It was a fantabulous day!

Yesterday was my 50th birthday. I've never been secretive about my age - it is what it is...a number. And numbers don't define me. But it was a little different yesterday. 50 is a milestone that society seems to fuss over. I was surprisingly fussed over yesterday and it does feel nice when your favorite people do the fussing.

I awoke yesterday morning to find notes through out the house. My Betz was busy before she went to bed the night before. This was hanging in the kitchen.

"Welcome to 50 and Fabulous!"

I opened the cupboard door for the coffee and this was sticking in a coffee mug.


After the coffee was started I went for a drink from the fridge and found this on a shelf.


Headed for my LazyBoy where I finish out my sleeping for the night and this was in the middle of the room. I have small window lights on 24/7 so I wasn't startled to see these but I did need to turn on some lights to take the picture.

I went to sit in my chair and found this.

The little note in the bottom corner asked me to wake her at 7:00 so that she would be ready to party. I've enjoyed needing to say "Hey babe, it's time to wake up". It's been a really long time since I've had to do that.

Decided to visit the bathroom before I settled in the chair for the rest of the night and....

Finally with drink in hand and headed for my chair again I noticed that the computer screen on my laptop that sits beside my chair was glowing and thought 'oh fiddle, the screensaver is whacked again'. But I was suprised to discover a two page note on my computer screen.

The end of the note said that there was a queue of songs that she had handpicked for me.

So I got myself all comfy, put the earbuds in and cried myself to sleep listening to a new song I've never heard before

(click to listen)

and then oodles of my very, very favorite songs and artists. Slept quite soundly.

Before we left for the day I opened the card and gifts that were attached to the balloons.

I love Willow Tree figurines. This one depicts perfectly how I've felt about mothering Betz and it will be the hardest thing I've ever had to do when a month from now I'll need to 'let go' of this embrace and leave her way out there somewhere.... sniff, sniff.

But chocolate cures everything, right?!

A bag of my favorite was one of the gifts.

Then we started our day by meeting my parents for breakfast. I try not to take it for granted, and thank God often, that both Mom & Dad are in great health and we enjoy wonderful times together. They've provided a godly heritage and I am most blessed for their love and care.

Mom & Dad volunteer their time each Friday at the local ReUzIt shop so we stopped in to see where they hang out and meet the folks they work with. Dad works on items that are donated to the department that requires electric or batteries. Growing up, there was never a handyman or service man called to the house - Dad fixed it himself. Mom has a section of the shop that she keeps organized where kitchen items are displayed.

On a table back in the employee breakroom we found this to be perfect for the day.

I had fun purchasing items I would never have considered before entering BlogWorld. I purchased a small lidded candy dish for 50 cents that I'll use to fill and provide when a small gift is needed (oodles of ideas presented by Judy at http://www.justalittlesomethingforyou.blogspot.com/

I picked up some dishes that I plan to use in a wall display in my home - another idea from other sites on blogworld.

Then it was time to be off. We had other places to be. We picked up a trailer that Mr. Studly found for Hubby & I to use to haul more items to Montana on our drive out. It is a premium 'poster child' of hillbilly, redneck items. Pictures will follow later when we're loaded up and ready to make the trek across country. We took the darling little trailer to it's parking place until needed and then headed back to our side of the county for a scheduled hair appointment and pedicure that Betz had made for me. So I was covered 'from head to toe' in love.

The day was filled with Facebook greetings, phone calls from more favorite people (my two sons and Mr. Studly) gifts and cards.

But the best was yet to come. Friday nights are date night for me and Hubby. We've discovered over the years of working together in the business, parenting, and .... just life that we are best if we can carve out a section of time with only our name on it. There aren't many Friday nights that we allow anyone or anything to change those plans. Our dating life was based on endless conversation and we've continued that all these years. He is still my favorite person to talk to. My world shrinks when we aren't 'on the same page' and struggling to communicate.

We found a new place in the city (for us anyway) and had a wonderful meal and conversations. At 10:00 he asked "well, are you ready to call it a night?" I had had a wonderfully special day and it was sad to know that it was over.

I'm delighted that God created us with the ability to remember.

Yesterday provided many great memories.

....and 50 is a good number.

Outstanding Nurse

Betz has been employed at Hershey Medical Center for the past 5 years and as a Labor & Delivery Nurse for 4 of those years. Each year the doctors and graduating Residents give an "Outstanding Nurse Award" to a nurse in their department. This year they voted for Betz.



This mommy heart has swelled just a tad.

And the relief that homeschooling didn't damage her career and abilities to be a good nurse.

I've loved hearing story after story of her experiences at the hospital. She & her co-workers have had some hilariously funny moments. It was nice to have some pictures to put a face to a name that I've heard for awhile.

