Saturday February 20 2016  FINALLY IT IS MY BIRTHDAY PARTY DAY!

I feel like a little girl again waiting with anticipation for Christmas.  Regardless how poor we were, mama always made certain there was something under the Christmas tree, and nuts and an orange in our stocking.  Our stockings consisted mostly of daddy’s big white socks. 

Well, today is my Christmas and Birthday all rolled into one.  It is the day I invite those I love most in the whole wide world to a surprise birthday party!  It is my party, but the guests receive the gifts!  The first time I threw my surprise birthday party no one knew it was my birthday party and was caught off guard.  Now they know.  I still call it my surprise birthday party because it always surprises me that I do it.  AND I LOVE DOING IT!  Because my birthday is so close to Valentine’s day I choose to do it in a Valentine theme.  This year I attended a ladies luncheon the day before my original birthday date.  There were a lot of pretty paper heart doilies that were used on the luncheon tables that were going to be discarded so I asked if I could take them.  The answer was yes.  I hate to see pretty things thrown away and wasted without recycling into another use.  I came home and created pretty place mats with them. 

The table is all set.  My heart fabric is on the table serving as a table cloth, my St. Vincent heart vase stands in the center sporting little heart shaped candles and new little Valentine plates await my two grandsons.  Also, each has a new cup to take home decorated with the Valentine theme, awaiting hot chocolate and marshmallows.  Little bags of goodies are ready for the guests.  Trinkets of no great value but will be fun to eat and muse over and have fun with.  The kids are always excited with anything! 

We have one game we are going to play.  The only thing is, I can’t publish my blog until everyone is here and no one will have a chance to read it until after the party.  I will tell you about our game.  Each person will be given a heart with their name on it.  Inside the folded heart is an item of clothing they are to pick out of my closet.  Dave will pick out my skirt or pants, little boy will pick out my blouse, big boy will pick out my jacket, daughter-in-law will pick out my jewelry, and son will pick out my scarf and my hat.  I hope he picks my new red hat that was given to me on my birthday by Ellen from the “LAUGH-A-LOT-LADIES”.  After everything is picked out one by one without anyone seeing what the other picked out, I will dress in the ensemble and wear it the rest of the evening.  I’ll be sure to have a picture taken.  I hope they enjoy the game.  My four year old grandson did such a superb ensemble for himself one day when it was time to go shopping.  That is what gave me the idea.  He actually looked like a little ragamuffin and was so cute in it that I couldn’t wait to see what everyone would put together for me, especially when they will have no clue what the other one has picked out.  Regardless what it looks like, if it fits, I’ll wear if for the rest of the evening.  I get to pick out my shoes and socks.  I will wear red shoes and horizontally striped socks with apple green, orange, yellow, magenta, turquoise, and forest green.  They are my favorite socks.

So the clock is ticking.  My husband looks like a million bucks and here I sit in my workout clothing.  I told my husband I didn’t think I would change tonight.  He found that a bit odd and gave me a suggestion how I could make what I had on look better.  But I told him I looked fine like this and this was what I was going to wear.  My most favorite attire is being braless in my housecoat.  So since I don’t think that would be appropriate at my dinner birthday party, my second choice is to stay in my workout clothes all day if I am not going anyplace.  Once the game is underway Dave will know why I chose to stay dressed as I am.  When I am going someplace, be it to church, doctor, or shopping, I do try to look put together.  Now that I own a red hat, I will really go out in style.  Ellen, I will think of you every single time I wear it.  And I will have a big grin on this old face!  Thank you for making my birthday so special.

NEVER GROW UP

By Kathleen Martens

February 20, 2016

Whatever you do

Never grow up.

There are just too many fun things

On which to sup.

Keep your imagination

Sharp and keen.

And always be kind

And never mean.

Have fun every day

Keep inner child entertained.

To make it through life

Your fun sustain.

Laugh at yourself,

And laugh with others.

Never squelch your heart

Or fun times smother.

Be who you are,

Let your inner light shine.

