Wonderful Ice Cold Day

Brrrrrrr

I hate to complain. I just cannot wait for Spring. It keeps sneaking in and then disappearing again. It does this over and over and over. It makes it hard  to adjust. The cold just seems colder after a nice warm day. Today had a sweet bonus though. I had a bit of reward for braving the cold. Here they are.

Me and Bony March 16, 2014

Farmer's Market

Stuart, Va

Enduring the Cold

What a lesson there is in that title.

The cold settles in and stays for a while when it comes. It lasts for it's season.

There are many good things about the cold. It certainly makes you appreciate the warm. It gives you excuses to cuddle with your children, your hubby and your doggies. I love that my doggies sleep with me. Foot warmers they definitely are. I've been thanking God today for the little things. Like gloves, and blankets, our home and gas logs. He is so good to me.

My precious daddy came by this morning for a visit and some warm coffee. He's so full of love. Our relationship with him has grown over the years, the appreciation for one another, time revealing that we stick together. He loves my dear husband Tony. I'm thankful that he is a loving, positive father figure for my husband - who lost his own father in 1994. He was not close to his own father and it means a lot to me that he has formed a bond with my own.

The bad things about the cold. The depression it brings in, the cold that seeps through to my bones, the attacks of the enemy from so many different people.  Well I guess that last one happens year round but this winter it seems as though he has definitely worked overtime. My husband has never had any real family other than his mother, his uncle Kenny and his aunt Bonnie. The devil seems determined to destroy his relationship with his mother and he is using his sister to do it. Tony and his sister have never been close. She's always been many things that aren't good. I'm not going to air it all out here as that wouldn't be fair. She has just gotten out of jail last August. We were both hoping for our families to be able to spend what's left of our lives together. Taking the time to get to know each other better, help each other out. She claims to have changed, she says she is different but all I see is the same mean, hateful, trouble starter she always was. Not caring about her own mother, keeping her so upset and starting so much stressful drama. I've been married to Tony for 20 years and it's always been this way. Somehow this time, I thought it would be different. The saddest thing is that his mother is believing his sister. All of her lies. If you've ever been blamed for something that you honestly didn't do then you can certainly understand how it feels. It's a horrible feeling.

The best thing is that the Lord is dealing with our hearts and our anger. We've made the decision to move forward and leave all the ugly behind. During this time the Lord has shown me how full of love and close my own family is. He has revealed all the truth to my family, my three girls and my husband. Now that we can all stand together it makes it better. It helps us to be stronger. It doesn't ease the pain of my husband's heart to have his relationship with his own mother destroyed but it helps him to move on.

I think that is what 2014 is going to be about.

Moving on. Moving on together. My next posts coming are going to bring more of our life. Less of those trouble and pictures of what we get to experience every day. Our children. Our grandchildren. Precious moments. Full of love. Focusing on the positive and letting go of the negative. Looking forward to where we are headed and not looking back to where we have been.

We will continue to pray for the truth to be revealed but we will not dwell on that we cannot change. Tony won't fight it. He never has. He'll sit back and allow his sister to do whatever it is she will do. In the end, I know, that the Lord will prevail. He will take care of it all.

It's going to be a good year.

We will endure the cold while it lasts and bask in the warmth of the sunshine that is to come!

Romantic Interlude

I had a stressful few days. Lots of tension, my oldest is wore out and tired from her newborn. This Mimi is exhausted as well. So my hubby offered to sweep me off of my feet, taking me out of town to a little cabin with the best view, for a night alone. We started a fire. We laid on the couch and snuggled. We talked and we laughed like girlfriends. We had the best brunswick stew and lots of delicious comfort food. Stuffed, toasty and warm. I slept like a babe. He didn't rest well at all. He enjoyed the stay but his back makes it hard on him to sleep anywhere away from home.

We also took Roxy and Suki. They were so well behaved and we all had quality time together.

The fire.

Suki

Our View. So beautiful!

