The gift of friendship....

"There’s a miracle of friendship that

dwells within the heart

And you don’t know how it happens

or where it gets its start

But the happiness it brings you

always gives a special lift

And you realize that friendship

Is God’s most perfect gift. "

It was such a lovely evening.

Several of my girlfriends gathered at one friend's incredibly beautiful home to celebrate my upcoming birthday.

We chatted, we laughed, I wore a birthday crown, we ate a delicious meal together, we drank wine, we sang, we played a fun game about my life....and I left with a gift of a beautiful necklace.......it was a wonderful evening that I will never forget.

One friend who came in from out of town stayed over and we spent the whole day together today....(thus, the reason for my late post). Such fun!!

Maybe this 'getting older' stuff isn't going to be so bad after all....?

(The view of the city from outside of my friend's home!)

...beginning to think about "60"

Well, I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that this upcoming birthday is going to be a little bit hard to take.

While my life is wonderful and so full of blessings...this age feels a bit daunting to me.

Sixty!!!??

When did that happen?

I am already seeing and feeling so many changes...physically, emotionally, and every other descriptive word that ends in "ly".

Tonight is the first of a few "celebrations" ahead for me. My wonderful friends are having a dinner in my honor this evening...and, while I am totally looking forward to it and to spending the evening with these special women in my life...my mind keeps going back to the fact that I am the one turning 60.

That being said, I am going to try and embrace this passage and accept the fact that it is just a number (but a high number!! ha ha) and that I have so many wonderful adventures ahead of me.

I loved my horoscope for today:

VIRGO: In these mercurial times, being merely adaptable simply isn't enough. Why be amenable to change when you can fall in love with it? Seek pleasure in the knowledge that everything is becoming something different."

I'm sure that I will have more thoughts on this in the days to come....But, with those words of wisdom from my horoscope today in my head, I am going to try and start my journey into this new and different period of my life with acceptance and joy and love.

But, in the meantime, today I am still only 59.... : )

Thomas, the train arrives in MN!

Owen loves "Thomas, the Train"! So, for his second birthday, Jenny made him this train cake with a little train station. It was very cute and tasted even better as evidenced in the picture below.

Mmmmmmmmm

Icing always tastes better when it is on your fingers.....

Thomas the train hats for all!

Hey you guys....it's getting a little crowded in here!

Chef Dave

The birthday party chef was Dave as he cooked up his famous bar-b-que ribs with his special sauce....as well as chicken and veggie burgers!

...while Owen and some friends went into the pool to cool off!

The party was a success...even the crab is smiling!

Leaving (again)

Dearest Audrey and Owen,

Well, it looks like my visit has come to an end. : (

I will be heading out very early tomorrow morning before you are awake to catch my plane home to Birmingham.

This was such a special visit with you both. Owen, you are talking so much and that is so cool. You can let us know what you need....or how you are feeling. You even say "Grammie" now...and you know how wonderful that makes me feel!

You are growing up way too quickly as I watch you go running around... singing....or playing with your toys. You are really quite adept at doing puzzles....even the more challenging one that Grammie just brought to you. I have loved watching you play in your new "kitchen" as you prepare eggs and bacon for me and serve it with a cup of coffee. Of course it is all pretend...but to you it is a world of endless possibilities that can only be limited by your own imagination.

Tonight, as I read you a story before you went to sleep, I watched the wonder in your eyes as each page turned. You notice every little detail and interrupt my reading to let me know what you are seeing. I just know that you are brilliant, my sweet Owen.

And, Audrey, you have so many things to learn from your big brother. I love how you can't seem to keep your eyes off of him. And, I tear up when he comes over and hugs you for no reason at all. You are so sweet and so content as you sit in your bouncy chair kicking those cute little legs of yours with such glee. And, I saw you flirting with Dave when he talked to you and you flashed him that huge smile of yours! You are absolutely adorable and so sweet.

Of course, I cried tonight as I hugged you both before you went to sleep. It is so hard leaving you...especially when I know that it will be a while before I see you again. Living far away is so difficult.

