Kirstine's prayer last night started out so sweet. It began with her asking God to take care of all the people that don't have food to eat, and for him to give them all food. Then she asked God to take care of Bethan (I once again reminded her, "Kirstine, it might be a boy!"), Isaac, Benjamin, Will, Dad, Mom, Gran, Papa, Toby, Kaden, Blue, Abigail, and Jonathan.
Then she asked God to take care of Benjamin, and to take away his voice, because he's a really really loud baby.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
kids and pregnancy
Will was wonderful with my 2nd pregnancy. he loved the baby, loved kissing my belly ALL THE TIME, and was so excited when Kirstine got here.
He was the same with the 3rd pregnancy, but knew more what was going on. he was more compassionate with my sickness. but most of all, it affected kirstine A LOT. she would lay outside the bathroom in a fetal position bawling her eyes out everytime i threw up. it was so stinking cute.
Not so much this time. They barely notice. The funniest moment? Last week in Tampa I was in Gran's bathroom throwing up. Brad came over while I was back there. Will looked at him and said, "She's pregnant. It happens."
He was the same with the 3rd pregnancy, but knew more what was going on. he was more compassionate with my sickness. but most of all, it affected kirstine A LOT. she would lay outside the bathroom in a fetal position bawling her eyes out everytime i threw up. it was so stinking cute.
Not so much this time. They barely notice. The funniest moment? Last week in Tampa I was in Gran's bathroom throwing up. Brad came over while I was back there. Will looked at him and said, "She's pregnant. It happens."
Friday, November 5, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Day 6 – Chinatown
Chinatown. Nothing too impressive here. In my opinion, anyway. There is supposedly an amazing authentic Chinese garden, but it cost too much to go in. So we opted out and went to the unauthentic Chinese park connected to it. It was free. But still very pretty.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Day 5 – Olympic Torch
They lit the Olympic torches the night before, and they would only be lit for 24 hours, so I really wanted to see it. I think it was in memory of someone dying, but I’m not really sure. It was raining and very cold, but it was sooooo warm under the torch!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Will's first day of school
Happy first day of school, big boy! Although you can't tell from the picture, Will was very excited
to start school today. He normall wakes up between 8 and 8:30. But this morning he walked into my room at 6:15 asking "Is it time for school yet?" He kept squealing all morning. While we were walking up to the building he was singing this song he made up for the morning, "I am a big boy, I am a big boy!" I can't wait to hear how awesome his first day was!
to start school today. He normall wakes up between 8 and 8:30. But this morning he walked into my room at 6:15 asking "Is it time for school yet?" He kept squealing all morning. While we were walking up to the building he was singing this song he made up for the morning, "I am a big boy, I am a big boy!" I can't wait to hear how awesome his first day was!Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Happy Birthday!
Sing with me now! Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Jaaaaiiiiime, Happy birthday to you! My incredibly thoughtful sister-in-law (faydra) and I (scott, if you hadn’t guessed yet) have crashed Jaime’s blog on this her 30 birthday. We have collected memories from people throughout Jaime’s life and put them here to help make this a special day for her. I’ll let faydra give some intro, then on to the cherished memories, and then I’ll close it out:
(faydra) Here it is. Jaime’s big 3-0. As a fellow mom of three, I know what it’s like to have our moments usurped by the kiddos, so I wanted to do a little something so Jaime would be celebrated on her day. So! In celebration of her 30th, I’ve collected some memories of those who’ve loved Jaime throughout her first three decades.
Faydra Stratton: My first memories of Jaime are from Freshmen Bible Study at UF’s BSU/BCM (whatever!) which I co-led with Brooke Stuart-now-Eakins. It was clear Jaime adored her oldest brother, Kevin, a guy I knew vaguely. I thought it was really sweet how concerned she was for his well-being. I was also amused how her feelings for her other brother were much less favorable. (At the time – that’s changed, Matt!) I remember being entertained by my own imagined dynamic of these three siblings just through how she talked about her brothers in her prayer requests! Fast forward a few years and I start to know Kevin a tad better…
I think if Jaime had written a list in college of all the BSU girls she would have liked her brother to marry I wouldn’t have shown up anywhere on that list. I don’t think she had any qualms with me as her Bible Study Leader, but Jaime didn’t think I was any fun and she worried I would turn her brother un-fun. (I know this because she’s told us this.) I’m not really sure why she felt this way about me. I have numerous undergrad friends who could testify to my abilities to have fun and even (gasp!) be funny but that wasn’t Jaime’s perception of me. I don’t have a sister and I was excited to gain one, but through my engagement and early marriage I’d say Jaime and I didn’t really click. But then… and I’m not sure what changed, but something changed. Maybe because we’d both become moms and we starting to have more in common… Maybe she realized after awhile that goofy Kevin would remain goofy Kevin and that I wasn’t going to change him… Maybe because over time we’d shared enough holidays and family events that we were just getting more comfortable with each other… Probably for all of those reasons, we started becoming friends. So now to answer the question I have posed to so many, what is my favorite Jaime memory? It’s from a trip I took to Tampa without Kevin. I was in Florida for an Orlando wedding but used Tampa as my airport so Kaden, our oldest and only kiddo then, could get family time with Strattons. During that trip, Jaime and I couldn’t stop talking. I remember sitting in her house (the one next door) two nights in a row talking until my voice got hoarse. I ended up flying back to Texas with laryngitis simply because of hanging out with Jaime into the wee hours of the night! It may have taken us a few years, but that trip made it clear, I really did gain a sister when I married Jaime’s oldest brother.
