The Monday Morning After...

 Here it is, the Monday morning after a weekend of celebrations and blessings and such joy!  Even though we don't like to "get older"...we rejoice in the fact that God has given us another year to live and love and be thankful for all His many blessings.  And that brings me to a little picture tour of the rest of the weekend that you haven't seen as yet:

Be aware...these photos are VERY candid!  I gave our son Scott my cell phone and said "take some pictures".  That's a very dangerous thing to do.  He just starts snapping away and you never know exactly what you will get.  We had to delete quite a few that were just too silly or unflattering...but this is how we live...silly and sometimes unflattering, but happy and fun.  We had a rather late (for us) pizza supper after our "kids" got home from their store on Saturday evening. Hence the pizza boxes in the background and a very very casual setting.  And somewhat fuzzy pictures because of the lighting, but it is what it is.  Happy memories.  And yes, Lily Grace was there to help me blow out the candles.  She was quite excited to be a part of all the festivities, as you will see in further photos.  

Doesn't everyone have at least one unflattering photo of yourself blowing out your birthday candles? If not, you should. It's a very important part of life, and we should all be remembered for the way we blow out our candles and celebrate life! There are probably 71 unflattering photos of me blowing out birthday candles somewhere if I search hard enough.  Oh...and notice the apple pie? Remember I told you about that already HERE , and how it bubbled over in my oven while baking, making a not so pleasant burnt apple pie juice fragrance.  That is why the pie dish is still on that metal cookie sheet. The bottom is very very sticky...LOL.

Yay! I did it! I managed to blow out all 71 candles...LOL!!! (with a little help from my little friend).

Speaking of unflattering photos...I only am including this one because it is the only one Scott managed to get that also included my hubby in the photo. LOL.  We were savoring our apple pie ala mode.

Obviously the photos were not staged or planned...but there's our "kids", Rose and Benton, enjoying their pie with gusto...

and last but not least in this series of photos is the photographer himself, doing a selfie!

Let's give a round of applause to Scott the infamous photographer! LOL.  And no, Benton doesn't usually look like that.  It's just that this is the only picture of Scott, so there you have it. 

Again, this is life in our house. Nothing staged or perfectly choreographed. This is the stuff that memories are made of.

Now, that is not "The End" of the story. This was just Saturday night.  I believe I told you before that we would be gathering with extended family and friends on Sunday afternoon for a bigger celebration. This was to include the belated celebration for our son Benton's 50th birthday, as well as my birthday, and also celebrating some other members of our extended family who had birthdays in August and September.    And so, after church we gathered at our local Hog Wild Country Cafe' BBQ place to celebrate some more:

Yes, Lily Grace was there, much to the chagrin of some "grumpy old men" (just kidding), and to the delight of two new friends for Lily Grace. These ladies are two of my dearest friends from our previous home in Salt Springs. They had not had the joy of meeting Lily Grace yet, and as you can see, they were very pleased to meet her and she them.  I would let Lily tell you about this herself, but we decided together that this should be my story today. She may have another adventure to share later.

Here's some of the rest of the party...

And more of the family and friends who traveled from near and far to celebrate together...

Yes, I was there too. Acting my usual silly self... And Lily was waving at everyone...

We had cupcakes for dessert, thanks to my sweet sister in law Peggy, and don't you love that cute teacup napkin she brought?  She's always so thoughtful.

Speaking of tea...my sister Doris on the left below, and her hubby Art, gave me this lovely big tin of English Breakfast tea bags.  People know I love tea, and they make things extra special...even though I specifically said this party was to just be together...no gifts!! Some people just don't listen! Gotta love them.

Here's another special "tea" gift...

It's actually a salt and pepper shaker set...isn't it adorable?

Most of all I am thankful....thankful for my family and friends and all the wonderful joys and blessings we share together...

Thankful for God, and for the life He has given me all these years.  

For it is in God alone that "we live and move and have our being..." (see Acts 17:22-31)

So, as I bring this birthday celebration to a close, I look forward to a new year of blessings and joy and God's provision for all our needs.  We do not know what the future may hold, but when we observe all that God has done for us in the past, we know that He does not change, and we may expect Him to take care of all our needs for the future as well.

On another note, please keep me in prayer this Thursday as I will finally meet with the neurosurgeon again to discuss the findings of the neurological tests I had a couple of weeks ago.  I can already tell you that from what he has discovered, we will be discussing the possibility of a cervical spine fusion...so your prayers are much appreciated as we determine all possible alternatives and prognosis, etc, etc., etc.  I know I am in God's hands no matter what, so I am not afraid...but I just want to make the best and most beneficial decision for my well-being.  Thank you dear friends.

Have a blessed and wonderful week!!!