The Girl has told me for months now she saw on her social media the best way to shred cooked chicken easily. I listened but kept up with my hand chopping. I did believe her, just never tried it. Until now. It involves a mixer. See if you find my photos self-explanatory.
It works for pork also.
I may never hand chop stewed meat again.
🍲🥘
I have remarked often about the swift passage of time. Today is another proof of that. The Girl has a birthday....number 40. Happily, even with my now-becoming-a-bit-faulty-memory I can still recall the important specifics of that day. That day forty years ago was a life changer for The Husband and me, one we never regret and one that has given us more joy than I could ever explain in words.
Our hearts overflow with pride for The Girl who made us a mama and a daddy. I can speak for The Husband as well in saying that those "jobs" are the best we have ever had. (I will have to interject here that being the perfect mother-in-law and a neema now hold a close second to that job.)
The Girl is not perfect--no one is--but she is everything we could have asked for. She's kind, sweet, a loving wife and mother, and a precious child of her Heavenly Father. She has endured many hard health issues. She has stayed strong in her faith. She has ultimate respect of those she knows and meets. She will probably chuckle when I say she's a bit short on the common sense but that's not anything to worry about. Loving your Savior, husband, and child is much more important that common sense. I could list many other good qualities but we could be here all day and we have other things to do today.
I ordered her a blinking 40th birthday button and after two send backs because of the no blinking, she has neither. I also ordered her a 40th birthday t-shirt that I was told had a problem during shipping and I would get a credit. So no button and no t-shirt. Thanks Amazon.
Since there are no 40th birthday goods, the best plan is to share some photos through the years. We ALL enjoy looking at those, don't we? (Side note: note the resemblance to a current little girl in our family)
Look at these babies....uh huh, the big ones, too....
This is a vision of a sweet little Baptist girl in her Easter frock in the '80's. One must have a hat, purse, and patent Mary Jane shoes with bows....
I came home one day to find The Husband and The Girl dressed for a Halloween gig....one of my favorite memories of their imaginations....
College graduation....and shorter hair which didn't last long.
Then there was the happiness of her own little family....
After the parade, they came to eat supper at our house and we gifted her with a birthday gift....her favorite scooter from her childhood. The Husband found and installed new tires on the scooter. The Girl was thrilled and took a ride up and down the driveway. The blurriness of the photos show her speed.
So happy birthday to our sweet girl! Enjoy a day of celebrating YOU!
💕
P.S. I did find a blinking 40 pin at the local party store so The Girl is wearing it ALL day!
Biblically if I am correct, Sunday is the called the first day of the week. And if I'm wrong, it's not the first time--I'm wrong often. Unfortunately for me. In our days around this planet, we call Sunday the last day of the week. Either way, I'm glad to see Sunday....it's been a hard last couple of weeks in several areas of my life. I'm going to look at today as both an end to the "hard" and a beginning of an upcoming "easy". Maybe. I did ask The Husband this morning as we sat in our recliners to drink coffee and watch our Sunday morning 6:30 a.m. television sermon if it was okay for me to be tired now. He said it was. I have so many blog posts that have been in my mind during the so very busy time of the past couple of weeks that I hope I can retain until I have time to share them.
So this day is the day recognized around the world as Valentine's Day. People might say one can't remember past Valentine's Days and I will agree with that to a point; however, I think I will always remember the Valentine's Day forty years ago. The Husband and I sat in our little den after having Italian that I made in our little kitchen and we played a game of Scrabble. I think that's correct...see even I second guess the things I say I will remember. Either way, we played something on a board then went to bed. The next morning, The Girl arrived and joined our family. That was a BIG Sunday, yes that Valentine's Day in 1981 was on a Saturday. We celebrated big with that Italian food in the kitchen and Scrabble in the den and not much has changed. We were happy then and remain even happier now. It's all in what folks like.
So with all that intro, I just wanted to mention the blessing of love. The Grandbaby this year is into Valentine's Day and "hauts" (hearts)....yes we will work on her diction as time goes on but right now the "hauts" and the "condusting" (disgusting) will remain. Too cute.
Most of my days lately are filled with extreme gratitude for blessings, provisions, and encouragements. I have had and continue to have the love of The Husband as we travel through various seasons of life and now a new season. I have the love of The Girl, The Son-in-Law, and The Grandbaby. I have the love of extended family, friends who are like family, and the love of a wonderful church family. Most of all, I have the love of a heavenly Father first and foremost.
The Grandbaby's parents have been teaching her some Bible scriptures to memorize. The first one she learned proudly was "Love thy neighbor as thyself." I asked her after she recited it who her neighbor was. She mentioned by name the sweet widowed neighbor next door to her. Then when I asked, "Who else?", she responded, "E'erbody!"
So on this Valentine's Day, I encourage you to use that verse and love 'erbody....even when they are not lovable. That's the hard part. I encourage you to use gratitude for the love you know and feel from others. Bottom line, I wish you a day full of happy "hauts"!
💗 💕💖💞💝
Consider....