Surprise Birthday Party

The Big One!

Today I reach a major milestone in my life-I'm old enough for Medicare! Funny I just don't feel this old! But I am thankful that God has allowed me to get here. I have to write about the special blessings of this past weekend. Having Shalay and Wolf here was one of the best birthday gifts I could possibly have! To make it even more special, after the Stitcher family reunion and Landon's graduation, Shalay planned with Michele, Leighanne and Kenzie to give me a surprise party. Mostly done through emails and Facebook, they managed to get a houseful of special friends and family to celebrate with me. The boys had to keep the store open but did come later. Abbey and Nathan made decoration banners and posters to decorate! I love that! It was so special to me that not only friends came but they brought their families too. I felt so loved and humbled by this attention. What a cherished memory!

What a weekend!

What a weekend I have had!!! We picked up my daughter and little Wolfie on Friday evening(Thank you Michele), car ran hot while going through the airport line, Saturday - family reunion, then my oldest grandson's graduation and fellowship, Sunday-church recognition of his graduation and another fellowship time,then Sunday afternoon my "sneaky, sweet" daughter arranged a surprise birthday party (celebrating a big one!) and I spent time with some very special family and friends-A wonderful, full weekend! And just heard from Shalay back safe and sound in St. Louis! (Thank you Niki!) and Thank you GOD for keeping them safe!

May 14, 1999

Eleven years ago the day started just like a regular one, but before this day ended my life changed forever and my little world fell apart. My husband had been trout fishing for a few days and came home with some of them. For supper I was baking him one of the largest trout, smothered in onions, just as he liked them. As was his habit, he stopped off at our pond to feed "his" fish and then came on to the house. He liked to feed his beagle hounds before he came in for his shower after work. I was finishing up his meal and heard his little Mountain Cur dog scratching at the door of the deck and all the beagles were barking so loud. I couldn't imagine what was going on but opened the door to look out. I saw my husband lying on the ground and ran out to find him unresponsive. I ran back in the house to get the phone and call 911, then back to him, starting CPR. It seemed to take forever for the ambulance to get here and when I finally heard it coming down the driveway, I had to leave him to direct them to the back yard where we were. The EMTs worked with him there and also in the ambulance. Steve Preston with Troup Fire Dept was one of those responding and I knew him through Red Cross. He told me it would be better if I rode on the way to the hospital with him instead of in the ambulance. I lost all track of time when we got to the hospital, but it seemed that I was alone for a long time before my sons got there and even longer before they told us. My daughter was away at school but was coming home to celebrate our birthdays (his May l7, mine May 18). She was not told of the news because I feared for her safety in driving home from North Carolina if she knew. Losing my mate of 37 years, love of my life since I was 16, has been my most life-changing experience. It has been a very lonely 11 years and I miss him so much.

Mother's Day 2010

This year Mother's Day was bittersweet for me-Shalay wasn't able to come home and this was actually her first time to be a mommy on this day. Ben wasn't with her either so I guess I worried more than usual about her not being home. Ben went to a student's wedding and then to spend the day with his mother. I was having my own little pity-party until around 5:00 when Keith called. "We are having a picnic on Rusty's side of the pond-got everything we need already". They got chicken and fixins and took care of everything. We caught some fish (Keith caught that bass but I reeled him in and got credit for catching him. For a day in May it turned out to be cool enough for long sleeves and a little fire! Leighanne and the kids were out on her Dad's sail boat and we waited for them to get home before we ate. Then we roasted marshmellows and made smores. This day was just about perfect! Having Shalay, Wolfie and Ben home would have made it so! I know I just want too much but so thankful for my blessings of children and grandchildren!

My grandson, Landon's Graduation Party

So proud of my grandson, Landon and his accomplishments-Shown here with friends who shared in his graduation party- Also there is a photo of me with my proud son Keith.

Summer Close To My Heart Idea Book

http://www.closetomyheart.com/Products/Online_Idea_Book.aspx

Mother's Day card sentiment

"I'll love your forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."

Happy Mother's Day

This card was made with a Close To My Heart stamp set that I just had to get for the occasion of Shalay's first Mother's Day! She is a Mommy now (and a wonderful mommy!) but she will always be my baby! She can't be home this weekend but will be here next weekend to help celebrate Landon's graduation and my birthday. I can't wait to get some baby love from her and Wolfie!