And here’s what some others had to say:
Aunt Teri: When Jaime was about 5, Uncle Mike, Casey and I went to Florida for vacation. We had a great time and when it was time to go home, we said to Jaime, "want to go home with us?" Rick laughed and said, she won't go--- welllll, Jaime packed her clothes, got in the car and went to Tennessee for a week by herself. She was so proud of herself! Teresa and Rick were completely surprised that she would go but that must have been the start of her traveling fever. She was a sweetie that week and we loved having her all to ourselves
Margaret James: My memory isn't actually from when I knew her personally. I was talking to my son (aka Scott) during his second year at Gainesville and he said, "I've got a date with the cutest girl I've ever seen." Well, that started something really special - during her freshman yr at college that cute face, personality, and spiritual strength etc captured the heart of a very special young man! What a GREAT couple. Love ya Jaime very, very much. You too Scott - such a wise man to know a good thing when you saw it.
Amy Devore: From the ages of 8-12 or so, Jaime and I would camp out in my parent's loft upstairs and play vaga-bomb on the computer for hours on end.
Jaclyn Anderson Wilson: I can't think of one specific memory I would call my favorite, but for as long as I can remember i have looked up to and admired jaime. At Christmases I remember waiting by the window in grandma's living room waiting for Aunt Teresa's family to get there so I could see jaime! I remember getting boxes of hand-me-downs and thinking these clothes were the coolest thing ever because they had been Jaime's. As a teenager I remember so many late night talks and that I always wanted to hear Jaime's opinion on my crazy teenage drama :) She has been a great friend and cousin for my 25 years and even now I always look forward to talking with her about life's events and am still excited to see her pull up at Grandma's house.
Mom: My firstborn was a son, Kevin; my secondborn was a son, Matthew. I love boys. I love boy things especially baseball. When I was pregnant the 3rd time, I did not care at all if it was a 3rd boy or a girl. But when Jaime was born - my oh my was I happy. I still love my boys but I guess having a daughter is just different. Jaime I love you. I love the wife you are to Scott and the mother you are to Will, Kirstine and Benjamin. I love how you love the Lord! I love the friend you are to your friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! (30 TIMES)
Katrina Feliciano: Walking into the old boxroom and seeing her sitting on the floor Indian-style working on some files and she looked up at me and I thought at that moment, what a beautiful tiny angelic face. I have adored her ever since.
Nate Jimmerson: During the time Jaime lived in Tampa and I worked at CCRC, I went through a phase of wanting to date the, lets just say, wrong type of girl. I would meet them or they would work with me and I would quickly get infatuated, thinking that this would be the right girl for me….until I consulted with Jaime. See, she was always there to help me see the light; helping me realize that maybe this wasn’t the girl that I should be with. At times I wouldn’t want Jaime to know that I was interested in a new girl cause I knew, deep down inside, that she would clear the fog of my attraction and let me see the real girl behind the one that I was building up in my mind. However, she would somehow always find out, and the next time we hung out I knew we would have one of our talks. So I guess, after all of this, all I can say is thank you Jaime. Thank you for helping me stay out of some disastrous relationships….even though I didn’t listen to you all of the time (like I should have!).
Linda Hedges Dewberry: I'll give you one funny and one more sentimental:
Jaime made me laugh when she told us the reason she picked our Sunday school class because we talked about sex!
I appreciate Jaime because she is laid back (opposite of me). She can go with the flow and taught Rock The Block in the steamy heat being "great with child". This summer she took on the whole thing at her house. She makes life with 3 kids look breezy.
