May 5

On this day two years ago, our family celebrated the wedding of The Girl and her prince.  I plan to celebrate them again by enjoying a time of lunch and visiting with The Girl's mother-in-law today.  We might speak of how we have grown to love each other's child and feel as that one is our own.  We might speak of how sweet both of them are.  We might speak of how happy we are that they both have wonderful "in-laws" who have become friends.   We might not speak of them at all, who knows?  (Yeah, right...we're mamas.)  One thing I am certain is that we will both be giving thanks to the Lord for His goodness in bringing the two of them together.  So Happy Anniversary to The Girl and The Son-In-Law!

  

REJOICE!

It's THAT time again!  My favorite time of the year.  It's the week before we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  I love Easter!

For you that have read regularly for a while now, you might remember last year the week before Easter I began writing daily about events leading up to this wonderful time of celebration.  I don't think I'm doing that this year but plan to go back and read my last-year thoughts....since my thoughts remain the same this year.  The subject is so dear to me.  If you are interested in revisiting that section of posts, the first is "My Favorite Time of the Year "(March 22, 2013) and the last is "Up"  (April 1, 2013).  Do not read them in order of appearance in this blog as it goes from newest to oldest but read in order of date.

The purpose of this post is to encourage you to get your own Bible and begin reading these events for yourself.  Tomorrow being the day we classify on the calendar as Palm Sunday would be a great time to start.  I am helping you out by listing some of the readings at the end of this post.  Year after year I have heard my daddy talk about doing this reading this particular week and what an humbling experience reading the scripture is.  From my own experience, I know this to be the truth.

I challenge you to take the time each day to read of what our Lord endured that final week.  I guarantee you that you will be blessed beyond measure.

Some of the Easter cards I have sent this year to shut-ins were very plain but the words on the front just gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling.  The cards simply said, "He has risen, just as He said He would."  Wow.

So....let your heart hurt for what He suffered for you and for me.  Let your heart feel the compassion for the physical pain He felt.  Let your heart cry for the emotional pain of His feeling forsaken.  Let your heart feel the awe of the love He had for you and me.  Then let your heart rejoice for He has risen, just as He said He would!

Yes, this Easter week and EVERY week to come....rejoice!


Jesus rides into Jerusalem.....Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
The Last Supper with the twelve....Matt. 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:3-39; John 13
Sold out....Matt 26: 1-16;  Mark 14:1-2, 10-11:  Luke 22:1-6
In the Garden....Matthew 26:36-56; Mark14: 32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 17, 18:1-11
Guilty?.....Matthew 26:57-75; Mark14:53-72;  Luke 22:54-71; John 18:12-27
A Dark Day....Matthew 27:1-66; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23; John 18:28-42
The Tomb....Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20

And ALL God's people said, "Amen!"

WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS

Here in my world, as most likely in yours, it’s Wednesday.  Hump Day as some call it.  Choir night we call it.  For the bulk of this week I have been home alone.  You might expect that I’ve accomplished much being at home.  And alone.  Not so.  I wish I could say it was true and I have tried.  I REALLY have tried, but I get so distracted with “things”.  I will say, though, I have done a lot of thinking  and guess I have accomplished some things or parts of some things.

I have walked my now routine three miles all three mornings this week.  This week I did it in 55:18.  Pretty good for an older girl, huh?  I would say especially one that has been as slow as I have been most of my recent life.  I feel very empowered after I do that walk each day.  Sweaty and tired, but empowered. 

I rejoiced when I did my routine weigh-in this morning and the scale told me I was a pound less than before.  That makes about 33ish, I guess. 

Having received a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis three months ago, I am striving to change my way of living when it comes to food and exercise.  I have gained so much more respect for The Girl and the fact that she’s lived with Type 1 diabetes for so many years.  Even though many of those years I did a lot of the shots and such for her, I see now how hard it was when those sugars were not where they should be.  I am coming along.  Slowly but coming along.  One of the struggles I have is when I am home for three days in a row and do a lot of cooking.  The pantry in my house is so inviting.  It’s sooooo hard to eat healthy things when I want some of those snacks.  My eyes tell my stomach that it’s hungry but I know that it’s really not.  It’s a struggle that I will get a handle on.  So today when I had my lunch, I was excited that it was somewhat healthy.  And a plateful.  Okay it was a small plate but it was full.   I took a picture for you to see.