Please know how much I love the two of you and that you will stay in my heart as I travel back home tomorrow.

Take good care of your mommy and daddy for me as I love them too.

xoxo,

Grammie

Grammie and the sleepy birthday boy.....

Sleeping Angel

Audrey is so incredible.

She just loves to sit in her little bouncy seat and watch the world go by! She takes it all in with those big, blue eyes of hers...and, if you happen to stop by and speak to her...she rewards you with a great smile and a "coo".

Here is a picture of her totally satisfied after her last bottle right before bedtime.

I'm having a wonderful time with the grandkids...

...or did I already mention that???

xoxo

sigh

Does every grandmother feel this way about their grandbabies?????

I am having a wonderful time just holding them, watching them, hugging them.....well, just being with them...

Owen's birthday party was supposed to be today...but, unfortunately, he began to have a fever yesterday....went to the doctor....and the party was put off until tomorrow. It seems as if his three new teeth that are trying to cut through are making him one miserable puppy. In this photo he is enjoying a popsicle...the cold feels so good on his gums. Poor little guy.

But, since we didn't do the party today, we decided to put together his birthday gift from all of the grandparents....a little play kitchen!

He had a ball "cooking" things on his play stove and serving them to the anxiously awaiting grandparents.

The males in the family thought that it was strange to give a little boy a kitchen (haven't they ever heard of famous male chefs???)...but, they were the first ones sitting on the floor and playing with Owen's newest toy!!!

More pictures to come....

xoxo

Tired, but happy, Grammie

Taking off today!

...Heading to Minneapolis,

Adam,

Jenny,

Owen

Audrey......and

joy!

(I will try and blog when I can!) : )

Perspective

"Perception is merely reality filtered through the prism of your soul"-Christopher A. Ray

In preparation for my trip tomorrow morning, I went to get my hair cut and colored yesterday.

This is ritual that I go through every few weeks and it always fills me with a mixture of excitement and dread. Part of this is due to the fact that I have very fine, very thin hair that is hard to do much with. My wonderful hairdresser of the last 15 years or so works her magic on me and tries to make my sparse hair look full and lush.

As she got out her scissors to begin the process yesterday, I mentioned that I was ready to go a little shorter.

"Okay" she said, with a bit of a smirk on her face.

"You know, I am getting ready to turn 60 in a few weeks...and, I am thinking that a little change might be good," I nervously replied.

"Okay" she said again...smiling at me knowing of the angst that I go through with my hair.

Let the cutting begin.

After she did the "first round"...I looked at it and said, "Let's go shorter."

"Okay," she said, and happily got the scissors out again to continue trimming. (She has always thought that my hair would look better shorter...so, she was quite pleased with me at this point.)

"Oh, I don't know..." I said with a bit of panic in my voice. Maybe I should.... (confusion, trepidation and, even, fear being felt here...)

"Let's do it..." I finally expressed after going back and forth in my mind and making more of this than needed to be made.

For some reason this haircut became 'bigger than life' in my mind.

She continued to trim and snip as I sat there sweating.

Suddenly, my eye caught a reflection in the mirror of a lady across from where I sat. She looked a little older than I was and she had an empty look on her face. I continued to gaze at her as I realized that the hairdresser was using an electric razor on her very thin and straggly hair. He did this until every hair was shaved and she sat there with a completely bald head.

It seems as if this woman has been in three times in the last few years to go through this procedure...each time during her chemotherapy treatments.

My little haircut lost all of its importance at that moment...

...as I began to put things in the right perspective.

So, Grammie....when are you coming to visit?

THURSDAY, Owen!!!

Two more days and I will be heading to Minnesota!!! I hope that you and Audrey are ready for lots of hugs!!!!!!!

: )

xoxo

Grammie (I like your new haircut!)