I also want to express how blessed I am to have such great friends. I have one special girl that lets us use her special place that I like to refer to as Paradise on the Mountain Top.  I stood out on the rocks you can't see in the photo above and I lifted my arms to praise my Lord. His presence was there. Our time was golden. I love my husband, his heart, and his efforts. We watched movies together like Dances with Wolves, Young Guns, Due Date, A Week with Marilyn Monroe and some Stevie Nicks. 

This ole girl can't wait until next time.............

Come Alive

 

What makes me alive? Besides the air I breathe?

 My husband.

I don't just say that. I mean it.

He is my rock. He keeps me stable and accountable.

His love is unconditional. When I see myself through his eyes, I see a different me than the one I see when I see through my eyes. He offers me protection and strength. He loves me in spite of all of my imperfections, sometimes I feel he loves me because of them. He doesn't seek to change me. He only wants me to be happy. He always considers me before himself. He expects so little.

 

I no longer take him for granted. I see him through new eyes. My love for him is so deep and my appreciation even deeper. The father he is, the responsibility he takes on, his faithfulness, his longsuffering, the man he is. He deserves so much more than me.

He doesn't feel that way though.

 

20 plus years. Can time really go by so fast? More of my life with him than without. I know no life without him. I never care to.

 

Tony Bowman, I love you. I'm so sorry for each and every mistake I've made. There are many things I would change if I could. But I can't. So I pray, everyday, that the Lord will continue to bond us closer and deepen our love that is growing and we see those days He has planned for us and that my mistakes never take you from me. I want to spend my life, alive, with you, and for you. I love you Mr. Bowman.

 

Thank-You Lord Jesus for my husband.

He helps me to come Alive! 

Pappy, Treyton and the Motorcycle

This kid loves to ride. Poor ole Pappy had been working since 3:30 am this morning. He was tired and wore out. He had already made it in the house, ate, took his shoes and socks off, and sat down to relax for the evening. Then Treyton says, "Pappy, we motorcycle men, let's ride the motorcycle!" How could a tired Pappy say no? Mimi came out with her cell phone to take pictures. The laughter you can't hear in the photos brought sheer joy to my heart. Seeing the look of the awesome rush he felt flying up the road and listening to the roar of the bike made him feel like he was on a rollercoaster I'm sure. His face glowed! Moments like this are priceless. If you look real close on this last picture you can see my Meadow ducking behind her daddy hiding from the camera. At 12 she didn't have her hair fixed or her make-up on and did not want her picture on Facebook or Blogger. God is good.

Absence in May

Sorry I've haven't had a chance to update here during this beautiful month of May.

I'm keeping my precious grandson Monday-Thursday each week and have been keeping a good friend's two little ones here and there as well. That, along with class reunions, the Honduras Coffee Shop on some Friday nights, taking small dates with my sweet husband-riding out onto beautiful land with gorgeous rivers, visiting my dear mother in law and her hubby, cooking dinners and pies. (I've been on a pie kick. Did I tell you that? I don't think I did. Homemade chocolate pies, strawberry pies, oh yummy!).

I try hard to share my adventures here on my blog for various reasons. Mainly as a dairy, so that one day my family, my children, and grandchildren can come back here and read my life in my words. It's a wonderful way to journal memories, thoughts, events, and pictures. The beautiful weather of the month and the many events taking place have detoured me.

I've just been wrapped up in life. It feels good. I cannot explain the welcome feeling I have toward the spring and the summer coming. I immensely enjoy the outdoors. We are talking about trying to get a camping trip together. I love camping next to the rivers in our area. I live in such a beautiful place. I need to spend more time taking pictures and sharing them with you.

Yesterday, I went to the Doctor with my oldest daughter Heaven. She is 16 weeks pregnant. She has been very sick-which reminds me so much of me with my own pregnancies. She has lost weight and not gained. She is beginning to have a few good days here and there, so I'm hoping as she progresses further into her 2nd trimester she will continue to feel better. The next appointment in June we will learn of her babies gender! She has a girls name all picked out but a boys name is nowhere in the future. lol She isn't sharing names just yet, because the last time she shared a girls name that she had chosen it was taken by a close friend. This time, she is savoring it until the last moment.