Dawn Jackson Lawson: One of my favorite memories of Jaime is from spots NC. She packed glow in the dark panties and wanted to show them off. So she charged them by standing by a lamp (while wearing them) then turned off the light and wiggled her little butt around.
Shannon Flatt: Oh goodness i have so many fun memories with her! Some of my favorites were when she would come to louisiana for the summers and spend with me and tara. I remember going to watertown and a bad storm came and we were in the old van and we couldn’t see a thing and she was in a panic because she couldn’t figure out how to turn the windshield wipers on. goofy jaime. and she introduced tara to new kids on the block which has been a neverending obsession since then. Happy Birthday! I love you!
Marissa Pantaleo Stratton: I really wanted to think of something from way back in the day but I decided to go with what was most special to me about Jaime. Ever since the day she found out I was pregnant with the twins she was compiling lists of advice and lending her ear for me to complain. Her advice from pregnancy to what I would need after the twins were born has been such a source of comfort. But, the thing that was most special to me was when she surprised me and drove to Tampa all the way from Birmingham for my Baby Shower. She ended up telling me she was coming but the fact that she had been secretly trying to arrange it and make it happen meant so much to me. Happy 30th Birthday Jaimes. I am truly blessed to have you in my life, I love you LOTS and thank you for always being there to make it better. xOxOxO
Pam Thomas: I watched Jaime grow up, get married and become a mother. She's handled it all with so much grace! She is a delightful and wonderful young woman. She blesses everyone who becomes a part of her life. I have no particular memory that jumps out--just a lovely thought of a precious young girl in VBS who blossomed and grew into a strong, mature woman of God. Much love on her 30
Kerri Bonner: My shining star memory of Miss Jaime...
She was such a sweet friend when our car broke down in inner city Birmingham, right after we delivered our last box of food. Even though we had emergency roadside service, she went out of her way because she is a sweet friend! She worked tirelessly in the heat taking my 2 car seats out of my car by herself, somehow squeezing them in her car, and then escorting the kids and I back home - just so she could get us out of the heat and home for nap time right on time!
Pam Selman: She was a wonderful babysitter, and now she's a wonderful mentor for my girls. I'm continuously amazed at the Stratton offspring. So thankful Jaime is party of my daughters' lives. So thankful she's such a good role model as a woman, a wife, and a mother. I thank God for her. What a blessing!
Melissa Bibeau: Jaime is such a wonderful woman that I have admired growing up with. She was and is a great bigger sister for those of us whom do not have sisters. She truly is a wonderful woman and mother filled with many talents and is a blessing to everyone she comes in contact with. Jaime you have such a great spirit and are always positive and radiating light. I love you!!!
Annella Martin Foshee: My first memory of Jaime is watching her eat a chocolate cupcake in the Fellowship Hall at Lake Carroll. She was five years old and wearing a cute "little girl" dress.
We had just begun visiting Lake Carroll, and I remember thinking to myself, "is this the special little friend that God has for Amy?"
She been a wonderful friend to all who know her, and I am thankful that Jaime has been such a loyal and sweet friend to Amy for all these years.
Nina Entzminger: The very first thing that came to my mind was when we had the beach property on Indian Shores and the girls came downstairs in their swim suits ready to hit the beach. Oo la la - Jaime was in her bikini and I told her I hope you do not get raped on my watch!!!! The girls didn’t listen to me and went out for a walk on the beach, but I guess Jaime remembered what I had said because she carried a raft in front of her. A guy walked by and said NICE RAFT!!!
That’s the whole story, but all I’d need to say is, “Nice Raft!” and Jaime would remember!
Kevin Stratton: In December 2000, right after I graduated from UF, Mom, Dad, Matt, Jaime, and I went to Steamboat to go snow skiing. This was the nicest family vacation we ever went on - and the last one since I get married 8 months later. Since my parents don't ski (even though they did try to learn and my dad ended up tearing his knee apart), the siblings got to ski together. Jaime always kind of got the shaft by having two older brothers to spend vacations with, but this was a fun trip because we all had a good time as adults doing something we love to do. Happy Birthday, Sis.
Grandma Anderson: When Jaime was a little girl, about 4 or 5, she was visiting Tennessee with Grandpa and me. Grandpa was going to the garden to dig some potatoes. Jaime wanted to go with him to pick potatoes. He used a spade (shovel) to dig them; she picked the potatoes and put them in a bowl for me to cook for supper. I have a picture of her picking potatoes. Happy Birthday, Jaime.
