This week's Tuesday's Question is an EASY ONE
as I've been away from my blog for awhile...
"What has everyone been up to?"
Life was DIFFICULT last week with the loss of our dear friend Arlene,
and at the same time, life was WONDERFUL with the celebration
of my mom's 80th birthday with a party here at our house.
Saturday was a sad and wonderful day.
in my heart she wanted us to have the party and
celebrate my mom's life.
My mom opening up gifts...
A beautiful table...
Long-time Friends...
Cousins came from Ohio...
The last time we saw Steve, he did NOT have a ponytail...
Angel enjoying the food...
Adele and Richard.
Adele told me a beautiful testimony.
After hearing my dad preach a sermon on tithing
she wrote her first tithe check for $16 and the Lord HAS indeed blessed her
and she continues to tithe.
My mom enjoying the BEAUTIFUL cake pops my sister-in-law made.
My mom and her "domino" friends each holding a domino cake pop.
The Colonel, myself, my mom, my sister-in-law Beth,
my brother Bill, my sister, Liz and her hubby David.
The grandkids, yes Olivia came home...
And the cake...
NOW, onto the food.
My sister brought the chicken from a catering restaurant.
Sausage and Peppers.
Mac and Cheese.
My sister-in-law brought the salad...
DESSERTS!
Besides the cake pops and birthday cake we also had...
Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Cheesecakes.
My sister baked seven layer cookies.
And it wouldn't be a post without a picture of my boy.
So, what have YOU been up to in the past week?
Enjoy your day!
Happy@Home says
I'm so sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your family friend, Arlene.
The party to celebrate your mom's 80th birthday looks like a very special day. So nice that so many family members and friends could be together and the food looks scrumptious! Happy Birthday to your Mom!!
Thistle Cove Farm says
How wonderful; it looks like everyone had such a grand time. Happy Birthday to your Mom, she's beautiful!
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook says
Fabulous party! Great food, family and fun, looks perfect!
Debbie says
WooHoo! Looks like a party! Happy Birthday to your mom! She looks much younger than 80!
Sorry for your friend's passing. I know you'll greatly miss her.
That young hotdog of yours gets handsomer in every picture! 🙂
AudreyO says
Looks like a fun party with lots of great food. I love the mini cheesecakes. They are so much fun to make and share.
Christine says
Looks like everyone had a fun time celebrating your mother's birthday. I've been working in the yard all week! The weather is awesome here in Oklahoma.
Debbie says
Good morning! I have been a little behind in my visiting because of the down computer. The party looks just WONDERFUL. The food looks just sooo yummy. Your mom looks REALLY good. I am so sorry about your friend. Praying for you all during this time. HUGS
Julie Harward says
So sweet of you to do all of that. What a fun gathering and your mom looks awesome! 🙂
Chatty Crone says
Okay - I know now what you have been up too. And let me say one word - wow.
Happy birthday to your mother - i love the tulips.
ANd I am sorry about the loss of your friend Arlene.
Love, sandie
Cranberry Morning says
It sounds like a wonderful family time. Good food, good friends, family around. Thank you for sharing the photos with us.
Elena says
What a wonderful party! You mama is truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. All the food and desserts looked so yummy. It made me hungry and I just ate lunch! Thanks for telling my video on my blog wasn't working. I went to my blog and uploaded the video in a different format that should be more dependable. Have a blessed day!
Nellie's Cozy place says
Hi Lois,
Looks like your party was a smashing success. Your Mom looks like a very happy lady in spite of the earlier part of her week and day. So wonderful that so many came to honor her, she looks like a sweetheart, and now we all know where you got it from!! lol
Those cake pops were just adorable.
I tried to click on them to make them bigger cause I wanted to see up close and personal!! lol
So glad Olivia could be there too,
know that was special for your Mom.
Well, pat yourself on the back, along with all those who helped , for a job well done. Everything looked lovely.
So Say Happy Birthday to your Mom for me, since we are not only sister in Christ but sister in
Birthday as well...........lol
I have mainly been decorating for spring and breathing, seriously,
you may have missed my post last week! lol
Take Care
blessings Galore,
Nellie
Shug says
Sorry for the loss of your dear sweet friend...Praying for the Peace of God to be with you.