Savannah has gotten her a car, a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and is working for a friend of mine. She is still hunting another job to fill in the gaps but I'm very proud of her.

Meadow is ready for the summer. Only two more weeks maybe of school?

My husband and I have spent this last year falling in love all over again. July 4th will be our 20th year Anniversary. We have had some great years and just a couple of really down ones. The Lord has held us together tightly and He enables our hearts to be forgiving and understanding. He has given us patience with one another and time, and time has been the best friend to us of everything. Time is a bond in itself. The love we share now is different than the love we shared in the beginning. It's only something that someone who has experienced can understand because words just can't describe the meaning. I'm most thankful for my husband, my very best friend. I love him so much. I have so respect for him. He is such an honorable man. He makes me a better woman. Marriage, it is a wonderful thing. I'm blessed beyond measure that ours has lasted and is still going strong.

I guess in this post what I'm sharing is that I have learned to love life again. For a while there I was so caught up in becoming a nurse that I left all else and forgot how to enjoy life. My happiness depending on passing or failing. For now, I'm taking a break. It's just the 18th of May so the next month may hold a different foretelling. School will either go back June 17th or the middle of September. Me, well I'm going with the flow. I'll decide when the time comes.

For now, I'm going to get in the shower and get ready to go on the mountain. I'm keeping my grandson tonight, picking up my mother-in-law and going to hear my husband sing in his blue grass gospel group and spend some time with the Lord.

(And a note to my sweet friend Debra, thank-you from the bottom of my heart for your comments. They warm my soul and put a smile on my face. Your friendship is precious to me. I apologize for being away so long and missing your encouraging words. Please know that I cherish them. Hugs to you.)

Happy Valentine's Day

Tony got me the BIGGEST card eva for V-day. It was half as big as me. He always gets the girls and I a little something. I love him. Then came the Stargazers and pink roses. My absolute favorite. The stress from nursing school has been so over bearing I took a night off.

Then we all went to Honduras Coffee Shop for their Front Porch Festivities. I needed the break so bad. Heaven and Matt, Matt's family, Tony and I, his friend Barry. We had a ball. And we were home in bed before midnight.

The hubby and I 

My Son in Law's brother David, Me, Heaven.

Barry and Tony

Love is so Sweet

With all of the stress of my life each day it's wonderful to have a day that goes so well. I've made it through 3 of my 4 days of school this week. Definitely not an easy week but it's almost over. This evening I come home and have the most wonderful fellowship with my family. Time spent with Meadow until she went to church and then Tony and I really enjoyed each other's company. Sadly it had been a while since we were able to sit and talk and just laugh and goof off.

It was nice. More than nice...I just don't have words.

In RN nursing school you honestly don't have a life outside of studying. It really makes you appreciate those sweet moments in between.

I've also been working on building my blog up. After going back and reading past posts, it really made me appreciate my accounts of our life. I think I'm doing pretty good with everything I have going on.

I have another quiz in the morning and another test next week. So... short and sweet. it's been a good week.

And an especially good night.....

Happy 45th Birthday Tony

I love you so much!

We spent the day as a family all snuggled in our den. Our heat pump is out and the temps inside dropped below 50 degrees. We moved our mattresses in the den, lit the fireplace and turned on the electric heater to keep warm. Those are the best memories.

Worth Remembering

This is so hard for me to keep in mind. I'm such a peace keeper. I can get angry but the anger never lasts. I am so forgiving. In forgiving, my heart wants to jump out there and and fix the relationships too. Sometimes, things are best left alone. I'm thankful that the Lord has moved the people He has out of my life. People who took from me, used my words against me, talked about me behind my back, and never thought of me as a true friend to begin with. I was laughed and mocked. I was envied and attacked. I was accused when I pursued and tried so hard to offer my all as a friend. I always wondered why I wasn't good enough. But that's okay. The Lord has always had His hand upon me to protect me.

One of my favorite ways the Lord has protected me is through my husband. My husband always shares his heart with me and warns me of what the Lord shows him in the spirit. I've always insisted on learning my own lessons the hard way. It's taken me some time, but in hindsight I can see how right my husband was and I can spend our future trusting his guidance which comes from the Lord. 