Beth Whyte: Where to begin....I remember a lot of fun memories of Jaime!! Most of them involve pizza bagels, Swing Kids, shoe polishing the boys cars for no reason at all, Gator games, making chips and queso and just having fun times at R-144. One of my favorite times was when we were driving to St. Augustine for one of our nightly trips with the group. On our way, we listened to all kinds of music, from Veggie Tales to Shania Twain!! All of the girls grabbed a water bottle, a hairbrush...anything to make believe they were singing into it, like a microphone. Jaime was the best because she loved the Veggie Tales, "Cheeseburger Song," and knew EVERY word!! We sang the duet From This Moment by Shania and Bryan...I think I was Bryan :) I can honestly say, I loved singing with Jaime....she was an amazing singer!! I think we made a great duet, step back Shania and Bryan :) I am so glad I got to share some fun times and memorable singing moments with Jaime!! Happy 30th Birthday, Jaime James :)
Katie Fink Bizerra: I remember when we went canoeing with a group of girls from the BSU. Halfway down the river, a couple of us needed to pee; we decided to do so on an old bridge. Instead of being our lookout, Jaime was below taking pictures. Ha! I still have the picture in my UF album. Good times :). Happy Birthday, Jaime.
Valerie Pelham: My most memorable moments as a child with Jaime was Ronda's Angels. It was Ronda, Julie, Jaime and I. Slumber parties, dress up, singing, dancing, swimming, Sunday lunches at Dairy Queen! FUN STUFF!! I miss those worry free days!!!
“Aunt Edna” Miller: I have known Jaime from the day she was born. She was and still is one of the sweetest girls (lady) that I have ever known. She is a true Christian. She always called me "Aunt Edna" and I loved her for that.
I could write a book about Jaime and it would all be good. Her mother and father are also dear to my heart. With lots of love…
Danielle Anderson: My favorite memories with Jaime have been the long car rides to Alabama or Florida when we just spend countless hours talking about life and laughing, singing and taking care of the kids along the way =]
Amy Clark James: My initial impression of Jaime was in response to her comments/prayer requests in small group. I remember thinking, "This girl is as real and as funny as I! A kindred spirit!" Since that day, Jaime has affirmed that she is indeed so smart and funny. But also the road-trippin'est Mom I've ever known. Wow!
Anna Sauls: I love Jaime for all kinds of odd reasons! :) she fights her mom for the chips in the bag that are folded in half, loves taco bell as much as I do, only ate cheetos puffs during her pregnancy with will, and unless things have changed her house is just as messy as mine. She is kind and compassionate and keeps me updated w/ the goings on of our high school friends. She is the only friend I still talk to from high school so i know she is a true friend. But I do hold against her the fact that she didn't save her left over boob fat for me after she had a reduction (I totally claimed that stuff in the 9th or 10th grade) so that I could get a much needed boob job yet still look natural! I love you Jaime! Happy birthday!
Ashley Jackson: Having to narrow down the "Favorite Jaime Memory" to just one seems difficult since many of my memories involve you! Some of my favorite memories could be delivering you white powdered doughnuts in bed when we were away at GA camp because it was your birthday, always driving you everywhere in High School because you did not want to get a license, rollerblading down Bayshore, dying our hair on every summer trip, pooping in a Cheetoes can, our first trip down the Ocoee, your two-piece bathing suite when we were about 16 ("NICE RAFT"), singing in all of the LCBC choirs/performances, all of our lovely duets, CHS choirs, spending almost every night together the summer we left for college, being each other's maid (or matron) of honor, and the list could go on. However, the one that sticks out the most was when you and Mrs. Sandy visited me when I was about 5 or 6 and invited me to church. I feel that the Lord used that moment in my life to instill a passion for music but most importantly for bring me to Him. Thank you for sacrificing for me way back then and showing me Christ's love. Have a happy, happy 30th birthday (that sounds really old!).
Julie Buchanan Crawford: When I was growing up with Jaime, she always kept the secerts I asked her to keep, she was always there if I needed someone to talk to or needed advice, she never judged me for the wrong paths I took in life, she IS a BEAUTIFUL, CHRISTIAN WOMAN; I am jealous in so many (good) ways.
