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.