40 wonderful years

Jim and I will be married 40 years May 2. We are in Gulf Shores. Early morning walks on the beach, lazy afternoons reading, talking and evenings with a good dinner and always loving being together. Life gets so busy and I am thankful for this time together away from daily responsibilities. I thank the Lord for bringing us together many years ago and anticipate many more wonderful, exciting years together. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the love of my life.

I received a SURPRISE tonight!!!!!

Baby Shower Tea Party

Last Saturday morning I had a baby shower for a dear friend, Jennifer. The theme was a tea party. My daughter loaned me a pretty bouquet of flowers to sit on the table at the front door.

I used tea pots that had belonged to my mom and a friend loaned me her tea pot.

I served tea in my friend Jennifer's grandmother's china and some pretty china cups my sister gave to me as a gift some years ago. I served English Breakfast and Earl Grey tea. Each table had a potted plant as the centerpiece. At the end of the party we gave them to Jennifer for her garden.

We had delicious petit fours and yummy cream puffs covered in powdered sugar.

My daughter, Stacy, made these beautiful strawberries. Not only are they beautiful but they were so sweet and tasted delicious!

We had delicious chicken salad on petite croissants.

Everyone, including my friend, had a great time and enjoyed the treats and tea.

She's 4!

Almost 4 years ago I began taking care of a precious baby. She is now 4 years old. Her birthday was Tuesday. Jim and I had chocolate milk, donut holes and little sausages waiting for her for breakfast!
She told me “Turning four was hard work. First I was 1, then I was 2, and then 3 and now I am 4.” I told her she did a good job turning 4. I just had to laugh at her thinking it was hard work.

Easter...

I found a quote a few days ago that I really like:

Never let anything so fill you with pain or sorrow so as

to make you forget the joy of Christ risen.

~Mother Teresa

Today is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, but truly we should celebrate it every day. Because of Jesus' sacrifice we have hope and an abundant life. But I am also thankful for this day that we can all stop and remember and rejoice!

After church today our family had dinner together. Stacy made banana pudding and cooked carrots. Shawna made a spinach-strawberry salad (see recipe below). I marinaded the teryaki chicken (thank you Travis for grilling it), fixed rice, steamed broccoli and made homemade yeast rolls. We had a great time, but missed two members of our family...Stephanie in Honduras and Joshua in Army basic training.

Spinach & Strawberry Salad

1 bag fresh spinach - washed and dried
1 pint fresh strawberries - sliced

Dressing
1/3 cup sugar or substitute
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 T. poppy seeds
1 T. sesame seeds (optional)
1/2 cup minced onions
1/4 t. paprika
Mix dressing ingredients together.

Don't put it on the salad until just before serving to prevent leaves from bruising and becoming mushy.

We tried doing an egg hunt with Ashlynn, but after finding a few she was finished with that and she wasn't in the picture taking mood either but we did get a few cute ones of her. A dear friend made the dress she wore today! She had an adorable hat and purse but had fun throwing them rather than wearing them. Stacy gave her a gift and a chocolate bunny. She loved the small Bible and called it her "Bible study book". Jim and I gave her a basket with some small toys and before she left she said, "Thank you for my Easter casket!" She sure makes us all smile!

Fun evening with friends...

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is

that they can grow separately without growing apart.

~Elisabeth Foley

Thursday night we, along with Stacy and Travis, went to dinner with our long time friends, their daughter and her family. We met in 1973 when our husbands were in the Army and we were living in Hawaii. Linda and I were both pregnant at the time. Robyn and Stacy are three months apart in age. Although we have not always lived near each other we have stayed friends. We are thankful we live close now and although we don't see each other as much as we'd like, when we are together it is as if no time has passed. We had an evening of good food and fun fellowship! I thank the Lord for these dear friends!