Your mom is certainly a lovely lady. Looks like she is a well loved lady as well...Lots of friends and family to help her celebrate. Happy Birthday to her.
Hope your day is filled with laughter.
Christine says
Your mom looks wonderful! And so happy in the middle of such a caring family! You all had a great time!
Best wishes for a blessed week!
Christine
Blondee says
There is nothing better than good food and the people you love. Arlene's death was tragic, and I know it hurt your heart to let hr go, but His timing in taking her home was amazing. He timed it when he knew you would have something to celebrate as well, and the salve of those you love gathering to help you heal through losing her. Simply beautiful. Arlene was no doubt with you the whole time.
Maureen says
Lois,
Personnally this has been a crazy week for me. I babysat a friend's five children so she could take the oldest shopping in Pittsburgh on Friday. I thought she would be home around four and she didn't get home until nearly eight. The car was dropped off to be inspected Saturday and we still haven't picked it up. On Wednesday my husband and I bought a new lawnmower/tractor because we spent the entire summer last year without one. The backyard didn't get mowed once. Our old one was in the shop the entire time and we piecemealed the front lawn with pushmowers that broke down going through three of those. Thank God they were all used and didn't cost a lot. So on Friday the entire lawn was mowed for the first time in twelve months. The mower was delivered on Thursday. The dog puked in the bed at eleven thirty pm on Friday so the husband and I slept with out sheets Friday and Saturday. Came home Saturday night to find that one of the cats puked on the mattress! Saturday we went to my mother-in-laws to take her shopping for groceries because she still isn't driving. I wanted to do this on Friday but couldn't due to the babysittting. That took three hours and after we left her my daughter had to be at the Stake Center for a Young Women's broadcast. I wanted to go to Ikea in Pittsburgh and wasn't sure about the drive and my husband got the destinations and times mixed up so we had an hour to spare in Cranberry and then rushed through Pittsburgh and ate dinner at ten pm. (And then came home to the soiled mattress!) I had a Young woman's meeting on Wednesday night only to find out on the way to the Church that it was a picnic in the next town over. Over slept Sunday and missed Church. Finally got the bed made on Sunday as well. Oh, almost forgot! One of the cats (we have FOUR) was ill (more than likely not the one that puked) and we had to take her to the vet in Franklin for shots on Thursday; poor thing has/had a nasty respiratory infection that required antibiotics. I finally decided to do something with the kitchen and went to Hermitage to purchase a faux metal backsplash from Lowes only to find that they only had one panel. The closest place to me with more are Butler and Boardman OH. Of course the pattern is discontinued so I have to grab it while I can. Road Trip! And why I asked my Mother to come with me right now is beyond my comprehension because I know that will not go well. I have to schedual my daughter's IEP for this week. My Visiting Teachers want to get together for lunch on Thursday. I have Young Womens again on Wednesday. And this weekend is General Conference and we can watch the broadcast at the Church Saturday and Sunday. Priesthood meeting is on Friday night. I'm thinking of making fried chicken and potato salad to take with us on Sunday to eat between the broadcasts. Not sure about Saturday. Any suggestions on something relatively simple to take to eat?
I am very sorry for your loss of a good friend. When this happens, I think of the movie "Steel Magnolias" and Annelle's talk at the cemetary. She is so right when she talks about a friend "up there" on her side. The hard part about this kind of loss is that it is hard to see the big picture, especially because we don't know the plan. Kind of like not seeing the forest due to the trees.
I'm glad your Mother still had a nice birthday. And even more glad that Olivia was able to come up. Boy, she has done some major traveling this year. What a week for you, huh? Full of sunshine and shadows and laughter and tears.
Sorry my reply has been so long but as I have said before I never have short stories.
I hope that next week for you isn't quite as hectic. And yes, I wish mine isn't either. 🙂
Maureen
Maple Lane says
I enjoyed all the photos of your Mom's birthday. Those domino cake pops were a great idea. Wonderful to have so many of the family there to share the memories.