Betz and Dr. Cory Booker

Sonya, R.N. - always looking for a good time, on the floor, in NYC, out for lunch.

The graduating class. Congrats!

To all of Betz's co-nurses and doctors.....Thank you for making my daughters nursing experience memorable. May God richly bless you all!

A small favor

Someone sent me this email. I like emails that make me laugh out loud and have a party for one in front of my computer screen.


I hope I can count on you..... I need a small favor....if it's not too much trouble. I'm going away on vacation, and I need a friend to come over and water my plants for me while I'm gone. The plants are mostly geraniums and begonias. In the hot weather they'll probably only need water twice a day. I'll be gone for only 21 days. I've attachd a photo for your reference.








I'll send you a postcard. Thanks!!!

The ladder is in the garage.

Thanks for sharing a laugh with me - trust your day is filled with joy!

Seeing red taste can taste good

Last year I waited too long to pick a day to make strawberry jelly. This year I was hoping to catch it in time.

Don't know what I was thinking when I said I'd take a whole flat (20 quarts) of strawberries from those two delightful amish girls at the roadside stand.... I had already put some in the fridge when Betz snapped this photo.

And there wasn't one rotten or non-ripe berry in the lot.

Betz stemmed 13 quart.....

while I stirred.... and stirred

Mom always made cooked jelly as I have. Last year when my friend, Denise, moved out of state she 'dumped' her freezer contents on me. We ate good for a long time. Thanks, Denise. And with each jar of yummy freezer jam we consumed I felt guiltier and guiltier.

I needed to read the directions as this was my first time at freezer jam.


Betz & I decided we like this method best and the results of our 13 quarts of strawberries equaled 67 (8 oz.) containers of freezer jam.

I'll finally be able to relieve some of the freezer guilt in a few weeks when I take some of this along with me for an overnight visit with Denise. And there will be more packed in the car as we head from there to Montana and put some in Mr. Studly and Betz's freezer.

Seeing red

Wondering why other moments in life of seeing red don't look this pretty......






This year these lillies have out done themselves. But they are in a flower bed where I've given up the fight with the weeds and other things and will be transplanting them elsewhere this fall. I hope they don't mind the change of address too much and allow me to see red again next summer.

Happy Father's Day

The Lord blessed me richly with a devoted man who my children call Dad. Thank you, Hubby, for being a godly teacher and role model to Mike, Betz and Digger.

I'm usually the first one up in the morning and start the coffee. But Hubby makes my cup perfectly every morning with flavored creamer and a pack of Splenda.

I opened the fridge and saw this on a shelf.

Betz knows her Dad loves Jarlsberg Cheese and will definitely share it with her. Isn't on my edible food list so they have it all t0 themselves.

Then I found this sitting on the dining room table.

Now THESE are on my edible list and I've already helped myself. What's thine is mine, right?

Then sitting on Hubby's chair was a package that contained this handpainted piece of art that was hanging in the hall at Hershey Medical Center. Betz thought of her Dad every time she saw it. (Hubby has free range chickens that he fusses over.)

And this card was attached.

It's been nice having Betz here for these 5 weeks. I forgot how nice it is to have children around the house. The towels and wash clothes need washed more often. The bathroom has a lot more hair in it. There's an airbed sitting in the middle of the basement. But we find treasures like the above here and there. Hubby & I will both greatly miss her presence.

Gift of Flowers

After reading the book "The Five Love Languages" (years ago) it was helpful to know and understand that my love language is 'Acts of Service'. I enjoy, appreciate and am always fascinated by flowers and you would think flowers on Valentine's Day, etc... would be my language. The love language of receiving gifts, cards, flowers is always, always appreciated but my heart hears love the loudest when things are done, completed or help is received. But yesterday I received flowers that absolutely spoke love to me. My Betz was home helping me make strawberry jelly all afternoon and she returned home from an errand with this beautiful arrangement.

Mr. Studly, Betz's husband and my one and only Sonny-law, has the reputation of going to the florist and hand picking the flowers he wants in a bouquet. So he has taught her well.


Betz knows that my all time favorite flower is the calla lily - any color will do.


Then she added delphiniums - I love spikey flowers, tall column-looking flowers, flowers on the end of long stems, etc..
.

Then she added this gem.


What has me stumped is this gorgeous darling was attached to the same purple beauty above but is giving no indication that it will turn into the same deep purple.



Nestled in the center were these green beauties and things were beautifully color coordinated together.

And off to the side was a lilac version of God's fireworks.

I enjoy fireworks.

So although receiving flowers may not be my primary love language it surely was yesterday. Thank you, Betz. I am most blessed to have you to love. I love being your mom.