So, I don't have to patch up things that other people tore. I just have to forgive and love from the distance God sets between us. And I do still love those that are gone.

God has in turn replaced those people He removed, with people who want me as a friend, appreciate my friendship, and offer me the same friendship and love in return.

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

Early Celebration

We gathered as much of our families as we could, some close friends, and headed to the Outback Steakhouse as a mini early celebration of my precious husband's birthday. We all had the best time. Steak, lobster, blooming onion, coconut shrimp, baked sweet potatoes....ect.... Lots of laughs, numerous trips to the bathroom (with Treyty man), a little arguing with Meadow, and sharing bites of food all around the table- made for a wonderful time. I forgot my camera but thankfully sweet Heaven had hers so a few pictures will come later (soon!). :)

I have had a few days off for some R & R and yesterday was my rest day. I slept almost all day! Today was my relaxation, enjoying good food, friends and family. Tomorrow will be another slow day of both while Monday will be a full study day. Back to the grind as they say.

I will be in one day surgery on Tuesday. I'm nervous and excited.

Right now though, I'm heading to beddy by. I'm exhausted and full. Ha!

UPDATE WITH PICTURES

Me, Hubby and my grandson

My mom, daughter Sky and good friend Tracy

Daddy and Me-I sure love my daddy

Treyton and a little friend he made at Outback.

Sweet hubby and his mom.

Me and hubby again.

Matt my son in love, grandson Treyton and daughter Heaven

Love this picture!

Happy 45th Tony, I sure do love you!

Good times, good times.............

Pictures

Now the room still isn't finished but boy has it come a long, long way. I am still awaiting my computer desk, computer, and little surprise. But, here is the room so far.

First I am going to start with my grandmother's China Hutch. I've had this for a long time and have wanted to do something creative with it but didn't feel I had it in me to do it. I'm at a place now that I'm not afraid of making mistakes and I'm ready to be creative. I plan to sand this down and paint it a brick reddish color and distress it. I'm thinking I'll start this project in the spring. (Ignore Tony's equipment. We are in the process of making a new home for it. hee hee)

We've had this mirror forever, I'm trying to be a little creative with it. Above the picture is an oil painting hanging that my good friend Missy Cummings painted for me. It says: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all the work together for good to them that love God." I'm not sure about the sheer curtain. I have another one identical to it, so there is a possibility that I may change this up. (Tony and Meadow have their guitars in here too!) 

We cleaned up this corner well. I've downsized my homeschooling shelves and books. Meadow has a neat little work place here. Notice her One Direction posters on the wall. She has her own desk for homework and her own shelves (that you can't see for the guitar case) that she will store her sewing machine and supplies on. 

The color doesn't show here but the wall is a bright aqua and I have a lot of neat little things to add that will blend this bricky red color with it. I love these curtains. I bought them years ago from J.C.Penney when I was homeschooling. The table and chairs here are going to go when I find the perfect love seat, chaise lounge or oversized chair and ottoman. I think that will give them room more of a study feel. 

Here is the wall that my desk will go against. We debated not using my large map but I love it so much we decided to go ahead and make it a part of the room. Oh and notice the carpet remnant! Isn't it huge and nice? I love it. It's beautiful and great quality and feels wonderful under your bare feet. Oh and there is my dear hubby playing his guitar. :)

I will post more pictures later this week after we get my desk and computer set up. I'm very well pleased with my room. It's still plain, and it will be a process of adding little things along the way, I look forward to it.

Happy Sunday! I'm going to study.

Saturday Night Update

We worked on the study all evening. We cleaned it out and laid the carpet. It looks wonderful. I did a little tweaking and I can't wait to post pictures. Everything came together quick and nice.

We went back to Granny's Attic so that Tony could see the black desk that I had spotted Friday with Heaven. He made sure it was sturdy and he really liked it. For the price it's going to be ridiculous to try and wait for the other light green desk. So I'm going to go with the black one. I also found a neat surprise today to go with the desk but I'm not sharing until everything is in place!

