August Birthday Smiles…. Part one and Part 2

Thanks to those of you who left me supportive and uplifting comments on my last post.  There has been too many deaths and a lot of illness around us this month….and the sadness  hasn’t let up. Five  of our friends are battling cancer. Just yesterday we found out that in one of them the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.   Another dear friend has been in the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure…and another fell and broke her shoulder in 4 places and at 85 had to have painful surgery. A fellow temple worker friend had a bike accident and is in the hospital with broken bones.    A friend from church just lost her son- in- law in a terrible car accident in which her daughter was critically injured and is now fighting for her life. Another sweet friend lost her father today.  I guess I’ve reached an age where I am going to see more and more friends facing illness and loss.  You can see that  there have been good reasons for lots of tears this month … but there have been smiles too.  Today I want to be more positive and share my 70th birthday smiles with you.

Part 1….. Pre-birthday Party

The last night we were in Utah, Lynell and Erin gave me a week and a half early party.

We all got together at Lynell’s house for a delicious dinner.

The b-b-q pineapple was to die for… so yummy!  Nancy, the kids other Grandma came too and we had a great visit.

I knew that none of our 3 Utah kids could come to CA for my actual birthday so this pre-party was greatly appreciated.

Since Ellie and I share the same birthday, it was an early party for her too. She loved her new dress and the beaded socks and bracelet I made for her.

I was surrounded by sweet family….

… and felt loved.

Part 2…. Birthday week Celebrations

Our dear friends, Sil and Ron came from out of town on Aug. 5th and took us out to a one- day- early birthday dinner with nice gifts (Even though we had a no-gift agreement.) Sil and I have been friends for 58 years.   She lives 80 miles away and with both of us having heath issues this year we haven’t had as much time to be together as we would like.  I appreciated Ron bringing her  to celebrate with me. I treasure time spent with Sil.

August 6th, my actual birthday, started out great with my sweet John bringing me this delicious breakfast in bed and this precious “Golden Friendship” figurine that had been sent to me all the way from a dear friend in England.

Then our doorbell rang and, as I told you in my last post, we learned that our neighbor and long time friend, Bill,  had just died.  We ended up spending the day with his widow and family. I was suppose to go to birthday lunch with my friend, Louann and out to birthday dinner with John and my daughter’s family but the mortuary didn’t get there to take Bill away until that afternoon.  By that time,  I just wasn’t up to going out.   My stomach was hurting and with the sad events of the day it just seemed a light hearted celebration was out of place.

However,  the next day,  Kris and Jan treated me to a nice lunch with precious gifts….

including among other things, a hand painted card, a hand made bracelet and a darling bag.

Then…two days later, Ernie and I went out with family to celebrate both of our birthdays.

With all of this celebrating, I thought my 70th birthday was well taken care of and we were done with all the festivities…. but I was wrong.

Mindy, Louann and John had other plans and a lovely belated party was coming my way.

I will share my Part 3 … Post birthday bash smiles with you next time.

Blogging blues and apologies

Hello again. I’ve wanted to blog but we have had a lot of sad times this month. I’m sorry, but I have been in a blue funk…. and not up to blogging.

As I reported in my last post I was feeling down because  our grandson, Johnny had to have shoulder surgery August 5th which disqualified him from competing last week to stay on the National team.

We were all terribly disappointed for him but happy that the Olympic team doctors supervised and made sure that he got the best of care. (Johnny was wearing his USA jacket as shown here,  right up until he went into surgery.)  He has been very uncomfortable since the operation but the surgery went well.

Johnny’s picture should have been on this poster of the new USA team that was chosen a couple of days ago…. but what is… is. We are all hoping for a full recovery and that he will be on the team again next year.

Johnny’s injury and surgery makes me sad but other events have caused me to put it in proper perspective.

Our neighbor and good friend of 25 years died on August 6th, my birthday. We spent that day with his widow and tried to help. Her world has been turned up side down.  He had his own business and was the sole support of the family.

It was sad as we watched his ashes remains take his last ride in his old 1957 Chevy that he restored and loved, to his burial spot.

It is a very hard loss… but a sadder loss was just around the corner.

The following week my granddaughter Loni’s best friend Marli, was killed in a tragic accident. Marli is carrying Loni in this picture.

These two girls have been best friends and cheer leaders together since they were 5. They look so much alike that they could have been sisters… They felt like sisters.

Marli was sunbathing in her driveway. One of her siblings didn’t see her there and backed up over her and killed her. The family, her friends and the whole community are devastated and morn the loss of this beautiful 15 year old girl.

 

As my daughter, Lynell said “This picture taken at the funeral says it all”.  My heart is breaking for Marli’s family and all those who loved her. It is so sad.

Then a few days later, my niece’s husband died in his sleep. His funeral was last week too.

I am thankful that we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ to support us. I know that life is eternal…. and that because Jesus died for us we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again.  I’m thankful that He is with us to comfort us in times of grief.

In spite of all this sorrow, I’ve had some special happy birthday times. I will pull myself together and share those smiles with you soon.  I hope that you are all doing well.

Hugs, Lura