Monday, September 29, 2014

THIS 60 YEAR OLD'S BIRTHDAY....AND ANOTHER FINISHED QUILT!


Well yesterday this gal turned 60 years old!  Yes, that's right...60!  For some reason turning the page to that number held more significance then I thought it might in my mind, lol.  And yet, like I told my hubby yesterday morning I have found that the older and older I grow, the more there seems to celebrate and rejoice over.  Let's face it, the alternative to grower older is a whole lot less appealing anyway.  (grin)

It was such a wonderous day I am not sure I will do it justice in the telling of it.  It started early with a call from Melody and Sam and Luke.  After chatting with them we left for church in San Diego. Service was REALLY good yesterday.  Not that it isn't always, but it was just sooo anointed yesterday.  At the end of the service my son mentioned that it was my birthday (guess that can happen when your son is the Pastor, lol) and so of course I got SOOO many well wishes and greetings, it was a little overwhelming, lol.  Then after service, hubby and I left and grabbed a quick lunch.  I had been told we were going to my oldest son's house for a birthday dinner, and that all of my sons would be there with their families to celebrate.  We weren't suppose to be there until 4:30 ish, so we had decided to go to the movies and catch Gone With The Wind on the big screen.  I guess it was the 75th anniversary celebration of this movie and so it is in the theaters for two days.  It has always been one of my favorites, so it seemed appropriate to see it on my birthday.  We did have to leave early as we would have been late, but that was OK.  What I WAS surprised over was that the theater was sold out.  Who knew there were soo many other fans of this movie out there. Anyway....when my hubby didn't make the turn to enter the freeway to go to my sons house after the movie and said we needed to stop by home for minute I of course began to suspicion that "something" might be up, lol.  And sure enough the next thing I knew we were pulling up in front of our club house, and suddenly the doors opened up and streams of people were coming out shouting surprise!  Everyone was there!  All of my sisters and brother and their families, and all of their children and their children's families.  Everyone!  And there are SOO many of us.  Again, I found myself a little overwhelmed.  I guess my wonderful hubby and daughter Melody had been planning all this for weeks, and had gotten my sisters and daughter in law Leah to help out with all the details. And DETAILS there were.  The tables were decorated with pretty pink tablecloths and bouquets of flowers that were in the sweetest little containers that Leah had made.  The theme of the party was a vintage Victorian tea party, and honestly the decorations were just PERFECT.  And soo much detail. The tablecloth on the tea table was just gorgeous.  There were silver tea pots and porcelain tea pots and tea cups and saucers, and then a beautiful cake table, and beyond yummy chocolate gluten free cupcakes for me.  The food was catered from Bucco De Beppo. with again a gluen free meal for me of fresh salmon.  A huge yummy salad completed my meal, and the rest of them feasted on Spaghetti, baked Ziti, and bread. It was ALL delicious!  After visiting and catching up it was time for presents. Goodness I got soo many thoughtful, wonderful things it was just again...overwhelming.  But let me tell you about the gift I got from MY family.  A book was put together that contained personal letters from them all, and tons and tons of my favorite pictures of them all!  I LOVED LOVED LOVED it! The perfect gift for me!  I guess they were all involved with it.  Hubby's idea, and then between Melody and James they got the pictures, gathered everyone's letters and notes, and then sent it off to be put together in a book for me.  I will treasure it that's for sure.  And then throughout the evening there was a table set up and a scrap book was being put together with again personal notes and wishes from everyone else there!  I have yet to see this book as Diane has taken it home to get it all assembled (and I guess there was a tape issue, lol) and I have that to look forward to next Thursday. And then another gift I got I am soo excited about I can hardly stand it, was that my daughter Melody has arranged for a photographer to take professional pictures of ALL of my family the Sat. after Thanksgiving when they will be out. There will be pictures of me and hubby, hubby and I and all of our kids, hubby and I and all of our grandkids, pictures of each individual family, and of course one of all of us together.  We will probably be taking these pictures at the beach at sunset, but we haven't firmed that up yet.  We are thinking we will all wear navy, white or tan.  I am soo excited about this (did I mention that, lol?) It too was just the PERFECT gift for me.  I guess there will be a forever memory of the year I turned 60 for us all.  I also got a new purse, lots of sewing supplies, perfume, gift cards, flowers, scented candles, and on and on the list went.  It was just a wonderful day.  We visited and enjoyed each other until it was finally time to call it a night.  It was a memory that will go down in the books as one of the best birthday's I have had.  Maybe turning 60 wasn't so bad after all.  (smile).  Let me show you some of the pics I did get on my phone,

THE 60 YEAR OLD GUEST OF HONOR, LOL

SUCH A PRETTY TABLE!