The new computer should be here soon, so my completion date should be by the end of the week. Tony and I have really worked together well on this project. I would post a couple of pics of today's updates but I'm exhausted. I'll get to that tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, it'll be a long study day for me. School is back in session on Monday!

It's Friday Night, I Guess that Makes Alright.....

You're daggone right it does! Friday night. We had dinner date plans to go to Mexican and then on to Honduras to hear our sweet friend Marcie sing. But, as the time drew near for me to get ready and I sat here on my comfy couch, under my soft, warm, heating blanket-a gift from my dear hubby-the chill in the air convinced me that we needed to stay in tonight. Thankfully, Tony felt the same way. So here we sit at home together in our nice warm den watching T.V, me blogging and waiting on our take out from Mexican. Now that's a dinner date. Kiddos are out and about and the house is quiet. That is something you really come to appreciate when your youngest-3rd child- is 11.

Winter time.

Christmas break.

Relaxation.

Warmth.

Togetherness.

Peace.

God is so good to me.

Thank-You Father. Thank-You for Friday nights. Alone at home with the hubby.

I don't think there could be a better date night, in the cold winter.......

Christmas 2012

We had an awesome Christmas. Wonderful family time. This year we had a new appreciation for each other. It's hard without Nannie and Papa West. It's so different. But I looked around the room and seen their legacy. Such a huge legacy. Then I looked at sweet Landri and my heart was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the Lord's healing touch. I'm so thankful for every member of our family, and every spouse, and every friend. I'm thankful for every moment, every memory. I cherish my time with them.

Yes, Christmas was awesome this year.

I've enjoyed my off time thoroughly. It took me a few days to wind down. I was so stressed coming out of last semester. I have a lot of peace going into this one. I do have a lot of studying to do which will commence on Saturday.

2012 held many events for us.

I was accepted to nursing school. Savannah Sky spent a month in Ethiopia and a month in Uganda. She also graduated. A whole year early. Who would have ever dreamed? Landri was diagnosed with a brain tumor and then healed, never having to go through radiation. Tony and I enjoyed our 19th Anniversary. Heaven turned 22, Savannah Sky turned 17, Meadow turned 11 and my sweet Treyton turned 2.

I'm really looking forward to 2013.

I have some Christmas pictures but Meadow's camera is missing in action. Hopefully it'll turn up soon.

Looking forward to the New Year!

Sunday, Glorious Sunday!

What a wild weekend. Storms have been coming since Friday night. Tony and I were caught out in 80 miles an hour winds on the motorcycle. I prayed in the Spirit the whole way home. God had His mighty hand upon us the entire way.

This morning we attended services at T.R.A.S.H. ministries. I love hearing Mike Price teach on love. That has been the unplanned theme the past few weeks. Generally their services are on Friday nights and this week they've begun services on the 1st Sunday of each month at 9a.m. I love T.R.A.S.H. and the people in it. They are truly like a family that I am honored to be a part of.

Riding the bike with my husband Tony is such a bonding time for us. Alone time where we sometimes have sweet chats while observing God's creations with the wind blowing in our faces. Other times we can ride in silence with no words needed. Just the presence of my husband, his warmth, his strong arms leading us down the road. He's taught me so much about the Lord. He's taught me to lean on him, to trust him, and to follow him. For so many years I tried so hard to be the leader and I was simply miserable. I am at such a great point of peace and happiness in my life. I am so incredibly blessed. My husband has taught me of unconditional love and how the Lord loves us at all times through everything. He is a great man.

When we left T.R.A.S.H. and went on to Well Spring Fellowship. We had communion. It had been a while for me. It was so sweet. What an amazing praise and worship service we experienced. The Spirit of God is so sweet and consuming. My own hungry spirit was fed and set on fire.

Then Tony and I rode to have a delicious lunch together. We thought the storms would catch us once again on the motorcycle but we missed the rain and had a very peaceful, windy ride home.

We were hoping to hear from sweet Savannah today but I suppose as deep as they are in the jungles of Ethiopia, it will be a while before we hear from her. We are trusting her with her Father and lifting her up in prayers and thoughts until we connect again.

