Thanks for the many birthday wishes and gifts

The whole reason for saying thanks is to let the giver of a gift know how much you appreciate something. Author G. B. Stern once said, "Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."

I have been blessed with friends and family that celebrated me and made me feel very special on my birthday. Charlie and I were in Atlanta attending the National Missionary Convention during the actual day.


We were able to spend two nights with very best friend Sue Martin. Sue and I have been best friends since our kids became best friends at church (over 20 years ago.) No matter how much distance separate us we always fall back into the easy rhythm of friendship. We will always be friends (she knows too much about me to be an enemy!) Like most classics, we look better in black and white. Loved spending time with her and her wonderful family. The time went way to fast however. We did toss about the idea of running away from our families and meeting somewhere in the middle. Who knows? maybe one day!


Charlie and I had lunch with my blogging friend Jane Latham. We met several years ago when the National Convention was again in Atlanta. We had never eaten at Bahama Breeze before and the food was delicious I was so disappointed that our friend Sherry wasn't able to join us. Next time for sure! Sherry had moved away to Texas and is now back in the Atlanta area.


My true love gave me Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible. I've been drooling over the recipes but haven't tried any of them out yet. I'm sure one or two will probably make it to our Thanksgiving table this year. I love Miss Paula and all her butter recipes.


I also got the swivel spice rack that holds 20 bottles of spices in only 4 inches. The surprise was going through my spices and finding out most were over 8 years old. Needless to say I didn't have 20 spice bottles by the time I finished. I was going to use the other one for medications but I only have one cabinet that is deep enough to store it in. There was a lot of purging at the nest last week, and I'm amazed at how much more room we have in our cabinets.

I got birthday money from my mom and sister (always appreciated!) and some beautiful note cards and cutest daisy salt and pepper shaker from Andy and Rachel.

We got taken out to dinner and later I was serenaded to the happy birthday song with the biggest slab of 4 layer chocolate cake I have ever seen. Fortunately there were 4 of there to share it.

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."William Arthur Ward.

Thank you to one and all for making my day amazing.

60 or 16 ?

Today is my birthday and I don't share my cake with just anyone. I'm off playing today with Mr. Wonderful (my favorite playmate). Today I turn 60 years old, and despite the silver hair, adorable grandchildren, children who have turned into responsible adults, and the cute guy I married.... not much has changed since I was 16. Now, if you'll kindly stop laughing (it's ok, I'll wait!) let me explain.

Thirty-six years ago, my world changed drastically when I said, "I do" to Charlie Bennetch (the cute guy). Since then, we have been on a grand adventure that is anything but predictable. Through it all I have been blessed with good health, lots of laughter, friends, a wonderful family, a godly husband (who constantly rescues me), and most of all a faithful God and Savior who promised never to leave me or forsake me when I dedicated my life to him at 16.

In my head, I'm still a sixteen-year-old girl, full of life and waiting for the next adventure. In my head, I still have endless possibilities and creative energy. In my head are novels I've yet to write, places I've yet to explore, and friends I'm anxious to meet for the first time.

However, in my heart, I have wonderful memories of adventures completed, friends and family who helped shape my character and conduct and most of all I have a lifetime of daily interactions with Jesus Christ. As I age, I get more and more dependent on His Grace and Mercy and look forward to Heaven. I'm comforted knowing His mercies are new every morning and I rely on his grace moment by moment.

If you think about me today, on my birthday, please breathe a prayer that I will always remember to be gracious. God has extended such grace to me that I should be the most gracious person ever. Thank you for your cards and letters and most of all your friendship. I treasure each of you and value your impact on my life.

Today I wear the birthday tiara with pride and plan to celebrate life with all my favorite things, chocolate brownies from Chick-fil-A, Lunch at Red Lobster, Shopping at Target (with a 100-dollar gift card...Woo Hoo!) and renew my driver's license complete with new picture and new weight! 

My Birthday is this week and I'm not dying

My birthday is this Thursday. It's a big birthday and my children have conspired to make sure I am well celebrated. They have contacted many friends and family and asked that they share a special memory with me as a surprise.

The surprise came about a month before my birthday when I got my first birthday card and warm fuzzy memories from my baby sister. Don't get me wrong, it was a sweet note recounting many memories of our growing up together, but it really confused me. My birthday is 5 days after hers, so I was wondering why I would be getting a birthday card in October when both of our birthdays are in November.

