Birthday Joys....

Our birthdays were such a joyous occasion...such a blessing, even if it means being one year older. For Jerry, the birthday fell on Easter Sunday this year-- wow, that was really a celebration--being in worship, absolutely heavenly music, singing the Hallelujah Chorus together, and a perfectly glorious day. It also meant that now Jerry and I are the same age--which I always enjoy! The birthday cake was an Italian Cream Cake (for which my mother was famous), and Jerry's choice for his birthday cake..and sister-in-law Jan outdid herself. The only downside (if you call it that) is that the candles on top of the cake read 143--our total years together...whew! We celebrated it with Jan and Jim, and nephew Steve, niece Nancy, and great-nephew Jacob at our last "American Idol" gathering. After that celebration, we headed for El Paso, where we celebrated with my surrogate "sister" Judy, her husband Lynn, and our cousins, Bill and Wayne. Judy baked the German chocolate cake for the eve of my birthday...and then, when I became a year older than Jerry, the cousins took us all to Cattlemans, a fabulous restaurant out in Fabian TX (39 miles away from their house), but oh, so worth it! While we dined, the coyotes, peacocks, peahens, rabbits and little critters were up close and personal, right outside the dining room windows. The western art decor is magnificent, with lots of bronzes (many C. M. Russells) everywhere. It is always so heartwarming to receive birthday greetings from so many friends and family - and since we are on the road, Facebook provided a perfect vehicle for sending those wishes..including our AFS daughter, Ani, in Jakarta, and phone greetings from some special friends in various places who remembered the date and took the time to call--and we haven't talked to them in ages. Thank you, one and all, for all the good thoughts and wishes--we are grateful. In the last picture, Bill and I once more celebrate together with the birthday balloon that he received when we were gathered here to celebrate his 75th on January 29th - and it lasted until my birthday on April 9th. That was one fine balloon!!! Birthdays can be very special, and its our friends and families who help to make them so...we are grateful for all of you!