As Mom said in an email, “It blesses my heart to hear some of these comments from people from her past.” (Jaime’s mom helped me pull these together.) I too have laughed and enjoyed reading them as they got sent in. I especially enjoyed Dawn’s – I was on that SPOTS trip, but unfortunately (as I can see now!) I was in a different room and missed the glowing-underwear butt shake. But now I will turn it over to Scott for his favorite(s) of his bride…
(scott) My wife rules. I know it; you know it. Here’s the coolest part though: she doesn’t know it. And that’s part of her beauty. She is a great judge of character concerning everyone but herself, but I wouldn’t have it any other way because if she acknowledged a mere one tenth of her awesomeness she’d be insufferable. Thank you to all of you who contributed your fond memories of Jaime, but more importantly, thank you for the roles you played in helping her to become the godly woman and wonderful wife/mother that she is today. I can gladly say that I am reaping the benefits of your positive influences on her life. I am blessed much more than I deserve to be. I’ll leave off with my most fond memory of her. Outwardly, it won’t sound like anything special, but I think of it as the first time that I saw her. It was January of my sophomore/her freshman year at UF. By that time, we were friends/acquaintances and had hung out a bit in group settings, but nothing extensive. Mid-morning on a weekday, I came in to the BSU on my way to class and, by the providence of God, Jaime happened to come down the stairs exactly as I was passing by. Orange sweater, jeans, new hairstyle (the short one she does sometimes), smile on her face when she saw me. To an observer (had there been one), nothing special happened. We said hello. We talked a bit about how our Christmas breaks were. I went to class. I have no real explanation for it and can’t put my finger on what triggered it, but all I know is that’s when Jaime Stratton began taking up large portions of my thought life. Eleven years later, it’s only gotten worse. Jaimes, I love you.P.S. you’re old.
(faydra) Here it is. Jaime’s big 3-0. As a fellow mom of three, I know what it’s like to have our moments usurped by the kiddos, so I wanted to do a little something so Jaime would be celebrated on her day. So! In celebration of her 30th, I’ve collected some memories of those who’ve loved Jaime throughout her first three decades.
Faydra Stratton: My first memories of Jaime are from Freshmen Bible Study at UF’s BSU/BCM (whatever!) which I co-led with Brooke Stuart-now-Eakins. It was clear Jaime adored her oldest brother, Kevin, a guy I knew vaguely. I thought it was really sweet how concerned she was for his well-being. I was also amused how her feelings for her other brother were much less favorable. (At the time – that’s changed, Matt!) I remember being entertained by my own imagined dynamic of these three siblings just through how she talked about her brothers in her prayer requests! Fast forward a few years and I start to know Kevin a tad better…
I think if Jaime had written a list in college of all the BSU girls she would have liked her brother to marry I wouldn’t have shown up anywhere on that list. I don’t think she had any qualms with me as her Bible Study Leader, but Jaime didn’t think I was any fun and she worried I would turn her brother un-fun. (I know this because she’s told us this.) I’m not really sure why she felt this way about me. I have numerous undergrad friends who could testify to my abilities to have fun and even (gasp!) be funny but that wasn’t Jaime’s perception of me. I don’t have a sister and I was excited to gain one, but through my engagement and early marriage I’d say Jaime and I didn’t really click. But then… and I’m not sure what changed, but something changed. Maybe because we’d both become moms and we starting to have more in common… Maybe she realized after awhile that goofy Kevin would remain goofy Kevin and that I wasn’t going to change him… Maybe because over time we’d shared enough holidays and family events that we were just getting more comfortable with each other… Probably for all of those reasons, we started becoming friends. So now to answer the question I have posed to so many, what is my favorite Jaime memory? It’s from a trip I took to Tampa without Kevin. I was in Florida for an Orlando wedding but used Tampa as my airport so Kaden, our oldest and only kiddo then, could get family time with Strattons. During that trip, Jaime and I couldn’t stop talking. I remember sitting in her house (the one next door) two nights in a row talking until my voice got hoarse. I ended up flying back to Texas with laryngitis simply because of hanging out with Jaime into the wee hours of the night! It may have taken us a few years, but that trip made it clear, I really did gain a sister when I married Jaime’s oldest brother.
And here’s what some others had to say:
Aunt Teri: When Jaime was about 5, Uncle Mike, Casey and I went to Florida for vacation. We had a great time and when it was time to go home, we said to Jaime, "want to go home with us?" Rick laughed and said, she won't go--- welllll, Jaime packed her clothes, got in the car and went to Tennessee for a week by herself. She was so proud of herself! Teresa and Rick were completely surprised that she would go but that must have been the start of her traveling fever. She was a sweetie that week and we loved having her all to ourselves
Margaret James: My memory isn't actually from when I knew her personally. I was talking to my son (aka Scott) during his second year at Gainesville and he said, "I've got a date with the cutest girl I've ever seen." Well, that started something really special - during her freshman yr at college that cute face, personality, and spiritual strength etc captured the heart of a very special young man! What a GREAT couple. Love ya Jaime very, very much. You too Scott - such a wise man to know a good thing when you saw it.