CLOSER LOOK AT ONE SIDE

AND THE OTHER

CAKE TABLE AND BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS

ONE OF THE CENTERPIECES...MY WONDEROUS DIL LEAH MADE ALL OF THESE AND THEY EACH HAD A DIFFERENT VICTORIAN CAMEO ON IT

DRINKS,..ALSO COKE IN THE FRIDGE

I THINK EVERYONE THERE MADE ME A PAGE...CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT!

SOME OF THE CROWD COMING TO GREET ME!

KISSES FROM VINNY!
I got this much done before I left for the hospital this morning to go and sit with my sister Danae while her husband had surgery.  The surgery went wonderfully, and he was doing as well as they could expect 4 hours later.  Thank you so much for your prayers!  I left my sister sitting by his side, and gathered my things to go home.  Or at least I "thought" I did.  Apparently I left my phone sitting on the table in the waiting room of the ICU.  Not sure how I did such a bumbling thing, (maybe a part of being 60?) but that's exactly what I did.  Of course I did not discover this till I got all the way home, but my wonderful hubby is going to go by the hospital and pick it up on his way home tonight. Not that the hospital is exactly on his way home...but honestly I just don't think I can bear to be without it. Meanwhile my sister has got it thank goodness!  I can't finish this post until I get it however, as the rest of the pictures of my birthday are still on it.  I also intended to take some pictures of my book when I got home so that I can show you that, but since I don't have my phone I guess I will get out my good camera as I want to take pictures of the quilt anyway.  Which means I need to tell you that I picked up the Civil War Quilt on Sat from the quilters, and I was beyond pleased with it!  What a GREAT job she did.  I never can get over how MUCH the quilting changes the quilt.  I brought it home, squared it up, and put the binding on so that I could sit and do the hand sewing on it while I was at the hospital today.  I did not expect to get it done (the quilt seems soo big!) but I actually did.  It went soo fast.  Or maybe it just seemed fast as it was nice having someone to chat with while I worked.  So let me show you the FINISHED quilt!

CAN'T SEE THE QUILTING HERE VERY WELL EVEN WITH THE GOOD CAMERA

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT HERE...SIGH

THIS IS BETTER, BUT LET'S FACE IT, IN ORDER TO SEE THIS QUILT WELL YOU NEED TO SEE IT IN PERSON,  LOL,OR AT LEAST FROM A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER

IT'S NEW HOME!

MY BOOK...LOOK AT HUBBY AND I HERE IN OUR TWENTIES BACK IN THE LATE 70'S!  CAN'T BELIEVE MY HAIR, LOL!

THIS IS HOW THE BOOK STARTED


EVERYONE GOT A PAGE FOR THEIR LETTER, AND THEN A PAGE FOR PICTURES.  THERE WAS ONE FROM EACH ONE OF MY CHILDREN, MY IN-LAW CHILDREN, AND MY GRANDKIDS!  I WILL SHOW YOU A SEPARATE PICTURE OF ONE OF OUR FIRST FAMILY PICTURES WITH HUBBY AND I AND JOE WHO WAS ABOUT 2

YES, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF MY HAIR...BELIEVE IT OR NOT I HAD JUST CUT IT AND I WAS BEMOANING HOW SHORT IT WAS, LOL  OLD PICTURE AND YOU CAN'T SEE WELL, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA



ANOTHER PAGE

SNAPPED A PIC OF MY FLOWERS WITH THE GOOD CAMERA..SOO PRETTY!

THERE WERE 5 TABLES, AND THESE WERE THE PRETTY CENTERPIECES...DIDN'T SHE DO A GOOD JOB? 
Well my hubby just called, and has my phone and I just popped some chicken into the oven.  I guess I will post this "as is" without the rest of the birthday pictures, as honestly I am sure there are more then enough as it is, lol.  Tomorrow I can pick up the quilt for Brooke and Ryan's wedding gift and I am quite anxious to see it too.  Hope it comes out even half as well as the Civil War One.  I have lots going on this week as well.  Lots of sewing to do, and a women's bible study group I am a part of starts back up again on Wednesday night.  Hope you are all busy and well.  Blessings to you all! Debbie



19 comments:

  1. What a special way to celebrate your 60th birthday! So glad your family went all out for you. I loved the photos of your early years and what your husband wrote in your book. Ahh ...

    I think the 60's are hard. I didn't mind the 50's but once the 60's came somehow it sounds old. I am 61 going on 62 so I know. But at the same time, it's all good. We have come a long way and learned what's most important I think. Our relationship with the Lord and ...family.

    Happy birthday Debbie!

