Celebrating Sixty!

It was a milestone birthday 

and it has been a challenging year of illness and big changes. 

It seemed that there was much to celebrate, and so...

celebrate we did! 

Yes, Ron was turning sixty and we decided to throw a party. Kati thought it should be a surprise. I had my doubts that I could actually surprise someone I live with, but we gave it our best shot (it was even harder than I thought!), and it was a success! 

He was surprised! (Well, he was surprised until he turned into our street after a day out with his brother and brother-in-law and saw all the cars. But that still counts as a surprise, I think.)

While we waited for the birthday boy to arrive...

(Oops...I hadn't put the dill dip in the bowl when I took this pic.)

Surprise!!

photo by Bekah

photo by Pat*

Let's eat!

(I had lots of help with the meal. Thanks Mom, Kristin, Sarah, Eve, Gloria...and Kati and Bekah, of course!)

Baby Macie (7 months) reached out and grabbed the dinner roll right off her mama's plate! :)

photo by Pat

Papa with his ten grandchildren

"Children's children are the crown of old men." Proverbs 17:6

photo by Pat

We kept the guest list small. 

Well..."small" is a relative term when you consider we have 18 now in our immediate family. Plus our parents. And Ron is one of 8 siblings. And the brothers and sisters of our church fellowship are our family.

most photos by Pat

Ron with his mom and siblings

(One sister could not make it.)

photo by Pat

Kristin and her family

photo by Pat

Sweet cousins!

photo by Pat

Ryan's birthday was the day before the party, 

but he was working and we hadn't given him his present.

He is an entertaining gift-opener!

(The children LOVE it!)

Happy 60th birthday to the love of my life!

I can't believe we're as old as we are, but I thank God for every one of those 60 years!

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, "The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!"

Psalm 92:12-14

* Huge thanks to my sister-in-law Pat who took many of the people photos! It is difficult to be hostess and photographer (most of my own photos were taken before the party began...or after most people had left!). But Pat is warm and vivacious and moved easily through the group, recording the moments. Thanks, Pat!