Celebration #3

 

Saturday morning - - - my husband and Amanda's husband got to the auditorium at least an hour before commencement began to save our seats.  The auditorium was over half full at that point.  I had left home 30 minutes before Bill to deliver food to the fellowship hall.  Produce was put in the refrigerator.   Taco meat was put in the crockpot as well as the Rotel/Cheese Whiz Dip in another.

 

Graduation - - - after the welcome and music and speeches, it was time to award the degrees.  Here is Amanda being hooded with her Master of Arts in Teaching.

Outside the auditorium, waiting in line for a formal picture.

 

A picture taken by her husband in front of the Education Building on Lee University Campus.

 

Amanda and our friend, Barbara.  She is the one who helped me set up the food the day before.

Do you see the Golden Apple in the lower left-hand corner of the pic?  Amanda was awarded the Cliff Schimmels Excellence in Teaching Award - - - the highest award given to a student in her department.  She explains what it is on her blog.

Let the eating begin!  We had 'build your own Nacho Salad'.  Joshua's family brought DELICIOUS desserts to finish out the meal.

 

It has been a wonderful, wonderful two weekends of celebration (Housewarming party & moving for older child and Commissioning & Graduation for Amanda).  My husband and I are blessed beyond words to have two precious daughters who are our friends.

Feast there in the Presence of God, your God. Celebrate everything that you and your families have accomplished under the blessing of God, your God.  Deuteronomy 12:7

On the Go Dinners

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On the Go Dinners

Today was the first time we ordered from them and will not be the last.  We got the Roast Chicken Bake with potatoes and carrots.  It was delicious!  For a very reasonable price, a 12' X 9" pan was delivered to my workplace.  All I had to do was pop it in the oven for 30 minutes when I got home.  Some people have said it is enough for 4 people but at least five people with average appetites could have been fed.  If you had small children, perhaps six or 7.

 

So if you live in Cleveland, you might want to consider trying a meal that someone else has made for you.  It sure saves some time in the kitchen and it was nice to relax after work.

Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little.  Proverbs 30:8

Celebration #2

  

 Clock on Lee Campus

Last weekend was a whirlwind of activity.  Even when you plan things to be spread out on your calendar, sometimes things happen and you end up doing everything at one time or for three days non-stop!

Thursday, July 28 - - all the locks were changed on the older daughter’s house so she could begin moving in.  Our son-in-law’s precious, precious parents were in town with Dad's truck so they moved the larger pieces late that evening after work.  My equally precious friends, Barbara R and Connie F worked the library so I could take the day off.  Words or presents could never be enough to appreciate them for the gift of time they gave to me.

 Sandie & Me on Monday Morning

Friday, July 29 - - My super sweet sister, Sandie, came over from Augusta.   With her was daughter, Carrie, and granddaughter, Cobii.  We met for lunch at Lombardi’s for pizza - - - then the pace accelerated.  The three ladies from Augusta chopped a BUNCH of produce for a party on Saturday.  Then the terrific trio packed two vehicles of boxes from my living room and took it to the ‘new’ house.

 Meanwhile, Barbara R and I went to the youth building where my son-in-law is youth pastor.  She and I set up for Saturday’s party.  Notice we labeled each dish so we wouldn't have to think when it came time to fill them the next day.

At 6:30, it was time to attend the Commissioning Service at Lee University for Amanda’s graduating class.  Commissioning is a bit like baccalaureate in high school except the speakers are some of the graduates who talk about their academic/spiritual/social experiences.   Each graduate is given a Bible at the end of the service.

 Amanda in her Master's gown with her new Bible.

 This ceremony is always followed by a very nice buffet.

(Graduation & Luncheon pictures will be on the next post.)

All these you must eat in the Presence of God, your God, in the place God, your God, chooses . . . You are to celebrate in the Presence of God, your God . . Deuteronomy 12:18

Celebration #1

Do you ever get too busy to blog?  Well that's what has happened to me the last two weeks.  Remember I told you our older daughter had bought a house.  On Sunday, July 24, friends gave her a housewarming shower at our church.

