Dear Reader:

At the top of Mandy’s chalkboard is the phrase: Home is where your stories begin. How true this statement is.

It has taken some time for me to realize that the every day events in my life WERE and continue to BE my story. When we read adventure or imaginary tales as children we tended to think that life began when we could go wherever and do whatever we pleased…when instead some of the best stories of our lives come from our childhoods. It is the influence of the accumulation of these stories that produce who we become.

Yesterday Jake turned four…and I didn’t…:) But I did turn another year…another year that has produced drama, comedy, happiness and sorrow…another year of life as it is…and life continues to be the most precious gift of all.

Jake was sad at the beginning of the party. Like the Ancient Mariner …”Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink” ….he was surrounded with presents and yet couldn’t open any. Aunt Doodle, the wise (once pre-school teacher) declared that Jake should be able to start opening his presents right then. Finally someone who understood him!

Metaphorically it was like getting to eat dessert before the meal. His little face shone with happiness….opening the presents first was a great idea! It kept him busy and we could hear his oohs and aah’s while eating a delicious breakfast brunch!

Aunt Doodle got a big hug for her decision and all the love sprinkled over to Uncle Harvey and Carrie too. Love was in the air!

Since this was a Jake and Boo brunch….donuts and sweet buns made for a fine “cake” …and Jake figured out how to do a “donut” walk around the pool.

Bubbles were also in the air…the edible kind.

For little Eloise…the number of people wanting to love on her and put funny hats on her was a little overwhelming..but she bounced back!

Aunt Lassie ended up between her two loving nephews…a nice place to be wedged in! And John was center-stage for our night-out photo.

Mandy’s neighbor, Lori, brought her grandchildren…friends of Eva Cate and Jake to the party so everybody had somebody….Lori is a hoot and I will have to share her gift ideas with you tomorrow.

There are always enough dogs to go around to get a hug whenever you feel the need.

Rutledge had a soccer game so the Dingle boys were a little later coming but they jumped right in the fun.

After the party John settled down with Tigger…the quietest member in the house. All was calm…Life is good for the boys!

We all managed to rest awhile Saturday afternoon before going to Grace and Grit! It was fantastic! Absolutely delicious! I will never look at grits the same way again. Think of your favorite seafood, the best country vegetables you ever put in your mouth with a diversity of jams that send the dinner up to another level of enjoyment.

I look so forward to this outing each year because it is the only time I get to spend alone with my adult children and their wonderful spouses. We finally can talk uninterrupted and get caught up on each others’ busy lives. It is so important to carve time out to do this!

The next day we attended another party… this time for precious little Rhodes…the cutest nephew around…he was turning two. Tommy, Kaitlyn, Eva Cate and I left for the party leaving Jake to play with all his toys by himself….in complete bliss!

There Eva Cate got to play with Ady and actually ate and ate which is almost unheard of for Eva Cate…we were thrilled…Yummy food! Rhodes had a watermelon cake and two big bites gave Ady a cute little full happy face!

By the time I got home Sunday night I was pretty exhausted…so that is why I had no patience for my “frozen” computer. Or was it? We have been together for so long  my computer can finish my sentences…it is like leaving a pet behind, on a trip, who pouts and ignores you (when you return home) for betraying them.

Anne got me thinking about this with a cartoon she said stayed by her computer….a Kermit the Frog saying…

Don’t we have a tendency to bestow upon inanimate objects human feelings that we harbor? I think of my computer feeling left out over the weekend so it would just show me…by “freezing” up Sunday evening and dragging out every command to the point you just gave up and left.

 I met Anne at Oscars for a birthday lunch (on my official birthday yesterday.)  Anne  painted this original watercolor of (what else?) orange zinnias for me!

I love it…but there was something else in the bag too…that added a new symbolism to the painting. Stay tuned in to tomorrow’s post to find out what.

So until tomorrow….Our lives are beautiful gifts from God…let’s make His gift our treasure in His honor!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh