Twenty-One!

I had just come though a serious illness/hospitalization. I had just turned 40. I was on some heavy duty meds. I was still reeling from all that had happened. And then . . .

We found out that I was pregnant.

As delighted as I would have been at any other time, at this particular time, I was mostly afraid. Afraid that the baby wouldn't live. (We had lost a baby 5 1/2 years previously.) Afraid that something would be wrong with our baby. (One of my doctors even called me at home with concerns about the drugs I was taking.) It was a long and complicated pregnancy, and there was a very dark day when all signs indicated that I was miscarrying. Before she sent me for a D&C, my doctor sent me for an ultrasound . . . and the baby's heart was beating strong!

I went into premature labor at 33 weeks and there were more complications before, during, and after the birth, but the result of all of the struggle was THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL . . . this blessing to our home, our lives, and our world . . . who is suddenly twenty-one years old!

Oh how very glad we are for God's plan for her (and for us)! We are so grateful for her heart for the Lord and for the blessing that she is to so many!

The rest of this post is a little gathering of memories . . .

newborn Bekah

Bekah at 7 months

Bekah's first birthday

s

Twenty months old

Bekah's 2nd birthday (having a bit of a meltdown)

Bekah's 3rd birthday

Bekah was the flower girl in Ryan and Sarah's wedding ~  just a few days before her 4th birthday

5th birthday

At the beach, age 5

Classic Bekah face!

9th birthday

Playing dollhouse with Pinky

Bekah's 10th birthday ~ at tea

11th birthday photo shoot ~ photo by Kati

Chocolate chip cheesecake for her 12th birthday
(Same for her 21st!)

A teenager!

Bekah's 14th birthday

I had to include at least one piano picture! 🎹

Bekah at 15

Sweet sixteen!

Bekah's 17th birthday

18th birthday

Bekah's senior picture

Bekah at 19

Bekah at 20

Twenty-one!

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

Resurrection Day | 2022

 

Am I just getting around to talking about Resurrection Day nearly a week hence? 

Well, yes. Yes, I am. 

(I am also likely to do a birthday post this week about Bekah's 21st birthday, even though that was even longer ago.) 

That's how I roll. Especially in my "retirement" when I am slower but busier than ever.

I am going to begin by saying that we had a beautiful, meaningful Easter service at our church. And then I am going to share just a few photos from our family celebration. 

Our meal was served family style this year (we usually have a buffet line in the kitchen) since we had a smaller number (thirteen) at the table. 

Our table setting was simple: my favorite Blue Willow dishes, blue check napkins, a crock of dogwood branches, and a Lindt lamb for each person. 

I often buy these little lamb candies as favors on our holiday table. I prefer the significance of the lamb rather than bunnies or chicks at Easter, although I do use rabbits in my spring decorating.

Of course, then it got a little silly as people became creative with their candy wrappers. Maybe this was a little twist on Wrapping Paper Antics? 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

There were too many choices for dessert. (Aren't there always?) Chocolate pie, coconut cream pie, macarons . . . and chocolate chip cheesecake that was leftover from Bekah's birthday. How to choose?

We had our traditional hunt for chocolate eggs. Actually, we had three hunts: one for the two youngest kids, one for the kids/young adults, and one for the parents/grandparents because the young adults enjoy hiding eggs in crazy-challenging places! 

Ryan, Sarah, and children were visiting Sarah's family, so granddog Lucy was with us.

I'll end with the traditional family photos, both near . . . 

. . . and from afar. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who according to his abundant mercy 

hath begotten us again unto a lively hope 

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
 

~ I Peter 1:3 ~

Because He lives, we have hope!

B is for Bunny

There were TWO birthday people to celebrate 
at our Spring Birthday Celebration this year! 

Bekah had been the lone birthday person every spring until Caleb was born. She was happy to have him join her, but he lives far away and probably won't join our local celebrations most years. But last year, sweet Joanna was born in the spring and now there are two bunnies to celebrate! 

Ryan often calls Joanna "Bunny," and I called Bekah "Bunny" when she was little (and occasionally even now), so bunnies were the theme for this springtime party!

🐇   🐇  🐇   🐇    🐇

Bekah went up to the attic and fetched her childhood collection of bunnies. My mom gave her the aqua one when she was a baby, and it was on her bed during much of her childhood.

Mom also gave her this little bunny we used on the birthday table. 

All of our cups were labeled with bunnies: Peter Rabbit, Big Nutbrown Hare, Rabbit (from Winnie-the-Pooh), and so on.  I chose the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland because I am often late. (Oh dear.) 

The "Bunnies" have a lot in common. They are both the babies of their families. They were born to mothers who were forty years old. They are springtime babies. They are/were very clingy to their moms. 

Enjoying her birthday card designed by Peter!

What do you know? Wrapping paper antics revived! 

Peter (with a Wrapping Paper Antics hat) served as Birthday Fairy at this party. (Macie and several in her family were sick and missed the party. 😞)

💗 Birthday girls: Joanna (1) and Bekah (21) 💗

Ice cream cake and bunny shortbread

It was a sweet and special celebration, honoring our springtime treasures!