Birthdays happen

 

And the celebration begins.

 

A delicious cupcake after Sunday School 

and large enough to share with Martha on Monday
Feels like we have been friends for ages
but, being sisters in the Lord can do that.
A fun water pitcher was a gift from her  

And after lunch with Martha,  our friends Al and Judy came with chocolates and a huge Gerber daisy and a special card and...then off to Applebees for dinner.   We have been friends since before any weddings...a long a treasured friendship

Chase's Pancake House

I love breakfast and today is my actual birthday 

My sister and I were able to be together 
While our favorite spot is closed
( very sad, the owner has cancer)

We tried a new spot at Gilman Village
 
and the waiter remembered the occasion

Came home to find two gifts waiting... bouquet and orchid 

Can't forget a casual, but tasty dinner at the Dairy Queen and Pecan Turtle Blizzard for dessert. 

Ivar's sends a birthday coupon for a free entrée
Salmon dinner and finished with key lime pie 

We have been friends since our wedding day
 51 years of friendship

She knows me... very cute card

and a CD of favorite old hymns 

And it's not over yet..

When your cleaning Princess bakes a cake...well, that is a real gift...and a blessing... see below with glowing candles 

9  of my favorite people...together at favorite restaurant... ready to enjoy a favorite German chocolate cake 

A new friend,  definitely a favorite friend,  makes special cakes  

And a great time was had by all.

The end of  a week of happy gatherings

I live an exciting life

,

Sharon and us

Never too late to post memories   

Friends to many
Sister to me 

A Blessing to us all 

2012  at the Oregon Coast.





and another

also

Such a BIG Day

 

might have started from David Jeremiah's message
remember

1. Prioritize prayer
2. Serve others
3. Count your blessings 
4. Stay calm and carry on
5. Do the next, right, thing

Or just knowing that friends were praying....and they do... But I stayed calm all day....Well, here's what happened

My Tiffany had agreed to accompany me to a fund raiser luncheon
                               Vision House
Worth checking it out on-line...a very amazing place

       That got me off to a great start, having her by my side

The Event

The Menu 

The Speaker was Bob Goff    ( author of " Love Does" and others )   A very entertaining speaker on a very serious subject... Homeless families, especially children, but adding some humor

The introduction stated that he likes balloons  .. so they were a big part of the decorations

He lives in an exciting neighborhood  and  me thinks he is a big part of that..

He talked about what people/friends, might remember about you after you are gone.  The first post was a recipe for fudge  ( wish I caught that one )  but this one brought the house down.

Here is what  spoke the loudest to me ...be a good neighbor !   Mr. Goff is Honorary Consul for the Republic of  Uganda to the United States,  and has travelled all over....but, we can do the right thing, right next door.

A take away: His latest book " Undistracted"  
             ( I will read it first, then Tiff )

On the way back to the car we found a set of keys on the ground. The only ID was a library key chain. So I stopped by the library to let them find the owner.   Leaving the lobby, I was invited into one of the rooms where a family had displayed the art work of their Mom/Grandma.  The young lady offered me a sandwich and coffee. I had just eaten lunch, but walked around the room to see the pieces that showed the talent of this woman.  
The gathering was all to honor this special lady. It was an open house of love, a gift.   

A take away:   

A tote bag, to honor Mom... I will definitely need another bag soon.

So, being fired up ( so to speak )  I trotted back home, put together a little card 

Taped this photo to it and along with a little loaf of banana bread I headed down the street.

The goal-keeper for the Kraken lives about 3 blocks from us.  It was a beautiful afternoon and I was calm and had no expectations.   Just ring the bell and ..

Well his lady answered the door.  She was very friendly, said he was in an interview.  We talked a little more and she checked again and...

Yep... that's us....  Phillip Grubauer and me 

Another take away:  Photo with a sports hero 

Then it was down the hill to see Leo.  His wife of almost 60 years had passed away just last month. They had already sold their home and were packed ready to move to San Diego to be with family.   We had visited last week and today I brought some turkey soup.  I wanted to continue a serious topic with him...where will you spend eternity?.... and that conversation ended with smiles.   

He also talked about his career in music...in the evening he played the guitar at Town House, on Eastlake and Denny ( he named some others )  for about 30 years.  In the daytime he was a barber

This is one memory he will be taking with him.  I am not sure about the Starbucks sign or several Coke plaques, but he loves the things that remind him of Seattle.  He also likes red. 

