A Baby Shower

Yesterday I hosted a baby shower for my daughter in our backyard.  After weeks of planning and preparing our home both inside and out, we were  concerned about the rain that had been pouring down the whole day and night before.  However, we woke up to a beautiful and perfect sunny morning!  The investigator and our sons had put up all the tents and tables the night before so my daughter-in-law and I were able to decorate in the morning.  It was my sweet daughter-in-law who made the decorations, elephants to match my daughters nursery theme.

 

 

 

 I had prepared meatballs and a variety of salads for lunch.   We also provided hand sanitizer, gloves and masks for serving, as well as all disposable serving ware...a decided sign of the times.

 

 

 The shower cake carried out our little elephant theme.

 

Some of our guests included Great-Grandma (left) our daughter's mother-in-law (second from right) and old family friends.  Our daughter's friends and co-workers were present as well.

 

 

My oldest granddaughter and her friend both decided they needed to "help" her auntie with the unwrapping.  Our daughter received some lovely gifts, including this beautiful quilt in her nursery colors made by her very gifted mother-in-law.

 

Finally, the last gift was opened, all the cake was eaten and we were able to sit back and reflect on a beautifully perfect day.

 

For this child I prayed, To love, to kiss, to hold

To cover with my prayers, To teach, to show, to mold.

Growing deeper in my heart with every passing day,

You are loved beyond tomorrow, soon we will laugh and play.

In stature you will grow showing other's our God's face

Filled now with his favor and always with his grace.

Connie Cox

 

 

 

A Beautiful Quilt

I recently had a friend who is very dear to my heart stop by for a visit.  She brought me the gift of a beautiful quilt she had made for me.  Guess she had checked in with my mom to see what some of my favorite colors are.  I cried when I opened it, thinking of how many hours she spent making something so lovely just for me.

She lined the back with a soft fluffy material that makes it not just beautiful but so warm and cozy.  I am going to love snuggling up with this.

It has been quilted with this beautiful heart design that will always remind me that I have received a true gift of love from the heart.  

 God continues to show me day after day how much he loves me through my family and friends.

And for those of you who have been praying for me I want you to know that I am doing well.  I can now stand on my own and am walking with a walker.  I hope to soon be able to move to a cane.  The journey to recovery is long and hard but God is faithful. 

 May he bless you exceedingly.

Quilts and Flowers

Life has been a little different as I cared for my mom after surgery the past couple of weeks and while I was kept pretty busy there were still some opportunities to take out my phone camera on occasion while she was resting.

Walking through my mom's little house is a bit like walking back in time.  Her walls are filled with old family photos like this one of my grandparent's wedding day which was around 1920.  Don't you love her wedding dress and veil?

Another photo of my grandfather.

She also loves to hang quilts on the walls, each one sewed completely by hand.  This one was made by a old family friend.

My Aunt, the mother of my two closest cousins, made this one.  I like the way the pattern looks a bit like a flower box in front of a window.  

This little one was made by a friend in her church.

You will also find hand made quilts on the beds.  This one was also a gift from a friend.  Isn't it bright and cheerful?  I love the color yellow.

  
This quilt was one of several made by my great-great aunt.  I don't know what the pattern is called but it is definitely a family heirloom.

As the days have gotten warmer I was able to enjoy the lovely spring weather. One day I took a walk over to the city park which is just a block from Mom's house.  Everything looks so fresh and green.

And speaking of fresh and green, we have been able to enjoy all the spring flowers growing in the garden.

The snowball bush and lilacs were especially pretty.  I had to cut some and bring them inside so Mom could enjoy them as well.

I have a few spring flowers of my own in bloom as well.  I went home to find the Rhododendron in full glory.  The colors looked so vivid.  It was just filled with the humming of bees as they gathered round the blossoms.  I tried to catch one with my camera but they were darting about pretty quickly.

Now that my mom has been getting stronger, I have been able to move her over to my house where she will be with us for a few more weeks.  As we were leaving her house I noticed the first rose of the year on the Joseph's Coat rose bush she planted in honor of my dad.  

The next day I went back to her house and brought it to her in a vase for her room.  Such a lovely memory.

I love making and recording memories.  I hope you all will be making some lovely memories of your own this week.  If you happen to stop by be sure to say hello!  Adieu!