Wake up, Audrey...Grammie's coming!

this, that....and the other things

Monday morning and we have rain (as well as tornado and flash flood watches and warnings!) again as the remnants of Hurricane Fay seem to be lingering around Alabama, including Birmingham. I couldn't help but notice that my surroundings do seem greener and happier with this beneficial rain....but, this does not take away the horrific devastation that Florida is dealing with with the extreme flooding there. My heart is with all of these people who have been affected by Fay.

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I was thinking about something really sweet that Dave does for me all the time when he is over here. He empties my dishwasher! I think that he must actually enjoy putting all of the clean things away....(right now he is probably sitting at his office desk rolling his eyes!)...Whatever, I so appreciate it, Sweetie.

********************************************************************************

Well, I guess that any hopes of my turning 60 quietly and anonymously are gone. It seems as if I am going to be the beneficiary of several celebrations from now until the actual day, the 13th. As I head to Minneapolis this week, it seems as if I will be getting one of Jenny's wonderful birthday cakes. I hope that Owen doesn't mind sharing a bit of his 2nd birthday weekend with his Grammie. Upon my return home, I will find myself at a birthday dinner put on by my incredible girlfriends....as well as a more "intimate" luncheon with the "Girlies" two days later. The following week will find me heading to Atlanta to spend 5 days with my three sisters and my Mom! Three of them are flying in for this....and, knowing them, I am sure that it will be full of fun surprises....

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While I am off celebrating 'turning old' (!)....unfortunately, Dave will be on a trip of a different kind. On my birthday, one year ago, his sister passed away after her brave battle with cancer. With my blessings, he will be heading home to Delaware to spend the weekend with his family. It is where he should be...I will be 60 all year long...and we will find another time to celebrate together.

********************************************************************************

In preparation of my first trip out of town, I have made a fresh batch of sugar water for my hummingbirds. I don't want them to think that the "restaurant" is closed just because I am gone! And, of course, the bird feeder will be restocked with seeds and nuts! Once a mother, always a mother....

**********************

Have a lovely day....and count your blessings.

I know that I am.

My Mom and "The Home"....an update

Finding your footing again after a great loss in one's life is extremely difficult.

While Mom still has some bad days when she finds herself teary and missing my father's presence so very much, she seems to have found her 'niche' in "The Home" (as we affectionately call her new place at the Independent Living complex).

She has made the very small apartment warm and inviting filling it with her favorite colors of turquoise, aqua and beige.

It has taken a while, but family pictures are slowly finding their way back on to her shelves...including a handsome framed photo of my dad that sits on the dresser in her bedroom.

She has learned some of the ins and outs of "The Home" such as: getting to dinner early enough so that the kitchen doesn't run out of your favorite things; getting to know the handyman so that you can call on him when you are needing his assistance; if you ask nicely enough, you can usually garner a few extra cookies to take up to your room after lunch or dinner; ordering dinner over the phone and taking it back to the room is a great option when you have had a late lunch and can't fathom the idea of eating at 5 o'clock; and, finally, when the fire alarm goes off one really doesn't have to trudge down the six flights of stairs as long as the ninety-seven year old lady across the hall doesn't smell smoke! (true story...it happened the other night!)

Only a few weeks had passed and Mom was immediately recruited to be a member of the Home's infamous "Welcoming Committee"! She had hardly been "welcomed" herself when she had this honor bestowed upon her. : ) Now, she finds herself running to meetings every few days. She mentioned that the group consists of all women and one man. She also told me that the women all talk over one another and that the gentleman doesn't get to say much....I can only imagine. I have a feeling that she will be heading this committee some day in the near future!!

She has befriended the ladies in her knitting club that she joined recently...and they help each other with dropped stitches, etc. I know that she is enjoying this group as she has been knitting a blanket for her newest greatgrandchild-to-be....due in September.

The other day Mom had to go downstairs and pick out and order her new red hat because she was invited to join the "Red Hat Society". Seeing her adorned in a large, red hat is something that I can't wait to see....Of course, she told me yesterday that "red is really not a good color for her."!!! Too funny.

Who knows?

Maybe she can change this to the "Turquoise Hat Society" someday.

You know, it wouldn't surprise me a bit!

You go girl! : )