Birthday Celebrations Continue . . .

My birthday celebration has been going on all week. I missed a telephone call from one of my grandson's and he left a message to call as soon as I got home. I called to hear "Happy Birthday, grandma". It was so sweet. I also received a card signed by four little grandchildren with a gift card to one of my favorite stores. So, happy days of shopping are ahead!!! Thank you to my California children and grandchildren. (I especially liked the little giggle on the voice message.)

When I arrived at work Wednesday morning, there was a beautiful vase of flowers still wrapped in the clear cellophane from the florist. They had been delivered late Tuesday afternoon, but I had left early because of the bad weather. Finally, we have snow!!! But I'm ready for spring now. The flowers were from Natalie and Adam and brought spring right into my office. The lilies reminded me of when we lived in Oklahoma City and all the memories of trying to keep my lilies alive on the side of the house when six little children thought they were a play ground. The lilies did survive, though. In fact, when we were living in Texas, ten years later, Natalie, Francie, and I made a trip back to Oklahoma City and drove by our old house. It looked the same. The trim color on the house had been changed from green to brown, but the lilies were still on the side of the house and were in full bloom. I pulled in the driveway and got out of the car and walked up to the door. A man, maybe in his mid thirties, came to the door and opened the same glass "screen door" that I had opened so many times. He had a puzzled look on his face. I peered into the house to see what had changed trying not to look like I was checking things out. The carpet had been removed and the hardwood floors refinished and they looked beautiful. I told this young man that this had been home to my six children and I and that the flowers on the side of the house brought back many memories. I told him that after several moves we were now living in Texas and asked if I could have some of the flowers on the side of the house to plant in my backyard. I could tell by the expression on his face that he was surprised at my request, but answered, "sure, help yourself". He loaned me a shovel and the girls and I dug up several clops of the lilies placing them in plastic bags and laying them in the trunk of the car. When we arrived home in Texas, we planted them in the flower beds in the backyard and they thrived. When Bob moved us to California, I wanted to dig them up and take them with us, but Bob told me they would stop us at the state line of California and take them from us, so we left them behind. I didn't know that you couldn't take fruit or plants into California.

The bouquet of roses, lilies, and mums.

Our home in Oklahoma City. That's Lori and I sitting on the porch step. (No, I'm not fat!! I'm expecting Francie to arrive in a few days.)

Our home in Texas.

I enjoyed my flowers at work but brought them home to enjoy this weekend. I rushed home after work to drop off my flowers before heading for my women's Bible study at the church. I was afraid they would freeze if I left them in the car. It was nine degrees. To my surprise, Bob was home. He's usually gone in the evenings when I come home, but it just so happened that he didn't have a meeting. Wouldn't you know it, the one evening when he's home, and I've got other plans. He was cutting carrots, and onions, and cooking green beans, and had flour, seasonings, etc. and pans out. I quickly place the flowers on the table and turned around to head back out the door and said to him on my way out, "What are you doing?" His reply, "Just a little cooking". I shook my head and continued on my way to the car. The weather has decided to be very cold and snow a lot lately, so the roads were not in the best condition, but I took it slow and made it without any trouble and only ten minutes late. It was a great study. I did it on Abigail and her fool of a husband Nabal (I Samuel 25). The ladies had a good time with the discussion questions. And after we finished the study one of the ladies asked if we could have the study twice a month instead of just once a month. So, now we're going to have the ladies Bible study on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. When I returned home, Bob had two pot pies made. He told me that we're having a birthday dinner on Friday evening, and Ryan and Lisa and the children and Shannon and Andy and Madeline are coming. I was so excited. How can one person be so blessed? And, it gets even better. Bob told me that Friday was my day. He was going to do all the cleaning, cooking, baking, and laundry, and I could do whatever I wanted.

I had to take pictures so I could remember, because this is probably going to be the first and last time I receive this type of present. He wasn't too happy about me taking pictures of him doing this, but since it was my day, he went along with it.

It's nice having three bathrooms until you have to clean them.

So far he's not skimping.

Dusting takes a long time.

Folding the laundry.

It's not even eleven o'clock and he's almost finished. I wonder why it takes me so long?

To be continued . . .