Amy Devore: From the ages of 8-12 or so, Jaime and I would camp out in my parent's loft upstairs and play vaga-bomb on the computer for hours on end.
Jaclyn Anderson Wilson: I can't think of one specific memory I would call my favorite, but for as long as I can remember i have looked up to and admired jaime. At Christmases I remember waiting by the window in grandma's living room waiting for Aunt Teresa's family to get there so I could see jaime! I remember getting boxes of hand-me-downs and thinking these clothes were the coolest thing ever because they had been Jaime's. As a teenager I remember so many late night talks and that I always wanted to hear Jaime's opinion on my crazy teenage drama :) She has been a great friend and cousin for my 25 years and even now I always look forward to talking with her about life's events and am still excited to see her pull up at Grandma's house.
Mom: My firstborn was a son, Kevin; my secondborn was a son, Matthew. I love boys. I love boy things especially baseball. When I was pregnant the 3rd time, I did not care at all if it was a 3rd boy or a girl. But when Jaime was born - my oh my was I happy. I still love my boys but I guess having a daughter is just different. Jaime I love you. I love the wife you are to Scott and the mother you are to Will, Kirstine and Benjamin. I love how you love the Lord! I love the friend you are to your friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! (30 TIMES)
Katrina Feliciano: Walking into the old boxroom and seeing her sitting on the floor Indian-style working on some files and she looked up at me and I thought at that moment, what a beautiful tiny angelic face. I have adored her ever since.
Nate Jimmerson: During the time Jaime lived in Tampa and I worked at CCRC, I went through a phase of wanting to date the, lets just say, wrong type of girl. I would meet them or they would work with me and I would quickly get infatuated, thinking that this would be the right girl for me….until I consulted with Jaime. See, she was always there to help me see the light; helping me realize that maybe this wasn’t the girl that I should be with. At times I wouldn’t want Jaime to know that I was interested in a new girl cause I knew, deep down inside, that she would clear the fog of my attraction and let me see the real girl behind the one that I was building up in my mind. However, she would somehow always find out, and the next time we hung out I knew we would have one of our talks. So I guess, after all of this, all I can say is thank you Jaime. Thank you for helping me stay out of some disastrous relationships….even though I didn’t listen to you all of the time (like I should have!).
Linda Hedges Dewberry: I'll give you one funny and one more sentimental:
Jaime made me laugh when she told us the reason she picked our Sunday school class because we talked about sex!
I appreciate Jaime because she is laid back (opposite of me). She can go with the flow and taught Rock The Block in the steamy heat being "great with child". This summer she took on the whole thing at her house. She makes life with 3 kids look breezy.
Dawn Jackson Lawson: One of my favorite memories of Jaime is from spots NC. She packed glow in the dark panties and wanted to show them off. So she charged them by standing by a lamp (while wearing them) then turned off the light and wiggled her little butt around.
Shannon Flatt: Oh goodness i have so many fun memories with her! Some of my favorites were when she would come to louisiana for the summers and spend with me and tara. I remember going to watertown and a bad storm came and we were in the old van and we couldn’t see a thing and she was in a panic because she couldn’t figure out how to turn the windshield wipers on. goofy jaime. and she introduced tara to new kids on the block which has been a neverending obsession since then. Happy Birthday! I love you!
Marissa Pantaleo Stratton: I really wanted to think of something from way back in the day but I decided to go with what was most special to me about Jaime. Ever since the day she found out I was pregnant with the twins she was compiling lists of advice and lending her ear for me to complain. Her advice from pregnancy to what I would need after the twins were born has been such a source of comfort. But, the thing that was most special to me was when she surprised me and drove to Tampa all the way from Birmingham for my Baby Shower. She ended up telling me she was coming but the fact that she had been secretly trying to arrange it and make it happen meant so much to me. Happy 30th Birthday Jaimes. I am truly blessed to have you in my life, I love you LOTS and thank you for always being there to make it better. xOxOxO
Pam Thomas: I watched Jaime grow up, get married and become a mother. She's handled it all with so much grace! She is a delightful and wonderful young woman. She blesses everyone who becomes a part of her life. I have no particular memory that jumps out--just a lovely thought of a precious young girl in VBS who blossomed and grew into a strong, mature woman of God. Much love on her 30
Kerri Bonner: My shining star memory of Miss Jaime...
