Remembering When

BRUSCHETTA

Celebrated Husband's employment with same business

of 20 years. 

Dined at HARRY's in MANHATTAN, KANSAS.

This is the longest stretch he has been employed for one company.

Loaded with much experience and manpower.

One more year until RETIREMENT and we are discussing how we're going to do this phase of LIFE.

We've gone through a few things in our 44 years of MARRIAGE.

Know what I mean, Vern?

Took some time to recall

what we've experience while in this area.

Weddings.  Our children all married.

Two divorced and one remarried.

2 Divorces...I learned what it was like being effected by children's divorces.

Much harder than I could ever imagine.

Nine Grandchildren.

Celebrated 25 years of marriage.  

Celebrated 40 years of marriage.

Into 45th year of marital bliss.

Fixer upper house in Manhattan.  Which I do not miss.

Rented a Farm house.  Enjoyed country LIFE.

Raised Airedale puppies.

Purchased a 1885 stone house and remodeled for ten years.

Had a daughter and Granddaughter live with us for 5 years.

Started a blog.

Two Thyroid Cancer Surgeries 

and learning to cope with not being well.  

WEIGHT GAIN, FATIGUE, EXHAUSTED, DIFFICULTY WALKING...

Husband's Bat Bite and rabies shots.

Husband's Thyroid Cancer Surgeries 

and learning to cope with not feeling well.

Learning to live with so many medical bills.  

ALMOST COMPLETELY PAID OFF.  Hallelujah.

Learning the fine art of juggling bills.

Fell in LOVE with Irises and country gardens.

Experienced a devastating house fire forcing us to relocate.

Death of three Parents.

Changed communities.

Rebuilding Estate.

Gall Bladder Surgery.

Memorizing Bible Verses.

Counting our blessings.

We CELEBRATED at HARRY's

dining under the deep purple ceiling 

in their opulence Dining room.

Music playing and candles putting off light

creating an atmosphere much different than McDonalds

or Sonic Drive in.  grins.

Dinner Salad

with Champagne Dressing

 Filet Mignon 

 Medium Well

Coffee with creamer.

Skipped the DESSERT!

DINING ON THE PRAIRIE WITH PURPOSE.

LIFE GOES ON,

d

LAST YEAR'S CELEBRATION

http://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2018/04/achievements-celebrated.html

Psalm 103:1-5 King James Version (KJV)

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; 
who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; 
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; 

so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Achievements Celebrated

Continuing on organizing papers from the past.  Made progress and yet I have so much more to do.  Ongoing.  By late afternoon I was falling asleep in my chair snoozin'.   Hubby said he'd make Cajun Chicken for Supper as I napped.  I had to say yes.

Having strep has made me tired especially today...so I napped waking to a delicious supper of Cajun Chicken, Spicy Rice and Green Beans with Bacon.  Iced Tea to drink.  This Cajun Chicken recipe was discovered a few weeks ago on the Military Diet print-out.  We really liked it.  Wanted to add to our favorites.  

After Supper I returned to sorting papers and decided to blog for a break.  Refreshing.  I feel a great deal better than I did Wednesday with the antibiotics working quickly relieving a sore throat and tender neck.  The fatigue took me by surprise.

With illnesses one has to be flexible about the chores.  They are ongoing as well.  I sound like a broken record when it comes to wanting the chores caught up.  I'm not sure this one will be a best seller or on the top ten list.  

Hubby worked today in the carriage house shuffling to make room to park the better car in it.  There is a lovely wooden table out there that I would like to have refinished to use in the Living room.  I have ideas about placing it in the middle of the room with flowers in a crystal vase sitting on it.  If this materializes there will be pics.

Today, I thought about wall colors for the Living room and imagined what style of draperies will be hung.  There seems to always be something to think about.  At least this is a lovely thought.  Lovely.  Making HOME a welcoming and clean place.  

Husband and I went to our favorite Restaurant, HARRY's last Wednesday to celebrate several important things, employment, payment to credit card company and a car.

He has worked at the same place for 19 years.  This is a hallelujah.  19 years of steady employment in a unstable world.  A job well done.  It hasn't been without sacrifice.  He has learned a great deal and gone through much.  He is looking forward to the day when he can paint.  The Art Studio is in the works.      

During this time of his employment we have lived in 5 different houses.  5.  He hopes to retire in a few years as we are taking steps in preparations for retirement.  Only God really knows, but we are striving to be ready when the day comes.  

This year is the year that we continue to thin out clutter, lighten the load.  Papers in order.  Books, movies and music thinned out.  Clothing thinned out.  Dishes down sized.  Christmas decorations thinned out.  Nic-nacs gone through.  Arts and crafts supplies down sized.  Old magazines gone.  Everything like bedding and towels accounted for.  There's more.  Getting a new list and pictures of belongings a must.  A diary.  

ALSO WE CELEBRATED that we sent a check to pay off the majority of a credit card that we have had an account with for many years.  We paid leaving a small balance so that we would receive a statement showing the large payment on the statement.  I have paid off credit cards before leaving a zero balance and the company did not send a final statement with zero balance showing the pay off.  I like having an actual paper copy of the paid off bill for my records.  SO there will be another paper statement come in next month with this good news of this credit card about to be zeroed out.  A weight off our shoulders.  Take a deep breathe and sigh.  It will be best to owe no man anything...but love.  We have a ways to go to be completely out of debt.  Then we will celebrate in a big way.

WE WERE HAPPY TO INHERIT my Husband's Parents car.  Another nice thing to celebrate as our autos are old...this one is a 2006.  Not new but newer than we have.    

OUR DINNER OF CELEBRATION.  First Bread rolls with Butter was served.  I had Tomato Basil Soup.  Hubby had salad.  Wished I had lifted a spoonful of this soup for a picture as it was loaded with thick vegetables.  Tasty and warm going down my sore throat.  It did soothe the discomfort.  Medium Well DONE Filet Mignon on a bed of Smashed Potatoes and Beets.  WE SPLIT A DESSERT as well.  Dessert indeed.  Chocolate Chip Cheesecake.  Water to drink then Coffee with cream.  A quiet evening together to visit and dine in a beautiful, dimly lit Dining room celebrating achievements.

Lovely evening,

d

   

Love Is Patient

One of my favorite cousin's 

renewed her wedding vows.

Her children presented a nice spread for their guest.

During 40 years together,

one had better have patience and be kind.

It goes a long ways.

Lots of red sweets and cupcakes.

Sharing,

d

Being one of her 1974 Bride's Maids.
Remembering the way it was and is.

Lovely day,

d

Hot that day and I had already cut my hair way too short.
Waiting for it to grow out will be a process.
grins.