Moments with Maria

My birthday tribute to a beautiful daughter who was born the day I turned 23 on February 21 on an island in the South Pacific.
You can't get a better birthday present than a precious baby daughter. Maria was born in New Zealand and they just did not make cute baby clothes there. My mother sent several little dresses and I can remember laying Maria on the bed and dressing her in one cute outfit after another. She smiled so sweetly and the tears flowed down my face because I had been blessed with the care of such a precious child. Thank you for your smiles over the years, Maria.


When Maria was not quite two years old, her Dad and I were going to go on an overnight trip up north. We were going to leave the two girls with a babysitter, but Maria wanted to go so bad we ended up taking her. She had a big book of animals that she brought. It amazed us that evening when she "read" the whole book to us. She could recognize and name every animal. That was one of the first indications of how much she loved learning and a good book. (This picture was taken on that trip.)
Thank you, Maria, for always being such a good student and having a desire to learn and read which still is part of your life.


Music has been part of Maria's life since she was little. As a tiny little girl she loved to be in front of people "leading" the singing. She was involved in a Maori Culture group while in New Zealand in which sang and danced. We have several precious tapes of Maria singing her heart out with a cute British accent. You haven't really heard "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" until you have heard it sung by a three-year-old with a British accent!
Thank you for making music such an important part of your life, Maria. By doing so you have brought much joy to our lives. We love to hear you sing.


Water, ocean, waves, beaches--Maria has always enjoyed being on the beach, whether it was to gather shells and coral on black sand beaches or to just enjoy watching the surf on a crystal white beach. I can remember Maria and her little Maori friends going among the tide pools looking for shellfish to eat raw. Yes, Maria did eat little raw pipis, sort of like a black snail. (Maria is to the left of Laura.)
Thanks for making a love of water, beaches and the ocean such an important part of your life, Maria. It has been a joy to us to watch you enjoy your island heritage.

Maria is a compassionate, caring, and loving daughter, wife and mother who is one of my best friends. Thanks, Maria, for being my friend as well as my daughter. Happy Birthday!