She was such a sweet friend when our car broke down in inner city Birmingham, right after we delivered our last box of food. Even though we had emergency roadside service, she went out of her way because she is a sweet friend! She worked tirelessly in the heat taking my 2 car seats out of my car by herself, somehow squeezing them in her car, and then escorting the kids and I back home - just so she could get us out of the heat and home for nap time right on time!
Pam Selman: She was a wonderful babysitter, and now she's a wonderful mentor for my girls. I'm continuously amazed at the Stratton offspring. So thankful Jaime is party of my daughters' lives. So thankful she's such a good role model as a woman, a wife, and a mother. I thank God for her. What a blessing!
Melissa Bibeau: Jaime is such a wonderful woman that I have admired growing up with. She was and is a great bigger sister for those of us whom do not have sisters. She truly is a wonderful woman and mother filled with many talents and is a blessing to everyone she comes in contact with. Jaime you have such a great spirit and are always positive and radiating light. I love you!!!
Annella Martin Foshee: My first memory of Jaime is watching her eat a chocolate cupcake in the Fellowship Hall at Lake Carroll. She was five years old and wearing a cute "little girl" dress.
We had just begun visiting Lake Carroll, and I remember thinking to myself, "is this the special little friend that God has for Amy?"
She been a wonderful friend to all who know her, and I am thankful that Jaime has been such a loyal and sweet friend to Amy for all these years.
Nina Entzminger: The very first thing that came to my mind was when we had the beach property on Indian Shores and the girls came downstairs in their swim suits ready to hit the beach. Oo la la - Jaime was in her bikini and I told her I hope you do not get raped on my watch!!!! The girls didn’t listen to me and went out for a walk on the beach, but I guess Jaime remembered what I had said because she carried a raft in front of her. A guy walked by and said NICE RAFT!!!
That’s the whole story, but all I’d need to say is, “Nice Raft!” and Jaime would remember!
Kevin Stratton: In December 2000, right after I graduated from UF, Mom, Dad, Matt, Jaime, and I went to Steamboat to go snow skiing. This was the nicest family vacation we ever went on - and the last one since I get married 8 months later. Since my parents don't ski (even though they did try to learn and my dad ended up tearing his knee apart), the siblings got to ski together. Jaime always kind of got the shaft by having two older brothers to spend vacations with, but this was a fun trip because we all had a good time as adults doing something we love to do. Happy Birthday, Sis.
Grandma Anderson: When Jaime was a little girl, about 4 or 5, she was visiting Tennessee with Grandpa and me. Grandpa was going to the garden to dig some potatoes. Jaime wanted to go with him to pick potatoes. He used a spade (shovel) to dig them; she picked the potatoes and put them in a bowl for me to cook for supper. I have a picture of her picking potatoes. Happy Birthday, Jaime.
Beth Whyte: Where to begin....I remember a lot of fun memories of Jaime!! Most of them involve pizza bagels, Swing Kids, shoe polishing the boys cars for no reason at all, Gator games, making chips and queso and just having fun times at R-144. One of my favorite times was when we were driving to St. Augustine for one of our nightly trips with the group. On our way, we listened to all kinds of music, from Veggie Tales to Shania Twain!! All of the girls grabbed a water bottle, a hairbrush...anything to make believe they were singing into it, like a microphone. Jaime was the best because she loved the Veggie Tales, "Cheeseburger Song," and knew EVERY word!! We sang the duet From This Moment by Shania and Bryan...I think I was Bryan :) I can honestly say, I loved singing with Jaime....she was an amazing singer!! I think we made a great duet, step back Shania and Bryan :) I am so glad I got to share some fun times and memorable singing moments with Jaime!! Happy 30th Birthday, Jaime James :)
Katie Fink Bizerra: I remember when we went canoeing with a group of girls from the BSU. Halfway down the river, a couple of us needed to pee; we decided to do so on an old bridge. Instead of being our lookout, Jaime was below taking pictures. Ha! I still have the picture in my UF album. Good times :). Happy Birthday, Jaime.
Valerie Pelham: My most memorable moments as a child with Jaime was Ronda's Angels. It was Ronda, Julie, Jaime and I. Slumber parties, dress up, singing, dancing, swimming, Sunday lunches at Dairy Queen! FUN STUFF!! I miss those worry free days!!!
“Aunt Edna” Miller: I have known Jaime from the day she was born. She was and still is one of the sweetest girls (lady) that I have ever known. She is a true Christian. She always called me "Aunt Edna" and I loved her for that.