I discovered the salad with the carrots at my neighborhood grocery store where the nice lady does the portable cooking.  Yum.  It’s delicious.  And the chicken salad is my own recipe while the crackers are a new gluten free kind I found, Nabisco Gluten Free Rice Thins—Black pepper kind.  Yum.  I will put the recipes at the end of this post for you who are interested.

So, now that I have said all that unimportant stuff, I will get to my point.  I went outside to eat my lunch.  It was cool today even though the sun was shining.  As I sat there eating, I noticed an animal zipping across my yard.  It was the prettiest little rabbit.  It’s name had to be Peter.  I got a smile and warm feeling when I saw it. 

Every day twice a day at our house, five deer come into our yard to eat our weeds.  Our grass is not very good looking, but the weeds get very green in the summer and give the illusion of grass.  I had gone out right before dark last night, turned the corner and there were those deer.  They just stood and looked at me.  They didn’t run, nor did they seem afraid.  They just looked at me and then kept eating.  I also enjoyed them on Monday during the rain when they played in the ponds that had formed in my yard from the rain.  No cares.  No worries.  Just delight. 

So I guess the point of my thought process today is that I am again reminded of how much my God cares for me.  In the sermon on Sunday I got such a blessing when the preacher said that if God lined up everyone in the world, He would assure everyone that He loved them all the same.  I was so blessed because it reminded me again of that great love.  For me.  And for you.   I knew that was the truth and that He loves me in spite of my sins.  In spite of my distractions.  He loves me.  And just as that little rabbit and those deer know how to live in the world because their creator made them that way, I can overcome any problems, any worries, and any cares just because my creator knows me and loves me. 

And it makes me ever so happy to tell you about His love again.  I hope it makes you happy to hear it and know that Jesus loves you, too!

Chicken Salad

2 large chicken breasts  *see note

l small can crushed pineapple in juice, drained

1-1.5 cups chopped pecans

Mayo to your taste

*The chicken is delicious if smoked in a smoker but that is too much trouble for me.  I boil the chicken, drain and chop it then add liquid smoke to taste before adding the pineapple, nuts, and mayo.

Cucumber Carrot Salad

l/4 c. sweet chili sauce (I cut this back for the lower sugar effect.)

2 T. seasoned rice wine vinegar

1 large cucumber, peeled, thinly sliced

1 c. matchstick carrots

½ c. sliced green onions

Whisk chili sauce and vinegar in medium bowl until blended.

Peel cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and slice.  Add cucumber and remaining ingredients to sauce mixture; toss to coat.  Chill until ready to serve.

A PRAISE DAY

To quote a sweet friend on this day, "This has just been a praise filled day today! (But aren’t all days supposed to be?)"  Isn't that the truth?  EVERY day should be filled with praise because our Redeemer is alive and well in our daily lives.  Many days, I miss that, but not today!   I am praising the Lord for answered prayer.....and this prayer was the answer for which I longed! Just sayin'....

WHAT A FRIEND.......

Remember me?  It’s been so long since I posted anything that folks have probably forgotten about me.  I will try to do better and make more frequent posts.  I do enjoy sharing for sure.  Time just doesn't always cooperate.

This week has been an unusually sad week.  I began the week on Monday at my accountant’s office, arriving just as one of his female workers got the news that her dad had suddenly passed away.  It’s very hard to comfort when something like this happens.  As she was trying to gather herself in her office, I asked the coworkers (who are my friends) if she was a Christian.  They answered yes.  Before I could stop my mouth, I told them if she wanted someone to pray with her I would.  As soon as those words went out of my mouth, I thought to myself, “Have I lost my mind?  What do you mean?  Geez….”  Then I was reminded of the scripture that says to always be prepared.  Well I did pray with this sweet one…hope it was a comfort but it was sure an act of faith for me.

