It has been a special week for me.  There were flowers, cake, and time with family and friends.

The weekend will be spent keeping two precious grandchildren, while their mother, our
middle daughter, and our oldest daughter took a plane to the Midwest,  to visit their
youngest sister and meet their new nephew.  I am thrilled that our three daughters are
having the very rare privilege of spending a few days together.

Tonight, we tucked the little ones into bed.  Then my husband drew a name for our
giveaway.  Now, I want to tell you a short story about the lady whose name was drawn.
Her name is "Helen", and when she commented on my blog tonight, I was surprised to know
that this lady followed my blog.  I could not believe it.  Her and I were good friends back in
Middle School.  After school, she got married and moved about 2 hours away,
and our times of seeing each other have been rare.  How ironic that she won this giveaway,
because if my memory serves me right, she will be 60 years old too, this month.  I am sitting
here in disbelief that this all worked the way it did, and yes, my husband is ethical about
choosing names:)  Helen, I am so happy for you!  I feel like it was meant
to be.  By the way, thank you for sharing your humor with me over the years.  It was
always therapeutic for me.

Congratulations to the winner of the second sign!  The other name my husband drew
was "Corners of My Life".  I was happy for this dear lady too!  I have visited Mary's
blog for a few years, and she continues to teach me aspects of retired life.  Her and her
husband both retired in the last year or so.

All of your comments were kind and blessed me when I read each and every one.
Thank you for them.  They did help ease the reality of now being past the fifties, for
me.

 

 

 Since Helen's name was chosen first, she can decide whether she wants the

"coffee" or the "garden" sign and stand.

 

 

 

 

Thanks again for stopping by this week. 

What a true gift blogging is to me!

I wish you all, an enjoyable weekend!

 

 

 

Tomorrow I will celebrate 60 years.

As you can see by the above picture, I have been around for a

very long time.  This picture was taken at my Grandpa's farm.

The wagon holds my Uncle and me.

My Grandma and my Mother were pregnant at the same time.

Hence, I grew up having an Uncle a few months younger than me.

 

My friend created this beautiful bouquet of roses for me for my birthday.  It blessed me so
much, that I decided that I was going to do a giveaway opportunity to you, my dear blogging
friends.  I visited a lovely new gift shop that friends opened in our area recently, and found two
special gifts choices. 

 

 

I purchased this colorful floral picture with black iron stand.  It actually is prettier than it looks
on this photo. You can choose between this piece if you want, or...

...if you like coffee as much as I do, and if you find yourself looking forward to waking up
just to have a cup, then you may want to choose the gift of the next item.

 

 

You may want this combination.  An old looking coffee picture

where the word "coffee" lights up when you flip the button on the side,

along with a black iron stand.

 I discovered this at my friend's shop, and knew I had to offer it

to you, because it is unique and fun.

 

So, there you go, if you leave a comment on my blog, like you all

so often do, and your name is chosen, you can decide which

gift you would want.  Flowers or coffee...your choice.

Please feel free to leave a comment, even if you never leave

comments, or if you always leave comments.

Even if you live far away, my friends at the postal shop will mail it

to you.

I want to give you a gift.  I want to share my joy today.

I want to help ease the reality that I will be 60 years old.

On Friday evening, my husband will draw a name.

 

Somehow, I know that with prayer, I will be able to face the years ahead.

Prayer along with some cups of hot coffee, what could be better!

I remember my grandma would say, "We grow too soon old,

and too late smart."  I smile because I understand that now.

It is a Pennsylvania Dutch Proverb, and I can see how it could

happen to me too:)

 

Thank you for visiting here tonight.  I appreciate you all so very

much.  You have been visiting my blog for a long time.  You deserve

a gift from me.

Comment if you wish.

 

"We Have This Moment."  The song has been on my mind so often lately.  I am thankful
to The Gaither Vocal Band for it's meaningful lyrics.

Maybe things happen like this, as one approaches age 60.  Often I wish for time to
slow down.  I want to take more time to appreciate the precious gift of "moments" in my life.
This is what is on my heart on this last week of March.

"Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet, fragrant meadows,
Making mem'ries of what was today."

Chorus;  "We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today."

 

"Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling,
For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;
And my little son running there by the hillside,
May never be quite like today."

 "Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,
And someone who loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow,
To look back and wish for today."

"Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mowed hay;
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
and weave you a lovely today."

 Chorus;  "We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today."

My prayer on this Monday...that you may be given "moments" that you can treasure, and store
in your heart today.  Today does matter.

Thanks so much for stopping by.


Coffee photos from Google.

A totally unexpected box of bright, sunny, "smiles" arrived in my mailbox yesterday.
It's contents convinced me that the upcoming event of turning "60" might not be so bad.

When the box came in from the mailbox, I had five little ones surrounding me, as
I eagerly opened it.

I have placed these little guys at fun places in my kitchen, reminding me of a dear friend,
thousands of miles away.

