MY 55TH BIRTHDAY !!

Today is Thankful Thursday hosted by Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. Thank you Lynn for hosting this special event..

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Mon. Sept. 28, 2009 was my 55th birthday. It was a wonderful day that I began celebrating on the Friday before, and didn't complete until Tues. afternoon, haha. The older and older I have become, the longer and longer the celebrations have lasted. That seems only fair, right?? I have started referring to it as my "birthday week" instead of just my "birth DAY"!! As I have reflected back over this birthday and many others that I have had, I was struck again by how much I have to be truly grateful for. A God and Savior Whom I love and owe everything I am to, a husband who is and will always be my best friend, along with with my partner and my love. If you want to check out his birthday blog to me click here Four kids whom I am not sure what I would ever do without, 8 grandchildren whom I adore, and 3 sisters who are and will always be my best friends, parents whom I love beyond measure, and friends who complete my world. It just doesn't get any better than this. When one of my kids asked me what I would like for my birthday I gave the standard answer most parents do..."Oh, I have everthing I need." But when pressed, I said, "OK, write me a birthday blog. It can kind of be like a home made card." The more I thought about it, the better I liked it. I have always loved homemade cards and gifts, and this idea seemed truly perfect. Doesn't cost a thing, requires some honest thinking, and puts words and emotions to paper (or a computer screen) which is something you don't always do. So I began to spread the word to all of my kids. Now to be fair, I did not mention this to my oldest son Joe, as he does not have computer access at this particular time in his life. And to be even more honest, writing for Joe has never been his cup of tea. I didn't want this to be a chore for anyone. But upon hearing what was happening, he too is in the process of putting his thoughts to paper. He has assured me his will be ready by this week-end, so I will add the link to his when it comes. These blogs (which I have decided to share for those who are interested, helped to make this birthday truly special and I thank EVERYONE who shared one)....

The celebration began on Friday when my youngest son Jimmy and his wife and family came up from San Diego to spend the day. Larissa and my birthday's are only 2 days apart so we have always shared our day. We have a wonderful time with it. We decided on the Market Broiler for dinner and I had my first meal that was NOT Jenny Craig in almost 3 months. You will be happy to know I did very well. I split my dinner with Jeff. I had a wonderful Maui Maui and rice and veggies. I stayed away from the bread completely and drank only water....Suprisingly I was full and enjoyed my dinner THOROUGHLY...My son John picked up the tab that night as his birthday present for me. It was REALLY nice and totally appreciated by all...His blog was wonderful, but he posted it on a private family blog site (instead of his own) and so therefore this one cannot be shared, but it was a STUN to say the least. John is in the process of writing a couple of different books, and truly is gifted with his writing as far as I am concerned....My son Jimmy also posted his blog on the private spot so it cannot be shared either. However his started with my 3 darling little grandbabies holding their signs which I did copy and post. His post was also quite creative and well written. Larissa's post you can find here It was sooo sweet and really appreciated. Larissa faithfully blogs now, I'm quite certain because she knows I really want her to. I really am appreciative that she takes the time out of her VERY busy days, just to please me. Here are the pics at least that Jimmy posted with his....pretty cute huh??


J.D.


Capri


Donatella




These flowers arrived on my birthday from my Melly and Mike. This picture really doesn't do them justice. They were sooo pretty. I love getting flowers and Lily's are definitely my faves...


They had some really pretty Sun Flowers..


And some truly gorgeous Lily's...

My Melly's blog can be checked out here


Jimmy and Larissa gave me this beautiful glass cross to add to my fall decorations. I have added it here to my fireplace mantle, and I think it is REALLY good here. What do you think Larissa??


A closer look...


Even closer...it is soo pretty. I really love it you guys...

On the Sat. before my birthday my mom and step dad came up to have dinner with Jeff and I and we played cards. We had a wonderful time as always. I beat them at all Hearts, whoo hoo, and we tyed our game of Hand and Foot. Which is at least a step in the right direction as my mom and I have been getting ruthlessly beat for a while now, haha...My step dad patiently showed me how to add links (I just couldn't figure it out on my own for some reason, though it really is quite simple) to my blog, and I was most appreciative!!

My wonderful husband pampered me through the day on Sun. Actually washed and dried all my new dishes and together we found places for them all. He also washed my car thoroughly inside and out, and anyone who has seen it recently knows what a chore that really was, and cooked up my Jenny Craig meals and served them to me with a smile all day!!


These are one of the new napkin ring holders that Jeff got me as part of his gifts to me this year...I think he went a little wild, but I'm am not complaining, haha These are soo pretty, and I have had my eye on them for a while. I am thinking Thanksgiving..


He also got me these new glasses... they are so pretty with an amber bottom


And an entire set for 12 of these dishes!! I have been wanting new dishes for a while now, and have also had my eye on these for a while. I wanted off white (goes with everything). They are hard to see in this pic (too shiny) but they are really pretty with an embossed fruit around the rim...I am really excited with these...


He also got me these gold chargers. Here is where he really went kind of nuts. I have been wanted chargers for a while now and I am really pleased with these....


This place setting pic should have come after I showed off my mom's quilted place mats she made me, but it got mixed up some how. I can be such a glue. But Maryrose, what do you think?? I might be able to do my tablescape now, haha


A different angle..


A close up of the BEAUTIFUL quilted place mats that my wonderous mother made for me. I know there was hours and hours in these mom, and I LOVE them, and You...


The whole place mat...


A close up of the back..


The whole back...


This was a candle (also for my new fall collection) from my girl friend Cindy. Cindy and I have been friends since we were 9 years old. We were best friends through high school and I was her maid of honor at her wedding. We simply grew up together, and are now enjoying growing "older" together, haha


Can't wait to light this and enjoy the wonderous smell. Cindy and I enjoyed lunch together yesterday and chatted and visited the day away. It was soo nice as always to be with her..


My sisters Diane and Danae took me out to lunch and to see the movie Julie/Julia on my actual birthday and got me this book....We had such a FUN time. I really enjoyed my day with them as always...My sister Diane also wrote me a blog, and you can check it out here

That night Jeff made sure he was home by 6 (which is NEVER easy for him since he works in LA) in time enough to make my dinner (AGAIN) with lots of added veggies, and also brought me a bottle of Eternity perfume. He really shouldn't have got me anything else as he had already gone a little over board with all the dishes, but it was most appreciated as I have been without any perfume for a couple of months now. I can never be disciplined with it when I have it, as I just LOVE it for some reason....Eternity is my favorite.....Well, that about sums it up. There were countless calls from other family members and friends and I even got a few singing ones as well. I have many people in my life who love me and I am a very blessed person. This to me is what life is all about. I am sorry this is sooo long, for those of one who stuck with this to the end, haha...and I do apologize. But my cup truly does runneth over....

Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..