That afternoon when I got back home, I got the call that my cousin’s son moved to heaven at age 42.   The day was not looking so good.  Doesn’t seem fair or right in our human eyes, huh?  Even when you know that God knows best and sees that big picture, one still wants to wonder why.  It’s especially hard for a mama, or so I would imagine.  I hope I never know that pain.  Not that I’m any better than anyone else, I just hope and pray I never know that pain….just being honest here.  I have all respect and love for all of the mamas who have known that pain...and I know many.  I don’t know how one would make it without the Lord.

It seems as though we often lose touch with our family.   That’s how it is with this side of my family.  My granny and many aunts and uncles have gone to be with the Lord.   I was blessed to see many of my cousins last night at the funeral home visitation.  I found it important that I hear again all the cousins’ ages.  That was amazing to me.  In the lineup from oldest to youngest, unfortunately, I fall in the number three position.  The youngest, who was the flower girl in The Husband and my wedding, is now 43 with teenage children.  Really?  That much time has gone by?  It felt unbelieveable but wonderful to see the ones I did get to see even though it was in such a sad atmosphere.  There was a lot of remembering the good times and the good things which was a blessing to me.

Back to my thoughts here….I get so distracted when I write, just as I do in real life.  Age, I’ve determined.  After all I AM number three in the lineup of cousins from oldest to youngest. 

At the funeral today, there were many tears shed.  At the beginning of the service, the Christian anthem of Amazing Grace was sang.  His grace is amazing, isn’t it?  And thank the good Lord we have it.  My cousin had written a letter to her son and it was read beautifully by her sweet granddaughter.  More tears.  Then The Singer sang the next song.  As soon as I heard the piano music begin, I recognized the tune to “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”….one of my all time favorites for sure.  I listened, REALLY listened, to the words of that song and as the words were sung, my heart began to overflow with joy.   “What a friend we have Jesus….all our sins and griefs to bear….what a privilege to carry….everything to God in prayer….” A privilege.  A privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer.  I sat there and was reminded that God cares about you and He cares about me.  GOD CARES.   And, oh my goodness, what a joy and a blessing that is for us!  I sat in that funeral home chapel and cried and cried….not sad tears but joyful tears that GOD CARES.  My cup overflowed.  The Holy Spirit came to my pew and touched my heart and strengthened me.  I was still  sad for my cousin and her loss but joyful that I was assured at the end of that service that her son had gone to heaven to be with the Lord. 

I looked up the lyrics to this sweet song--finding the familiar verses and even one I had never heard before.  The song goes like this:

What a friend we have in Jesus.

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Oh what peace we often forfeit.

Oh what needless pain we bear.

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged.

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful?

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness.

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden?

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior still our refuge.

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee.

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised.

Thou wilt all our burdens bear.

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to thee in earnest prayer

Soon in glory bright, unclouded.

There will be no need for prayer.

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.

So when you are “cumbered with a load of care”, take it to the Lord in prayer!  HE CARES!

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY POST

Okay, so I thought my birthday posts were over....sorry, they're not.  A girl can change her mind, can't she?

Thirty plus years ago on this day at one minute before the noon hour, the lives of The Husband and me changed forever.  For the good.  Forever.  The Girl entered our lives and our lives have never been the same since.

I was thinking of how much The Girl had not changed since being little.  Someone has said that a child's life is molded in the very first years.  When I began to look and think about it, in the life of The Girl that is true.  I thought you, my faithful blog readers, might enjoy seeing the similarities then and now.

The Girl REALLY loves her daddy.  And she also LOVES a good nap.  (And no, I did not cook Double Q salmon in the den in those days.  It's called a "spit cup".  We still have them at our house except now they are quality water or gatorade bottles with lids and no water or gatorade.)  This is one of my favorite pictures from the first days The Girl was at home.

The Girl still listens intently to others and their advice.