Another take away:    

1957 Corvette.. Made in Italy 1/18 scale... The red convertible in our garage is a 2003 Chrysler Sebring, Sabrina is her name.    Now, a little red convertible in my studio, I think I might call her Loretta. 

Last stop was Lady Z.  Some turkey soup for her and a Vanilla Crispie ( from Connie's bakery)    She is just as special to me, and I check on her every day to make sure she takes her medication
 Then time to head home...

Many "take aways"... but the best is a good feeling in doing the next right thing.  

I live an exciting life  

.  

pictures that need no words

 

Something worth waiting for..  every spring

I live an exciting life 

.

be in time

   Remember the family of six,   three generations,  on their way to India for a couple months, last year,   missed their flight !  Spent the night near Sea-Tac, let us know, and we had the opportunity to let them know we had just been praying for them

  This weekend, the family of four, two generations, taking advantage of a long weekend and went to Canada.  Coming home today, but wait, missed the ferry...

Fun memories, they live an exciting life  

 Easter holds a few other traditions

An egg hunt:  This year only two little boys and 115 eggs.  Uncle D gets the job of hiding them in the yard. Almost every year there is one or two that show up in the garden during the summer.

Not to happen this year. The weatherman was right.  Rain.  So, inside was the hiding place.  Sure enough, after the boys went home, there was still one egg that showed up. 

•  A Carrot Cake:  During the early years, Mimi would create orange carrots and little green stems on the cake.
•  Now it is usually sprinkles. 
•  And now, she is in Minnesota.  We often check in on Saturday to see how "we" are getting along.

A typical piece of our favorite carrot cake 

This year, Mimi was working all day and was not sure she would be able to make it happen.
Mine was frosted and on the cake pedestal early evening. 

 Just to keep it fresh and cool I put the domed stand in the back room closet.
Easter morning. 
About noon when Uncle D arrived I had him help  lift the cake into the dining room.

"Mom, the cake is covered with ants"

We call them sugar ants and there they were,  so busy destroying the sparkles.  I thought I could just sweep them off, but no, they were under, all over  and probably inside. 
Out in the garage it went
Uncle D  offered to run to Safeway for a cake, but since he still had 115 eggs to hide, hubby got his keys and started out.

About now, our neighbors Tyler, Heidi and little Eleanor were coming down the path.
Wait!  What was Heidi carrying?    I quickly ran to the front door and I hope I said hello before I said
" What is that you are holding?"    It was a lemon cake.  
Shouted to Uncle D ... run after Dad and tell him we have a cake !

And he did.. And we did. 

Pretty soon Tiffany arrived with deviled eggs, asparagus,  cookies and some sparkling beverage

Mari and Lucas arrived with the most beautiful fruit salad

Ham and herb bread...and all 12 of us begin the feast 

While still around the table we pass the

             "Resurrection Eggs" 
Starting with Jesus loves the world and ending with an empty tomb 

  

Looks like we are ready for dessert 

Story not over yet.

When Tiffany went out to the garage she saw the cake,

she said " Mom that was thoughtful of you to hide the carrot cake when Heidi came with her cake"

When the truth came out, Tiffany and Mari got hysterical and I finally had to laugh about it.

I live an exciting life 

.

Nope.   

 

During the Easter season we would have Hot Cross Buns while we were growing up

Not sure when it stopped, but the next time I remember was about 4 years ago when we invited an English couple to join us for Easter dinner.   She made home baked Hot Cross Buns

Traditions during the holidays are nice and I decided to add this one, at least for the two of us, for breakfast Easter morning.

It was an extra excuse to go to British Pantry for dinner.  

Slipped into the bakery before dinner, and no Hot Cross Buns. Not surprised, but a little disappointed.

Story is not over yet

Back to the dinning room and our favorite waitress Paula,  seated us and took our order.
I inquire about Hot Cross Buns and she confirmed that they were not sold in the restaurant.
The bakery  had been baking them all week and today, they sold over 800.

While we were enjoying our very  British dinner, here comes Paula. 
She handed me two wrapped up  Hot Cross buns.  She said they were hers and she had been eating them all day, so now they were mine 

And so it happened we had hot cross buns for East Sunday breakfast

Story is not over yet 

Just before the Sunday School singing began, Bethany said..
I have been wanting to bake Hot Cross buns for a long time and finally decided to do it.
We can have some with coffee after singing 

and then I have a few for you to take home

And I did

End of story

I live an exciting life