Happy Birthday to my Sweetheart & Happy Father's Day, too!

Since I can't seem to load any photos today, my words will have to suffice. 

First, I'd like to wish a wonderful and special birthday to my Sweetheart.  We celebrated with Brennan & Breezy when they were home late last month.  It was a combination Birthday/Father's Day celebration and it was so very sweet.  The kids bought dinner -- two different kinds of pizza...including Tom's favorite, Hawaiian, not to mention melt-in-your-mouth breadsticks.  Add to that a delicious birthday cake with Graeter's Ice Cream (a regional favorite that is incredibly good -- Oprah Winfrey once said it was her all-time favorite!)

One of our favorite shows is "Scrubs."  It happens to be one of Brennan & Breezy's too, so they own several seasons on DVD.  They set up their laptop on the table so that we could watch (mini-drive-in style) as we enjoyed the pizza and dessert....wasn't that clever and thoughtful? 

One of the nicknames Tom is best known for is "Daddio of the Patio." Brennan & Breezy found this great, sort of vintage-retro sign that says just that!  They couldn't pass it up.  That was one of their gifts!  Breezy also made Tom an awesome plaque (similar in style to the one she made me for Mother's Day), except his is in browns, greens and a little black.  She included a quote from "Oh the Places You will Go" from Dr.  Suess.  It turned out so well!  Hopefully, I'll be able to load photos of them later.

Since he shares his birthday with Father's Day, he and I had a special lunch yesterday to celebrate his birthday.  It was a sweet time together. 

Last night, I took my Dad (and Mom) out to dinner at Cracker Barrell for Father's Day.  We had so much fun, celebrating the blessings of this year as compared to last.  If you were reading my blog back then, you know my Dad fell from a scaffold just after Memorial Day, shattering both his heels and ankles.  He spent weeks on bedrest with casts on both legs.  By Father's Day, he was still in a good bit of pain, and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the long road that lay ahead.  He does now walk with a cane.  He still has pain and residual issues from the accident, but life is good.  He is able to work part-time, drive and do a number of things he once enjoyed (he just moves a little slower).  What a difference a year can make!   I love him dearly and wish him a great and special day!

After church this morning, Tom opened his gifts from me and then we enjoyed a light lunch.  He always prefers a low-key birthday celebration and I try my best to honor that.   

In a short bit, we're heading to Tom's parents to celebrate Father's Day with his Dad, Bob.  He is now 86 years old, so every year is an extra special blessing.  We're looking forward to celebrating with him. 

For Tom, my Dad, Clyde, my Father-in-law, Bob - may the remainder of this Father's Day be a special one.  All three of you are dearly loved.  If you're a Father, I extend these wishes to you, as well! 

Once again, for Tom...Happy Birthday Sweetheart.  I love you.   

For the Love of Quotes

My son, Brennan shared this powerful quote on his Facebook:

"People do not drift toward Holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated." — D.A. Carson

Congratulations Brooke!!!

 
Happy Graduation!  We're so proud of you. 
May God bless you in all your future plans!

...Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

~Joshua 1:9

A Special Birthday Celebration!

We recently celebrated my mother-in-law, Millie's 90th birthday! To her friends, her age has always been a closely guarded secret (we family members figured it out a couple of years ago).  ;  )  She called us back in February to say she and my father-in-law had booked a local banquet facility for a birthday celebration.  She thought a brunch would be a fun way celebrate and at last, reveal her her age!  We were especially happy to discover it fell during the time Brennan & Breezy would be home for vacation, too which was an added bonus!  (By the way, special thanks to Breezy for sharing some of these photos!)

Pink was her color of choice for the party...

Isn't this a beautiful arrangement?  It was a giveaway for one lucky guest. 

The photo immediately behind Millie was her graduation portrait...the photo in the middle was a recent one of she and my father-in-law, the other photo is Millie at 4 years of age. 

 

Aren't they adorable?  My dear father-in-law not only wore a rose colored jacket, he wore a pink kerchief and even pink socks in honor of her special day!

They had a great crowd...many long-time friends...some dating back to when my husband and his sisters were children!  (The woman immediately below with her husband was their babysitter and a dear and precious friend.)

I thought it was especially fitting that the daugther of Millie's long-time best friend, Annie won the flower arrangement.  Kathy is a beautiful woman that seems to exude joy and kindness. 

It was a beautiful celebration and It warmed my heart to see how many people love Millie!