(Day 5-before-31) Go Ahead and Gush

Happy Cinco de Mayo folks!

You know what we did? Oh, I can tell you!
1. Took a walk
2. Attended church
3. Grilled pollo asado!
4. Assembled tacos out of said pollo and ate them all.
5. Napped

It was the best way to celebrate Mexican Independence the day that Mexican troops defeated the well-equipped French forces at the battle of Puebla.

That said, we all know that we are here to document Day 5 before I turn 31. 

::Day 5::

Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your friends or family member. What makes them great? Why do you love them?

This is a prompt I have been looking forward to!  I have a very specific person that I would like to introduce you to:

Voncile Lott Robinson

That gorgeous gal up there is my Mimi.
She is a very, very classy lady who has taught me more than I could ever have known to ask for through the years. 
And she didn't have to.

Mimi was not my Mimi from birth, but I feel like she has always been mine, just the same as all of her blood-relations. I am, and always have been, her people. She came to me when I was 11-years-old through my step-mom Cindy, and I think my sister Megan and I are both blessed for having her.

Mimi turns 89 years wise tomorrow, and in honor of her and because I have this chance to gush all over her, I am taking it!

Over the past 20 years, Mimi has taught me that a lady always keeps it together, even in the most adverse situations:

Like going fishing in heels

Mimi showed me that a lady will love, cherish, support, and care for her husband and family at every single curve in the road. All while keeping true to herself.

February 8, 1947

Standing by him until the end

Mimi gave birth to her first child, a son. 
After not having any other children for the next 12 years, she figured she was finished. 
Well, surprise when years 13, 14, and 15  brought with them three more babies!  
Mimi gave birth to her youngest daughter, my step-mom Cindy, on her very own birthday. Just as always, Mimi got to work and raised those four kids all while her husband (my Peepaw) was serving our country.

Cindy, Billy, Chuck, and Mary

And they all turned out better than great!

Chuck, Billy, Cindy, and Mary

I can tell lots of memories about my Mimi, but my favorite one is this:

When my Dad and Cindy got married 20 years ago, Mimi came to hang out with us kids while they were on their honeymoon.  Knowing that her youngest daughter had just married a particular guy who was fairly particular about the way things are kept in orderly fashion (I can tell you about his "staging area" another time), Mimi opened up the pantry cupboard on the first night in our house and immediately saw the disarray.  Gasping audibly to Megan and me, Mimi said, "Your dad would be horrified for me to leave the pantry this way!" Quickly doing what she does best Mimi got to work. In the next few hours every soup can stood at attention, labels out. Cereal boxes were categorized in alphabetical order. No "old" food was left in the refrigerator. Every single solitary place in the kitchen was an organizational masterpiece. My dad has never been happier than the moment he walked back into that perfectly squared-away kitchen after a nice prolonged vacation.  Best wedding gift ever.

"Hey Dave, I think I see something over there that needs organizing"

I can't gush enough about my sweet Mimi.  She is strong, and smart, and fiercely loves and cares for those around her.  She is the perfect example of leading and guiding by example and I love her dearly.

Party Grandma!

Happy 89th birthday Mimi! Here's to 189 more!