And with your grandkids,

Spend lots of time.

Make things fun

Be a soft place to fall.

And when you’re together

Just have a ball.

Create a reason

To have a party,

Cook lots of food

And eat real hearty.

Live with gusto,

Enthusiastic and sincere,

For life is so short

And won’t always be here.

Time speeds quickly

So soon it is past.

So live today

As if it your last.

I AM GOING TO GO AND LIVE!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!  I AM ANOTHER YEAR OLDER!  AND ONE YEAR CLOSER TO HEAVEN!

God bless all of you.  Remember, every day you live is a special day.  Reach out and touch someone else’s life today.  Something as simple as a phone call or a nice card may be all it takes.

P.S.  I’ll tell you about the party tomorrow!

P.S.S.  Since I haven’t yet published today’s blog that I wrote earlier this afternoon, I’ll tell you briefly about the party.  IT WAS WONDERFUL.  My outfit party game was a big hit.  Everyone was very cooperative and gave much thought to my attire as they went through my closets.  Xander picked out a silver sequined shirt because he loves “sparkly”.  Zach picked out the jacket with the most outlandish colors because he wanted me to look “wierd”.  Amy decked me out in pearls and silver neclaces, pearl ring, and a red-hat bracelet.  Courtland picked out my new red hat to top off my outfit along with a multi-colored, purple winter scarf, which would be worn outside in zero degree weather.  It got so hot inside the house that I had to take the scarf off.  I wore the outfit the entire night.  My striped socks and red shoes just set it off.

The food was great, the deserts scrumptious.  I made all the dinner but purchased the three different cake samplers.  Everyone loved their new Valentine cups and presents.  It was so much more fun to give than to receive.  Though I did get some interesting and one of a kind gifts.  Xander is extremely creative and loves to make things for grandma.  

We had a great time going around the table as each person had their turn to share one of the things they love about each person around the table.  I wish I had recorded it.  I can’t remember all the kind things that were shared but I will say there were a few tears shed.  We all had a wonderful time sharing with one another one of the things we love about them.  Xander, who is 4, wanted to start with grandma even though I was not the next one to be talked about.  He said what he loved about grandma was how much grandma loved him.  And the funny thing about that was, that what he said about me, was the exact thing I had already decided to say about him when it was my turn.  So when it was my turn I went ahead and told him that one of things I loved about him was how much he loved me.  He calls me on the phone just to tell me that.  It is so surprising what these boys come up with when given the opportunity to speak from their heart.  

What Zach loves about both grandpa and me is the fact that we have the best woods ever!  In the spring and summer I take them on trips through the woods and teach them about the plants and animals and birds.  They are pretty good troopers.  Courtland told me that what he loves about me is that I haven’t just sat down and retired, but keep on keeping on, and the fact that I have found so many things to do.  He also said he loves how I love life, and am so full of wonder.  And my husband chimed in and agreed, he too loves how I so love living.  Amy was very kind with her words toward me.  She said she is so thankful how I have them over and do all the work to have parties for them year after year.  Her words touched my heart.  Thank you Courtland, Amy, Zacharia, and Alexander for all the kind words you shared with me tonight.  Your words were the best birthday gift I could have ever received.  We had a great time with you here to celebrate grandma getting one year older.  Thank you for sharing your words and heart with us.  I write the above words not to brag about the complimentary things someone can think of to say about the birthday girl, but rather to capture the spoken word while my mind still remembers what was said, so I can cherish the memories in the future.  It is nights like tonight that make life so special.  Thank you for all the treasures you have added to my heart tonight.  I love all of you so much.

And my greatest treasure of all, and the one who receives my greatest thanks and gratitude is my precious husband, David.  Without his love and support for all the ideas and grandiose plans I forever come up with, I could never succeed.  He is my greatest helper, and my true soul mate. Thank you sweetheart for all your help in so many ways.  Without your help I would not be able to bring to fruition that which I can think of to do.  You truly are the love of my life.  

The End