Happy Birthday to Martha, the baby of the Family!

Happy Birthday to Martha,

the baby of the Family!

May 18, 1954, a blond curly headed baby was the last child born to Robert and Goldie Cox. And now, she is 54 years old. Can anybody believe that!!!

Thelma is holding Martha in 1958 at the house that burned. Wonder where Carl and Shirley were.

Here is Daddy holding his two little girls on Tommy and Thelma’s wedding day. Weren’t they cute. I loved those little dresses. I did not make them.

Here is Martha with Vickie in their dresses that I made in 1960. I remember the white dresses with light blue flowers. Weren’t they cute? Does that face look a bit like Madelyn Marie Bittner, Richard’s daughter. I think it does.

Here is Martha in 1964 with a kitten. That was a red dress and a white organdy pinnafore I made in 1964. Now I am not sure if this is the same kitty cat that Martha broke its neck by letting the screen door shut on it. But I think that was the same one.

In 1968 just before I went to Vietnam, Martha and Lillian look a little despondent. Martha and Vickie came to spend the school year with me in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. I remember getting a PFC James to stay with the girls to keep them out of trouble while I worked the evening shift. Umm – wonder how much trouble he kept them out of. How smart was that – getting a cute young man to monitor two cute teenagers. I think I was a bit too trusting or naieve. But I enjoyed that time. I hope I can find the picture of Martha in the jumper she had for school. They told her or Vickie one or the other that their skirt was too short. It was already to their knees – I think.

I am not sure, but I think Vickie had already been sent home back to Ohio. Not sure, but think Martha stayed longer than Vickie. I remember another friend – Charlotte Levengood – wonder what happened to her.

Martha’s Senior Picture

In 1981, Martha looks adoringly at her first born, Richard Edward Bittner.

Here is Martha in 1995 with her family, Richard and Ricky and Marnee.

Gee – I have so much more to add, but I am getting sleepy and will have to do more later.

But HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BABY OF THE

FAMILY TODAY, MAY 18, 2009.

The birth of Marnee

These weren’t the best days for me, but I still remember. Shirley and I were birth coaches. We were called early in the morning and went to see what was up. Martha was actually working and exercising in early stages of labor. Shirley, Ricky, and I went to the hospital and everything went very quickly. Never having kids, I was just amazed. Martha was sort of OK and then came “transition”…literally! I saw Martha’s face turn shades of purple I’d never seen before. Then at the last part of the birth process, there was a turd that plopped on the doctor’s shoes, then Marnee was born. It sounds weird, but it really was beautiful. Ricky took Shirley and me to his house, but stopped on the way and bought each of us a rose. I don’t know how Martha felt, but I was exhausted.

Shirley and Vickie – Birth, Christening & Wedding of Marnee Bittner

Shirley and Vickie were at Marnee's Birth and Christening 1986 — Shirley and Vickie were at Marnee's Christening and at her Birthing!

Can you believe Marnee Mae Bittner, Martha and Ricky’s daughter, is getting married June 27, 2009. She will be 23 years old on June 11, 2009.

Can you believe these were her mother’s birthing partners or coaches or ….? Whatever they were called, they were there at Marnee’s birth. Cute! Nice dress Marnee – Christian Dior Silk and Chantilly Lace.

Marnee & Lee

Marnee

The future Mr. and Mrs. Bennett

Laylah Ali Bittner-Bennett- My big puppy

Grandma and I did so much together that it is hard to remember it all at once. The numerous walks to K Mart and Shawnee Park, always doing my laundry so perfect, feeling my butt to see if I had a temperature, yelling at Mom for not taking me to the doctor, helping me sneak my turtle on the bus so that I could bring it for show and tell…….ohhhh the memories.

Probably one of the most memorable things that I will always remember is this one time that we went to Shawnee Park. For weeks Grandma had pushed me in my stroller to the park and we checked on the ducks nest that had three or four eggs in it. I was so excited for the day we would go to the park and the eggs would be hatched and we would see baby ducks……that never happened. We went over to the nest just like always and each egg had been smashed. I looked at Grandma with tears in my eyes and said “who would do such a thing”. Grandma very calmly said “mean people Marnee just mean and bad people”. Looking back on it now it seems funny but I think it was the first time I learned of evil in the world. I had to have been 3 or 4.

I would do anything to have Grandma here now that so many things have changed. She would be so proud that I finally got my license and that I graduated college. I am getting married on June 27, 2009 to Lee who she also loved. I know she would love Laylah too…probably just because I do.

I know she is with me and all of us in spirit though. I see things that she used to do in my every day life and in myself just as I’m sure you guys do too. Lee thinks that it is crazy but, the milk has to be in the same spot in the fridge. I am also crazy about laundry and making sure the bed is made at all times. The hand towel in the bathroom always has to be folded just so and I find myself calling everyone “honey” sometimes. It is kind of scary but “Day Lord” it is a way to remember.