of my dearest friends. We both love watching the birds and spending time in the garden. There’s something peaceful about watching the birds come and go, enjoying the flowers, and sharing those little moments together.
Those are the kinds of memories I treasure. And through the years, she’s been part of my blogging journey, too. Whether she realized it or not, she’s been part of the stories I’ve shared and the memories I’ve wanted to preserve. Today, I want to celebrate her birthday and bring her into GreatfulMoments.com in a special way. Not because I need another story to tell. But because she deserves to know how much she means to me.
There’s something else I want Sherry to know. I will never forget everything she did for Charlie when he was growing up, especially when it came to his education. Getting that child through school wasn’t always easy. There were challenges, frustrations, and days when I wondered how we were going to make it through.
And I can tell you something right now. Without Sherry’s help, I’m not so sure we would have survived those school years! She was there for Charlie, and she was there for me. Anytime we needed anything with school or if Charlie was sick she would help.
Having someone who loves your child, believes in him, and is willing to help you through the difficult days is a blessing you can’t put a price on. Charlie is turning 19 this year, and when I look at the young man he’s becoming, I know that Sherry and David Sr. has been an important part of his journey.
I hope she knows how much that means to me. Thank you, Sherry, for loving Charlie, helping me when I needed you, and being the grandmother he could count on. I will always be grateful, thankful and blessed for you and Dad and so will Charlie even though he can be a pain at times. LOL
This year hasn’t been easy for our family. We lost Dad is Pa, and life hasn’t been the same without him. When two people have shared so many years together, there are memories everywhere. In the house, in the garden, in the little everyday routines that once seemed so ordinary.
Now Sherry is learning to navigate a different chapter of her life. With Mike traveling over the road, there are times when the house is quieter than it used to be. I know there are days when she misses Pa more than words could ever explain. I can’t take that hurt away, and I wouldn’t pretend that I could.
But I can remind her that she is loved. That she is needed. That there are still birthdays to celebrate, flowers to plant, birds to watch, memories to make, and reasons to smile. And most importantly, that she doesn’t have to walk through this new chapter without family beside her.
Sherry, I hope you know how much I love you and how much Charlie loves you. I’m thankful for the grandmother you’ve been to Charlie, for the memories we’ve shared, and for the friendship that has grown between us. I’m grateful that God brought David back into my life, because with him came another beautiful blessing I might never have expected. You.
And as we celebrate your birthday, I want you to know that I’m looking forward to making many more memories together. More laughter. More conversations. More flowers in the garden. More afternoons watching the birds. More holidays, birthdays, and ordinary days that turn into memories we’ll treasure.
I hope this next chapter brings you peace, comfort, happiness, and a few wonderful surprises along the way. Because you deserve all of those things. Happy Birthday, Sherry! You’re not just my mother-in-law. You’re not just my friend. You’re not just family. You’re my mom. And I am so very grateful, thankful, and blessed to have you in my life.
GreatfulMoments.com
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
With all my love,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