The Girl smiles a lot and is happy most days.

She loves to dress her best for church. The Girl loves a good Easter dress.  She does not like scratchy crinolines.

The Girl is a BIG Mickey Mouse fan.  Enough said.

Books and reading are a favorite way to pass the time.  There was more time to pass in younger days than now, but books are still important.

The Girl loves snow.  Check out the plastic bag shoes.

The Girl loves to bake and is very good at it.  

She loves licking beaters, too.

Baking makes her smile....

The Girl even likes cleaning her house most days.  I miss her cleaning skills at my house.

The Girl loves fun shoes....

 ..and hats....quality hats...

She loves Christmas and presents.  She has gotten a lot of "thing-a-ding-ding" gifts of some sort through the years.

The Girl likes to talk on the phone and read her Bible....though not at the same time.  It's harder to multitask as one ages.

 The Girl has ALWAYS loved birthdays....

..and that hasn't changed.  We gave her her gift and had a small taste of sugar free dessert last night.

This quilt is a piece of her heritage.    The quilt top was hand made by a great great (maybe even one more great) grandmother.  I quilted and finished it for The Girl.  The top was given to me back in the 1980's by my mother-in-law.  The quilter had been gone for 50 years then so we figure it was sewn--by hand-- in the 1920's or so.  Vintage at it's finest.  The quilt was a treasure to The Girl.  I thought of what The Husband said about it last night.  Years and years ago the quilter probably had in mind for it to go to someone special and while we don't know what transpired all those years in between, it did in fact go to someone special at the perfect time.  And what a blessed girl she is!

So happy happy birthday sweet girl!  We love you more than you will ever begin to know.....

SNOW--THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Ah....we all love a good snow day.  Or at least many of us do.  I always loved a good snow as long as I could keep my electricity on, firewood gathered, and milk in the refrigerator.  And usually, I can enjoy a good snow for a few days without complaining.

The weather people told us it could be coming.  They told us they weren't sure where but be ready just in case it hit our neighborhood.  Sure enough day before yesterday right before noon, the snow began.  It was just tiny flakes.  Since I had been deliberating for days what kind of dessert to make for The Husband, I decided I needed to make a choice so I could be sure I had all the ingredients.  I surely had plenty of time to get to the store and back.  The snowflakes were tiny.   I decided to make a Praline Pecan Cheesecake. After going through the refrigerator, I found it lacking two blocks of cream cheese.  My recipe needed four.   I bundled up and headed out.  Once I got out I realized that the snow was sticking pretty good on those hills, rooftops, and grass.  Those little flakes.  Who would think?  Sensing that I could have driving issues, I coasted down a snow white hilly piece of road and took a detour heading back toward my house.  I did stop and borrow a couple of blocks of cream cheese from The Girl's refrigerator since I had been trusted with a key.  My Pecan Praline Cheesecake was safe.  (I will put the recipe at the end of this post.)

Well that snow, as many of your reading this know, came in quickly.  I mean quickly.  Just that short circle around to The Girl's house found her driveway covered.  Just from those tiny flakes.  Who would have thought?

It took hours and hours for The Girl to get home.  It took hours and hours and hours and more hours  with The Son-In-Law's truck finally left alone and a 2 mile walk for him before all of my people were in their safe warm beds.  The stories of those I love kept coming as this southern snow kept falling and I hear of so many who had it so much worse.  It's amazing the repercussions that can happen from something so beautiful.  Many of the time I was listening and concerned, it felt nightmarish.

Yesterday was a beautiful day in my neighborhood in spite of all the drama from the day and night before.  The Lord began the day by delighting us when we saw eight--count 'em, 8--deer in our snowy yard.  What a sight that was!  Then The Girl and The Son-In-Law walked over to visit--or so I thought. I realized later that the 25 year old snow sled was the attraction, not the parents.  It was a nice hour in the snow nonetheless and gave great photo opportunities.