 

 

The box was oozing with creativity, kindness, and sunshine, in the middle of a cloudy, overcast
Tuesday.

"All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile."  ~Chris Hart

"One smile can't change the world, but your smile changes mine."  ~Author unknown

Another very special smile that arrived via email yesterday. 

I hope these smiles help to brighten your day, in some small way today.  I know first hand,
that many tears have overtaken smiles in people's lives. Many times the burdens we carry
of our own, and from those we love, do not bring on smiles.  When that happens,
one needs a smile from someone else.

Prayers prayed for each other,
and smiles shared with each other, help to make life easier to bear.  Both are gifts that
last, and are gifts we treasure.

I discovered this salad in one of my visits to "Fresh Market".  The flavors of the edamame,
cranberry, and feta cheese tasted so good to me.

Recently, my sister discovered the recipe for the salad, on this blog;
Kristina shares it on  -  www.loveandzest.com/   Click on recipe box, and then on
salads for the recipe.

Now I can make my own salad and do so often.  I thought you might want to try it
also.   The last time I made it, I added sunflower seeds and I found that it was a
tasty addition.  The next time I might add pine nuts.

Just a touch of green, from me to you.  Happy St. Patrick's Day to each of you!

I need to add a picture of what is covering all the green around here today.   Snow is falling.

 

But, Spring will soon be here.  This is the week.

Thank you for stopping by.

Do you need a "pick-up" today?

Could it be that everything seems to be wrong with life?

Could it be that you are facing earth shattering happenings like having to wear bib
coveralls when you like to wear knit athletic pants instead?

Whatever you are facing today, whether it involves huge hurdles, waiting room
answers, or just strength for the moment... I want to share a little something to brighten
your day.

 

 

Here .......... these are just for you!

Happy Saturday dear friends!

 

 

 Joy...it can mean many things to people.

But to this little one, it meant;

~a hand-me-down purple princess dress.

~finally a warm enough day to be out on the porch again, after a very long winter.

~bubbles...lots of bubbles and all one needed to do is pull on the handle to get more.

~having a friend to share the bubbles with.

~having bare feet, even if it might not have been warm enough to do so.

Endless bubbles on a Saturday afternoon in March.

 And even more reason for joy, is having cousins to hang out with.  What could be better!

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up."  Mark Twain

Wishing you some moments of unexpected joy today!  Joy to lift your spirits, to give you
hope, and someone to share it all with.

"Even in the winter, even in the midst of the storm, the sun is still up there.  Somewhere,
up above the clouds, it still shines and warms and pulls at the life buried deep inside the
brown branches and frozen earth.  The sun is still there!  Spring will come!  The clouds
cannot stay forever!"    ~ Gloria Gaither


Thanks for stopping by!

My daughters wanted to treat me to a large, well known flower show in a nearby city.
It was the way they chose to celebrate my upcoming(not for a while though) 60th birthday.
They asked my mother, sisters, and nieces to join us.  Rented a 15 passenger van, talked
their father into driving it, and off we went for the day's excursion.

Everyone was asked to come to our home at 9:00am, to start off the day with coffee,
muffins, and fruit.  My middle daughter took ordinary paper coffee cups and dressed
them up with flowers.  I was impressed with her creativity and must admit, my
coffee never looked so good!

Cup before...

Cup after...looking pretty with the Martha Stewart flower

stickers on the pastel colored papers, hot glued over each cup. 

 

 My oldest daughter baked "apple butter streusel" muffins and dressed

them up with flower tags.

The kitchen island looked so festive and Spring like, making

all of us eager to see more flowers at the upcoming show.

 

Our handsome van driver:)

Two of my daughters and me, at the arrival to the Flower Show.  We were disappointed that
their sister was unable to join us for the day.

The displays of flowers almost took one's breath away, with their beauty and artistic displays.
I am sharing only a few of the many pictures I took throughout my hours walking through
the show.

At this orchid display, I was reminded of one of my blogging friends who so skillfully raises
orchids and shared them recently with us, at www.gratefulprayerthankfulheart.com/   I was
sure she would have been thrilled to see this display.

One could not adequately express what one felt when viewing all the colors, flowers, designs,
and variations on saw with each step that was taken.

Flowers and lighting went into each display.

 

My daughters and nieces taking a coffee break together.

 

 

The niece in the white jacket, is the one who creates

and designs faux flower pins, and thanks to her,

we each got to wear one of her lovely flower pins.

Another niece and one of my sister-in-laws shown here

waiting for a van driver, at the end of our time in the city. 

 

 

We piled back in the van, and headed home.

What a fun way and most memorable way for me to celebrate

a milestone birthday.

 

 

 

And, thankfully, I have one of these bouquets sitting on my kitchen table as I

share this post, due to my sister's generosity.

 

Approaching age 60 is not so bad after all.