Work birthday, guests

Friday the “kids” at work had a small birthday party for me. They hung a banner behind my desk and circulated a birthday card. The card had a gift card for Lowe’s inside it. One of the ladies baked a Choco flan cake. There was enough left that Mama and Victoria got to try it. Throughout the day there were birthday wishes sent from employees throughout the company. This is a good company. I do not always agree with the approach they take to training, but they are good people. My only frustration is the inability to help our personal business progress because of having to work full-time in this job. Oh, well. It could definitely be worse.

Mama made me molasses cookies instead of a cake. I think we enjoyed those more than any birthday cake she could have made. Brittany sent me some spices I will use for grilling and the twins sang happy birthday to me. That was precious. Meanwhile, Cori and Nate had a joint birthday celebration at the children’s home in Honduras. Cori said that the kids treated her special all day long on the day of her birthday. Breakfast in bed. Cooking and cleaning. Special pampering. A sweet day-long celebration. Nate did not get the same attention, but that is just how things work out for the dad’s in our lives. Becky and Bridgette celebrated birthdays last week as well. Bridgette had a visit from Minnie Mouse on her birthday. Special delivery by the Volunteer Fire Department. Sadly, I do not have pictures of any of those gatherings. Mama’s birthday is next Sunday. Chase’s as well.

Saturday was spent in large part getting ready for guests that evening. Victoria was sick through the weekend and Mama was hurting in her knees, so we struggled through as best we could. I spent the morning cleaning up on the outside of the house -weeding flowerbeds and the graveled area where the grill sits. Weed eating a little bit. I was hurting as well, so I was limited in what I could do. But we pulled it together before our guest arrived. I grilled chicken leg quarters, chicken breasts, hamburgers (a mixture of ground beef and ground turkey), sausages and pineapple. I cooked the leg quarters in a pressure cooker for about ten minutes before putting them on the grill. That way they do not get so dried out as they are cooked through. Mama made a grape salad, a cranberry-pineapple Jello salad, fresh bread, mashed potatoes, roasted, seasoned sweet potatoes and green beans. We have found a new favorite green bean. They are Italian Green Beans. Broad, flat bean pods. Very good. Mama fixed them with a little bacon and onion. We had plenty of food. A good bit of leftovers. Some of which, Trace took with him to eat as he travels to an out-of-state jobsite this week.

Pastor and Joyce Horton came over. Kenny and Kimberlyn Cantrell came. James and Olivia Downs, missionaries to Ethiopia, with their two children, James and Abigail traveled over with the pastor. Alisa also came with the Hortons, bringing Gracie as an extra guest. Trace was in town for the weekend, so we invited him over as well. With me and Mama included, we had eleven for dinner. We talked for about an hour as Mama and I finished preparing everything. We ate and then we talked for a couple hours after dinner. It was a fun, relaxing evening. I showed pastor my shop – such as it is. Mama showed Mrs. Downs and all the children around the farm. Mrs. Downs, who is deathly afraid of spiders, walked through a spider web and freaked out. Mama and the kids laughed so hard they were still laughing a half hour later as they came inside. Mama had to change her undergarments she laughed so hard. Mrs. Downs laughed at herself once she got over the fright. The kids made sure to bring it up Sunday morning as we visited before church. It was a fun evening. Everyone loves coming to Mama’s house.

We had wonderful services Sunday morning. A light lunch and a long nap that afternoon. Great services that evening. It was good weekend.