Where do I start?
My name is Lydia Padilla Henry. I knew I was going to marry Cy the first time I set eyes on him. Actually, I think I proposed before he did much to the dismay of my parents who had invisioned their first daughter married to a nice young Catholic man. As Cy became part of the family, they did learn to love and respect the person I married especially when we had four wonderful granddaughters for them to love.

When Liz was just 18 months and Jenny had turned a year we moved to Apache Junction. I couldn't believe that Cy brought his new family to what I thought was the biggest "hell hole" in the world. I didn't know that I would come to love and watch my children grow in this community.

As children do they grow up, move out and get married. The three oldest are married and the youngest is single (I am not sure I am quite ready for her to be married, she is my baby after all).

Elizabeth married Wayne Langenbach and has two handsome boys who are 2 out of the 4 loves of my lives. I am glad Wayne loves beer and hunting because that has been Cy's dream when he didn't have boys was the hopes that his daughters would marry hunters. I don't even mind that he doesn't like wine, musicals, and fondue parties because he can keep Cy company on hunting trips and pee in trees and tell dumb stories, like how the Disney movie, Bambi ruins his chances of his girls wanting to go hunting with him.

Jenny married Ryan Gelbrich and have a very handsome (not sure how this happened with brown being predominant) blue eyed boy. I am equally glad that Ryan loves beer but eternally grateful he loves wine too. We went to many wineries while they lived in Oregon. After 9 years without Jenny at home, they call Arizona home.

Those were the big girls. Now on to the little girls. Tricia is a newlywed and married Joey Richardson who we have know since the little girls were little. Dale, Joe's dad, coached with Cy at Apache Junction High School. How fun it was to see those two get married. Joe loves beer and wine equally and just recently brought our Little Babalooski home.

Our baby is Tara Kitty and like I said am just not ready to give her up to someone yet. She just recently moved out and now our house is so empty. Hence, "empty nest" which some folks look forward to but not me. I could have my kids with me forever. Well, they all broke their promise to their father which was to live with us forever.

My grandsons are the best gift I have ever had or could ever want. Nothing compares with being a grandmother, drammy, grams, grammy or even manny. They are my heart and my soul and would have to fight their parents if they ever moved again. I love the way they looked at me when I used to get them at daycare and school and now they are here when I get home from school. They are THE BEST part of my day.

Now the real reason I decided to write this BLOG, yes Jenny I didn't say BLOB!

Today Tricia and Joey and their kitties drove to their house with a U-Haul. They collected the last of their belongings in Albuquerque. When they arrived to their new house Wayne, Liz, Ryan, Jenny, Tara, and all the boys were there to help. I brought tacos, rice, and homemade refried beans. With all the help, it only took under two hours. Most of their things were put away and a few things are still left to be done.

This is a day that all parents would love to witness and some never get to see this. To have all my children love each other and help each other out when needed. The big girls have always loved the little ones even if when they were younger thought that they were brats at times. And the little girls at times thought their older sisters were bossy. But seeing them together today, I know how truly blessed we are to have our kids love each other enough to be there for each other. Hey, maybe we didn't do such a bad job of being parents, and some of the mistakes along the way didn't do permanent damage.

Thank you Lord for my gifts of their love and friendship daily and for the men they brought into my life. I am proud to be your mother and equally proud to be your friend.

I love you girls for the individuals you are and for being so different yet so much the same.

Love,
Mom