I could write a book about Jaime and it would all be good. Her mother and father are also dear to my heart. With lots of love…
Danielle Anderson: My favorite memories with Jaime have been the long car rides to Alabama or Florida when we just spend countless hours talking about life and laughing, singing and taking care of the kids along the way =]
Amy Clark James: My initial impression of Jaime was in response to her comments/prayer requests in small group. I remember thinking, "This girl is as real and as funny as I! A kindred spirit!" Since that day, Jaime has affirmed that she is indeed so smart and funny. But also the road-trippin'est Mom I've ever known. Wow!
Anna Sauls: I love Jaime for all kinds of odd reasons! :) she fights her mom for the chips in the bag that are folded in half, loves taco bell as much as I do, only ate cheetos puffs during her pregnancy with will, and unless things have changed her house is just as messy as mine. She is kind and compassionate and keeps me updated w/ the goings on of our high school friends. She is the only friend I still talk to from high school so i know she is a true friend. But I do hold against her the fact that she didn't save her left over boob fat for me after she had a reduction (I totally claimed that stuff in the 9th or 10th grade) so that I could get a much needed boob job yet still look natural! I love you Jaime! Happy birthday!
Ashley Jackson: Having to narrow down the "Favorite Jaime Memory" to just one seems difficult since many of my memories involve you! Some of my favorite memories could be delivering you white powdered doughnuts in bed when we were away at GA camp because it was your birthday, always driving you everywhere in High School because you did not want to get a license, rollerblading down Bayshore, dying our hair on every summer trip, pooping in a Cheetoes can, our first trip down the Ocoee, your two-piece bathing suite when we were about 16 ("NICE RAFT"), singing in all of the LCBC choirs/performances, all of our lovely duets, CHS choirs, spending almost every night together the summer we left for college, being each other's maid (or matron) of honor, and the list could go on. However, the one that sticks out the most was when you and Mrs. Sandy visited me when I was about 5 or 6 and invited me to church. I feel that the Lord used that moment in my life to instill a passion for music but most importantly for bring me to Him. Thank you for sacrificing for me way back then and showing me Christ's love. Have a happy, happy 30th birthday (that sounds really old!).
Julie Buchanan Crawford: When I was growing up with Jaime, she always kept the secerts I asked her to keep, she was always there if I needed someone to talk to or needed advice, she never judged me for the wrong paths I took in life, she IS a BEAUTIFUL, CHRISTIAN WOMAN; I am jealous in so many (good) ways.
As Mom said in an email, “It blesses my heart to hear some of these comments from people from her past.” (Jaime’s mom helped me pull these together.) I too have laughed and enjoyed reading them as they got sent in. I especially enjoyed Dawn’s – I was on that SPOTS trip, but unfortunately (as I can see now!) I was in a different room and missed the glowing-underwear butt shake. But now I will turn it over to Scott for his favorite(s) of his bride…
(scott) My wife rules. I know it; you know it. Here’s the coolest part though: she doesn’t know it. And that’s part of her beauty. She is a great judge of character concerning everyone but herself, but I wouldn’t have it any other way because if she acknowledged a mere one tenth of her awesomeness she’d be insufferable. Thank you to all of you who contributed your fond memories of Jaime, but more importantly, thank you for the roles you played in helping her to become the godly woman and wonderful wife/mother that she is today. I can gladly say that I am reaping the benefits of your positive influences on her life. I am blessed much more than I deserve to be. I’ll leave off with my most fond memory of her. Outwardly, it won’t sound like anything special, but I think of it as the first time that I saw her. It was January of my sophomore/her freshman year at UF. By that time, we were friends/acquaintances and had hung out a bit in group settings, but nothing extensive. Mid-morning on a weekday, I came in to the BSU on my way to class and, by the providence of God, Jaime happened to come down the stairs exactly as I was passing by. Orange sweater, jeans, new hairstyle (the short one she does sometimes), smile on her face when she saw me. To an observer (had there been one), nothing special happened. We said hello. We talked a bit about how our Christmas breaks were. I went to class. I have no real explanation for it and can’t put my finger on what triggered it, but all I know is that’s when Jaime Stratton began taking up large portions of my thought life. Eleven years later, it’s only gotten worse. Jaimes, I love you.P.S. you’re old.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
New Park Downtown
We went to the new park in downtown Tampa today to take pictures with my friend Kristen. These are the pictures Scott was taking while Kristen was taking the good ones.
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