A few days after the note card (not traditional birthday card) appeared, I got another note card from a friend of my daughter. It was a sweet note but left me wondering how she would know it's my birthday (again this happened in October). I did note that the note card was similar and exactly the same size, and typed identically, with no return address. ( Ok, so I'm not a good detective like those in the mysteries I like to read!) It was a really busy time for us at the mission with lots of volunteer groups, so I didn't have a lot of time to think about it.

About a week after the first two cards arrived, I got the third card from a wonderful friend of mine who never writes and never calls, so immediately I began to think that I must be dying and no one had told me. I figured I must be going before my birthday, as I was getting cards so early. My suspicions were confirmed two days later when I received the fourth non-birthday card from a dear friend who would only write if I indeed were dying.

Shortly after this confirmation (that I was dying), my good friend "Flip Flop Flozzie" asked if she and Mike could come to visit me right before my birthday. They live in Savannah ( a 10-hour drive) so of course I said yes and thought how sweet of them to come, then I consoled myself with chocolate.

As I think back on the last few weeks, I can honestly say that chocolate has been an important part of my demise. What the heck, if I'm dying I might as well go down having enjoyed chocolate to the end. Just in case I wasn't dying, I happened to mention the influx of early birthday cards to my girls, both who acted totally surprised and then denied any knowledge of the events.

Non-birthday cards have continued to come in throughout the month, all the same size, all addressed exactly alike, all telling me that I am loved and valued. My health has not deteriorated (and sadly neither has my waistline) and my children have finally confessed, much to my relief, that it is their birthday surprise for me.

I am glad to know I'm not dying and you can bet I'll be really excited about getting the mail this week. This girl loves the anticipation, so I'm really looking forward to being celebrated.

Well Celebrated!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, comments, emails, ecards, cards, phone calls and personal greetings. I was well celebrated.

My friend and neighbor Beckie came over . We did some research on cameras as I am looking for a newer one. We went to Chick-fil-a for lunch (my favorite place) and shared a brownie thinking it would be my only birthday cake.

I found this great purple jacket for half price so I bought it. Melli and MIL arrived in my drive way about 3 pm. When I pulled into my drive way I found helium balloons tied to the porch as well as a Chocolate cake!

Note the cool spiral candles! Fortunately Melli only put 12 candles on it so a potential fire hazard was averted. We had a birthday dinner at Red Lobster which was delicious and Melli and I talked and laughed long into the night.

This morning we ran the street of Staunton going to a wonderful quilting store and then to a glass blowing store where we actually watched several pieces being made. We had lunch at the train depot grill . We had a grilled veggie sandwich with portabello mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash and mozerella cheese. My eyes were bigger than my stomach so I brought most of my lunch home.

All to quickly I had to say goodbye to Melli and send her on her way home.

My love language is time. The idea that Melli would drive 4 hours to spend the day with me just blesses me more than I can ever express.

Spending time with some of my favorite girlfriends was definitely a high point of my day. Thanks to every one for making me feel special.

Oscar Birthday Tribute

Diva!

Oscar today is your Diva's birthday! Since it is a special day for her and because she is so special to you, let me take a minute and write to you all about who she is and why she is one of your biggest fans.

(A side note: your Diva is actually my momma, so she knows me pretty well. She is going to love telling you all kinds of crazy stories about me when you get older. Do me a favor and not believe everything she says...)

Oscar, your Diva would do anything for you! Did you know that a couple of weeks ago, she came up all by herself and spent the week with us while your daddy was away? She cooked for us and rocked you and even took care of your 4 am feeding! She really enjoyed snuggling with you. Here is a picture of her giving you Eskimo kisses. But this wasn't the first time you met your Diva. You also met her when you were less than an hour old. She was so excited to be there for your birth. Wild horses couldn't keep her away. She has waited for you for a very long time, and you'll learn that you'll not find any better cheerleader than she is for her little grandson.

When you get older, Diva and Poppa are already planning for you to come and stay with them. They want to host "Diva Camp" and have you and Cousin Emma stay with them for a whole week during the summer. They have all kinds of fun things planned for you two. Your Diva just can't get enough of you. And soon you'll get to know her for who she is, Oscar. You'll learn that she is kind and tender-hearted, that she is funny and vibrant, and that she adores her grand babies. I can't wait to see you return her hugs and tell her that you love her as much as I do.

Happy birthday Diva! Oscar and I are sending you long distance smiles!