 

I bought the napkins and tablecloth at Target.  They do have some great color combinations and contemporary patterns.

 

My library friends made some divine, delicious desserts!  Our daughter got a lot of very, very nice gifts - - that I forgot to take a picture because I was having too much fun visiting with everyone.   She had registered at Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

I would post of picture of this beautiful daughter but she doesn't allow us to do that - - - so I am respecting her wishes.    This is how our younger daughter honored that request when she posted our family's Christmas picture!

 

She (older daughter) is not a big person - - - the cutout is just over-sized.

There are 3 other events to post but may combine 2.

Bring gifts and celebrate . . .  Psalm 96:8  The Message

What Color Are You?

These colors are some of our favorites from the Color Collection at Sherwin-Williams.

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/hgtvhome/color_collections/

 On HGTV, we saw they had coordinated color palettes where you could combine any of 20 colors and they would compliment each other - - no matter which ones you used.  (You will see all the colors below the pictures of the room on the above link.)

I am not color-blind but I am definitely challenged when it comes to decorating.  The color collection idea was made for people like me!!!

 And the best part is there is a great sale this weekend - - 40% off paints and stains.  I will be there tomorrow to get paint for the first room we will paint after our daughter gets completely moved into her new home in about a week.

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/sherwin_williams_products/on_sale/

. . . have you ever seen color and design quite like it?   Luke 12:27b  The Message

The Waiting Game

 

This picture was taken through the window of my friend's room.  She is 103 years old - - - but very close to 104.  One of her CNAs takes care of the flower container so that there is always something blooming no matter what season.  The days can be long for her - - waiting for someone to visit - - - and as she has told me before, she is waiting to reunite with her husband in the presence of Jesus.  But it doesn't get morbid when we are together because we laugh a LOT - - over a meal of her favorite Broccoli Cheddar Soup from Panera and frozen chocolate yogurt from Perkits.

 

And as you can see, we are still waiting to move our daughter into her house.  The closing date was going to be earlier this week - - almost 2 weeks before scheduled.  Now we are hoping it will be at the end of this week.  Even though we have added more boxes to the pile, we have left a path to the door.  This is not all of them either.  They are to the right and to the left.  So until we know a date, we feel a little off-kilter!

It's okay.  Moving can be this way and we are fortunate there is not a timeline to 'have to' be somewhere.  It also gave us an opportunity to go a wedding yesterday - - - without being in the middle of hauling boxes in the heat!

So - - - until we have relocation pictures, please visit a blogger friend who lives up north and has done a great bathroom remodel over the summer.

http://dahlenje.blogspot.com/2011/07/big-reveal.html

I will be your God throughout your lifetime -- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.  Isaiah 46:4

Moving

 

The person moving boxes out of our house into the home she is purchasing is our older daughter.  The boxes you see are just a fraction of what's packed.  (Don't worry about the bent box.  It arrived that way and is stuffed with newspapers so it won't collapse.)

 

My sister sent the new rake and shovel.  She bought them at the Lowe's in Augusta.  They called our Cleveland store and we picked them up here.  Isn't technology grand?!!

Our week of vacation was low-key and very restful.  We got over 8 hours of sleep each night.  That was pure luxury!  We cherished every minute because we knew that the next three weekends are going to be quite busy - - with happy activities.  We will take pictures and pray for time to tell you about it.

But at the quiet cabin in the mountains, our younger daughter is having interesting critter problems again. 

http://bearcatfeet.blogspot.com/

My daughters are the reason I started my blog - - - - to give them information and to read what they have been doing in their lives.  Plus, my sister and I can keep up with each other, too.   In addition, my readers will agree that many of us have made new friends.  It turns out one of those new friends, Patsy, and I lived in the same neighborhood in Rhode Island fifty years ago!  She moved away from there two years before my family arrived.  From the sounds of it,  our houses would have been quite close to each other!  I just love the way God brings lives back together - - even if you didn't know each other a 'long time ago'.

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly : and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24