    Love,
    Debbie

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  2. Dear Debbie, Happy, Happy birthday!!
    I hear the excitement of the pleasure of this day. It will be a beautiful memory not only for you but for the entire family to enjoy such a blessed celebration.
    You look beautiful and so happy.
    You also look so pretty back in the day.
    I am so happy for you and the enjoyment you experienced.
    Gone with the Wind was a beautiful choice for a movie.
    Blessings dear and hugs, Catherine

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  3. What a beautiful celebration, Debbie! You are appreciated, you are loved, and you are blesssed!

    I love the book, and I can imagine how very much that means to you. A perfect gift. It was so thoughtful of your family.

    Happy birthday!! To quote a card my daughters and I saw in a store today..."One day older doesn't make any difference unless you're a banana." :D

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  4. Happy, Happy Birthday, Debbie! What a wonderful celebration you had! Love your keepsake book..how special!

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  5. What a wonderful, wonderful celebration your family planned for you ... the PERFECT way to celebrate your 60th!

    I have to say that I truly felt like I was getting older when I turned 60 ... my other birthdays didn't phase me, but turning 60 did.

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  6. All grins here to think of how beautifully your family honored you on your special day!

    The quilt is so handsome...if I ever make one, I will certainly try to use similar colors and save the money to have it quilted. That really does set it off.

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  7. Happy Birthday, looking great at 60!
    How special that they made a big deal for you day!!!

    Love those photo books, they are fun to make too!


    Hugs!

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  8. Happy, Happy Belated Birthday Debbie!! What a wonderful day you had and I am so glad you shared it all. What a wonderful family you have. I love the decorations and the books and How nice to have a family picture at Thanksgiving.
    You are so blessed. I am a fan of Gone With the Wind too. I hope they bring it here.
    Thank you so much for sharing.

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  9. This sounds like such a wonderful celebration! Sometimes the thought and planning you know went into the day is more overwhelming than the event itself. So special! Happy birthday! I'm glad you felt well loved and treasured!

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  10. Debby, I honestly thought you were in your 50's until I saw that you were turning 60. Congrat's dear one. What a wonderful way to celebrate you! When hubby and I turned 60, our family gave us a surprise party-it was sooooo very fun. There are positive things about the 60's. You and hubby looked so cute back when, but girl you are a wonderful couple if I've ever seen one. Love your quilt!
    Thanks for sharing and have a great evening.
    Lots of love,
    Noreen

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  11. Well it looks like a wonderful birthday for you, my friend. How sweet to be thought of in such a special way by friends and family. And, dahling, you look mahvelous.

    I'm loving that quilt.

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  12. Happy 60th Debbie!
    Your families celebration of your life sounds just wonderful.
    God Bless-Kimberly

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  13. Debbie, what a nice birthday party. You obviously loved, and adored by your family! Love the book they made. I enjoyed seeing the photos of you and your husband when you were just starting out.
    The quilt!!!! AAHHHHHH!!! It is fabulous! Yes, the quilting changes the entire look of the quilt. I love a meander, like you had done on yours. It is my favorite pattern.
    You are a quilter!!!
    xo Kris

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  14. Oh Debbie, what fun it was for me to visit you and read about such a special event in your life. Happy 60th Birthday! You make 60 look good! You must be the most loved and cherished lady, in that so many made your day so extra special for you. I enjoyed reading every word and seeing every picture. You deserve such kindness and celebration! Thank you for sharing the day and all it held, with us in blog land. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.

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  15. Happy Birthday and what a wonderful celebration. Love the pictures. They did such an great job. Those books are such a wonderful idea. So glad your family did that for you. I'm sure you'll enjoy them forever. And getting family pictures is another great gift idea. Such wonderful memories for you all.

    I love that quilt. It is so gorgeous and looks great in its "new" home.

    Happy Birthday. You definitely do no look your age.

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  16. Happy Birthday! What a special day it was! Loved your pictures and all the happy, beautiful faces of people celebrating with you!

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  17. Happy Birthday Debbie, what a wonderful celebration you had. I love the idea of the book and notes, those will be treasured items in years to come I m sure. It sounds like they thought of just about everything to make sure you had a very special day, you are indeed a blessed lady.

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  18. This is just soooooooooooooo awesome!!! What a wonderful birthday and Happy Birthday!!! You are truly one of the most blessed women on earth..soak it all in! Wow!!

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  19. I am so late but I have to wish you a happy birthday and a great coming year! How very special your day was! Love reading how those who love you so made it a sweet celebration :)

    Our youngest daughter shares your birthday.

    So good visiting and perusing many of the posts I have missed. My days have been filled with indoor and outdoor chores! Your quilts are so extraordinary! Amazing talent and creativity!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!