I was holding tightly to The Husband's arm because I had almost fallen on the icy road a few minutes before.  I enjoyed my very old furry Walmart hat.  I wear it when it snows so it doesn't get much use. 

My "children" and that great sled....

Life is fairly back to normal here.  My car is still in the garage dry but my family have all gone back to normal life.  I hitched a ride to work today as well.   The Girl says she thinks she will always own a 4-wheel drive as it helped her get home.  The melting continues and by tomorrow afternoon, the snow will just be a memory.   I think this one, though, will go down in our southern history books right along with that one in '82 or '83 and the blizzard of '93 as the ones we'll always remember!

_________________________________________
PECAN PRALINE CHEESECAKE
1.5 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
l/2 c. granulated sugar
1 t. cinnamon
4 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 c. chopped pecans
3 T. all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted margarine, granulated sugar and cinnamon.  Press mixture into bottom and sides of a 9" springform pan.  Set aside.  Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until fluffy.  Stir in brown sugar, nuts, and flour, stirring just to combine (do not use mixer for this step).  Pour filling into crust, smoothing flat with spatula.  Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool well and then refrigerate.

CHILDREN

Children have always held a fascination for me.  In my church I have worked in different ways with younger children.  I find myself drawn to them.    I learn so much from them.  I guess on a realistic basis, we can spend much of our time aggravated with children, especially you who care for your own children daily.  Then there are times when all that aggravation is erased when you get that sweet, sweet moment that gets you all warm and fuzzy inside.

So here’s some things I’ve noted about very young children that merit mentioning:

Children don’t have to be taught to do wrong.  They seem to know that already.

Teaching children to do right is often a full time job.  Patience and firmness are necessities in this teaching process.

Children love to play.

Children hear more than you think.   They have selective hearing—obviously inherited from their dads.

Children can bring a tear to your eye with just one little sweet unexpected word.

Children really like to be praised.

Children count on us as adults to show them the way.  Maybe they don’t understand that is what they do, but they do.  Let’s not fall short of this task.

Children are full of innocence. 

Children are sociable with their peers. 

Children have to be taught to share with their peers.  Once this is achieved, life is good.

Children need to be loved. 

Children love animal crackers and goldfish. 

The list is endless.

Sunday morning during Big Church,  I substituted as Children’s Choir Director in the absence of the director.  I chose to have them sing “Jesus Loves Me”.  It's often the "go-to" song when I substitute.  This Sunday, though, as the boatload of children in that choir stood and began to sing, it was different.  There was something about the sound of those children’s voices singing “Jesus loves me this I know” that got my tears to the edge and I was blessed yet again by children. 

As I think about it, we adults are not so different from children.    As a mother, I find myself still in conversation saying “my little girl” when talking about The Girl even though she’s not a little girl anymore.  In my eyes and the eyes of The Husband, she will always be our little girl.  Some things just don’t change.   As the child of my Heavenly Father, I realize no matter how long I’ve been His child, I will still be His child forever and always.   And as a child of His, I am NEVER too old to learn from Him.

“Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.”    Mark 10:14

And I say, “Amen”.

COLD WEATHER BLESSINGS

Here in my fair neighborhood, it's cold.  Not bitter cold--that's to come in a couple of days--but cold.  On days such as these, I am grateful for cold weather blessings....


a challenging 1000 piece puzzle....

....a very warm fire.....

...a nice cup of homemade gluten free chicken noodle soup (recipe will be at end of this post) served in a nice soup mug given to me for my birthday by really nice friends.  There was also a matching soup tureen, ladle, and five more matching mugs ...makes you wish you were here, huh?  Bad news is that it was also supper last night and this mug of soup is the last of it.

It's the little things along with big things that require our thanks.

CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP 

1 T. butter or margarine 

1 lg. onion, chopped

3 c. chopped cooked chicken 

3 (1 4.5 oz.) cans chicken broth

1 (10.75 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted 

1 (10.75 oz.) can cream of chicken soup, undiruted

1 (8 oz.) pkg. spaghetti, broken into smaller pieces  

7 celery ribs, diced

6 medium carrots, diced

1t. poultry seasoning 

1 t. pepper

1 t. grated lemon rind

2 c. milk

2 c. (8 oz.) shredded sharp cheese

Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat; add onion and saute until tender. Stir in chicken and other ingredients; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, simmer for 45 minutes, stir in milk; return to simmer. Remove soup from heat and let stand ten minutes.  Sprinkle each serving with shredded cheese.  Makes 12 cups.

This recipe is good just as it is; however, I often adapt in these ways.  Firstly, I never use the lemon rind.  For the soup in the mug pictured above, I omitted the mushroom soup and only added one can of low sodium healthy heart cream of chicken soup along with the broth called for and extra broth from cooking the chicken.  I added no milk nor cheese and used gluten free noodles and it was delicious that way.  So...with that said, play with it to suit your needs but be aware l/2 t. of poultry seasoning makes a lot of difference in the taste.  Enjoy!

NIFTY FIFTY

Fifty years ago today my family of three became a family of four.  Yes, I got a baby sister.  I guess if I'm totally honest I will admit that the memory that first comes to mind about that period of time is that snow was on the ground when my daddy and I went to pick up The Sister and my mother from the hospital.   I also vaguely remember that my eight year old self was sick with some childhood disease, maybe chickenpox or measles or some spotty disease like that.   Yes, fifty years ago there was a white Christmas!

After the white Christmas was melted and gone, I rather enjoyed having a baby sister, I would guess.  At various times, I remind The Sister that she really had it made.  As we both got older, she did not have to do a lot of the "pastor service projects" on Sundays with The Parents as I always had to do.  I was old enough to stay home with her and take care of her and even eventually drive her around to fun places.  Places like concerts at Six Flags and such as that.  She had a live in "young" chauffeur and baby sitter.

The Sister and I were and remain different, yet alike.  You might not know that The Sister LOVES shoes.  Really LOVES shoes.  As the two of us age, it's kind of funny how we grow more alike.  An experience with shoes is a good example of the different yet alike personalities.  As the older, more "arthritic" one, I am interested in shoes that feel good on my feet the same at bedtime as they felt when they were put on in the early morning.  I found such shoes.  They are pretty ugly but I really don't care about that as long as they don't hurt.  Imagine my surprise one day when The Sister called and asked me about those ugly shoes, saying she needed a pair that felt good.  Uh huh.  The other day I was reminded of this as The Sister, The Mother, and I had a celebratory birthday lunch.  I wore my ugly shoes and alas, so did The Sister wear hers.  The difference--mine are plain ugly black, hers are vivid ugly multi-colored!

My sister is most loved by many.   She loves her husband, son, and daughter immensely.  She loves her Lord even more.   She loves children.  She loves sports.  She's a good friend.  She can sing.  Well.  She can cook.  She can bake.  Very well.  And she likes doing it.

In celebration of The Sister's milestone birthday, I thought you would enjoy a short pictorial.  I could have made it a long pictorial but face it, tis the season to be busy and scanning old pictures is a time consuming event.  Plus I didn't have any of the time between young and "older".  They would really have entertained had I had them.  So instead, I decided to focus on "sister" photographs that I had.  Enjoy.

Posing with our Granny on the Sister's first Easter....or maybe I should say that I pose and The Sister sleeps.

As The Sister got a bit older she learned the art of "The Wave".  I'm thinking the camera person would say to wave as it showed up in various photos like this one with our Mema.

The next couple show hairband hairstyles popular with my age group.  It looks like it was someone's birthday, too.

Waving in front of the gray Rambler station wagon.....a child's dream ride....

Vacations......

I learned to sew in high school home economics and liked it.  I made all our clothes.  They matched.  On purpose. And we wore them.  Willingly.  I was constantly sewing and we were constantly getting new clothes.  Back then we thought we were stylin' and profilin'.  Now maybe we look at photos, we think not so much.  

The Sister has an infectious laugh and good sense of humor most days.

So happy birthday, Sister!  Hope you see fifty more!  Nifty!