Friends

This was a fun photo I snagged from a copyright free sight. Just  reminded me of being out with the girls!

Finally getting over a week long cold. I think this fickle Southern California weather was the cause. NOT complaining ~ just saying! Life went on even if I couldn't participate much. Both my husband and I turned a year older. Too bad you can't put age on hold like everything else when you're sick!

Last night Bill & Laureen took us out for sushi to celebrate our birthdays. Today a couple of my girlfriends are taking me to breakfast to celebrate my birthday. Friends are so precious and dear. I treasure the friendships I have so much. Worldly riches come and go, but true friends are with you forever. True friendship, in my book, is valued far above diamonds and gold. My friends are priceless. 

I have so many great examples of true friends. They help me be a better friend. It's the simple little things friends do like calling to check on you, bringing by a bowl of chicken soup when you're sick, offering to run your errands, etc. that make such a difference in your life. Little random acts of kindness that really aren't "little" at all ~ every offering is treasured. 

Success

By Edgar A Guest

I hold no dream of fortune vast,

Nor seek undying fame.

I do not ask when life is past

That many know my name.

I may not own the skill to rise

To Glory’s topmost height,

Nor win a place among the wise,

But I can keep the right.

And I can live my life on earth

Contented to the end,

If but a few shall know my worth

And proudly call me friend.

Thinking

When An Old Man Gets to Thinking

Edgar A. Guest

When an old man gets to thinking of the years he's traveled through,

He hears again the laughter of the little ones he knew.

He isn't counting money, and he isn't planning schemes;

He's at home with friendly people in the shadow of his dreams...

Dad's 92nd Birthday

This past Saturday was my Dad's 92nd birthday! We had a family party to celebrate this extraordinary occasion! Mom has been gone a year and a half now. She is greatly missed but it was nice to get together at Dad's home to visit and eat cake together! 

My dad loves chocolate - there is no other flavor of sweets in his book! I made my Chocolate Pound Cake and decorated it with Chocolate Buttercream frosting.  You can get my recipe here. The tissue paper flower on top was a fun little project which brought back memories of making them for dance decorations in the 70's!  

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you always.

"...This precious work of liberty..."

I love Old Glory

From "The Boy and the Flag" by Edgar A. Guest:

I want my boy to know the best,

I want him to be great;

I want him in Life's distant West,

Prepared for any fate.

I want him to be simple, too,

Though clever, ne'er to brag,

But, Oh! I want him, through and through,

To love his country's flag.

I want to give my thanks today for brave young men and women who are sacrificing a comfortable lifestyle to fight to protect our freedom here in this great land of America. I have two children serving in the Armed Forces at this time. They make me proud. 

I pray each day for the physical and emotional safety of each of our brave men and women who are defending this land and the freedoms we enjoy. 

God Bless the USA.

Happy May Day!

I have fond childhood memories of making May Day cones out of paper doilies with my mom. We would fill them with flowers from our yard and sneak around the neighborhood, hanging them on doorknobs and trying not to get caught. We don't celebrate May Day in the United States so much. I'm glad my mom had that lovely tradition in our home.

You can read more about May Day here.