Our scripture today that brought me to my knees in repentance follows. How heavy my heart was as the Word of God was read aloud. How deep my repentance was. How sweet was His merciful forgiveness. I praise You Father!

Ephesians 5

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Imitate God

5 Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. ² Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.

³ Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people. ⁴ It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks to God. ⁵ You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey him. ⁷ Don’t be partners with them.
⁸ Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light. ⁹ Light produces everything that is good, that has God’s approval, and that is true. ¹⁰ Determine which things please the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the useless works that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. ¹² It is shameful to talk about what some people do in secret. ¹³ Light exposes the true character of everything ¹⁴ because light makes everything easy to see. That’s why it says:

    “Wake up, sleeper!
        Rise from the dead,
            and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. ¹⁶ Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants. ¹⁸ Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit ¹⁹ by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts. ²⁰ Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ Place yourselves under each other’s authority out of respect for Christ.

Happy Anniversary Tony! 18 Years and Counting

I woke up this morning to sweet kisses from my hubby. Then he pulled out his guitar and began playing and singing the absolute sweetest song I've ever heard in my life. He'd written me this song.

Tony hasn't been playing long and he's worked so very hard to get where he is. I know what it took for him to write and play that song for me. Tony is the greatest man in the world. Money has never been something we have an abundance of, so Tony has always gotten creative for our anniversary. He looks deep into his heart and comes up with the most romantic ways to tell me he loves me. He's like a romance novel come true.

Real love.

Deep love.

True love.

I don't know what in this world I'd ever do without him. He's the greatest. I know God created us for each other. He knew exactly what I would need and I am very needy. Only the Lord could have so gracefully prepared a man such as Tony for a woman such as me.

Happy Anniversary baby. I love you more and more everyday.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Tony. I am so proud of you. You are such a loyal, loving, caring father. I admire you. I'm so thankful that the Lord has seen fit to bless me and each one of my girls with you. And Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!

Remember my birthday?

It was just the other day. I was not going to share this but my oldest daughter insisted.

She had come to visit me that day and someone had walked through my front door calling, 'Hello..Hello, is there anyone home?' She greeted them to find that they were delivering a vase of flowers for me for my birthday. She brought them in to me and my facial expression didn't change. Um, who were they from I wondered? We read the card and it was from my precious sweet dear husband.

Most of you are going....awww.

Not me.

They were so ugly.

Here is what they looked like.

Well maybe I would not have thought that had it been a different occasion, but I was turning 39 this year. These were not the flowers I love. To me, they reminded me of a funeral arrangement. Getting ready to hit my 40's hasn't been easy for me either. They are orange asiatic lilies with a purple flower for garnish, a green vase with a burgundy ribbon. The lilies were not in full bloom yet, so they would have lasted a while but there was no smell. None. They looked like a fall flower and the burgundy just does not go with the orange and purple, the purple does not go with the orange. I just couldn't see paying money for this arrangement.

My hubby called and I tried so hard to pretend that I loved them. He asked me to send him a picture of them and that excited me because I just knew when he seen them he was going to see how ugly they were and call the florist. There had to be a mistake. He called later and told me that they were nice, and he asked me if they smelled good.

That is when I broke. "No," I answered, "They stink!"

Oh my.

So I went ahead and explained the dilemma and asked him if I could return them to the florist. He told me to go ahead.

I returned them to the florist and I know that lady thought I was crazy. She is actually a friend of mine. She said, "You actually told your husband that they were ugly?"

Well, I wasn't trying to be rude or ungrateful. I know that many of you are probably reading and would think that the gesture alone was enough. And it was. Sort of.

I knew what he meant to send but that particular florist couldn't get them in time. So I took my refunded money and went to the next town and purchased the flowers that I knew my sweet husband meant to send.

This is what I got. 

Now, those of you who know me and have been reading my blog from the beginning have to know what a flower lover I am. Every single blog design has been flower themed. From tulips to roses to fields of flowers. So just to let you know how picky I really am, I did not like the purple or red in this arrangement either.

Gasp! ( My family was not surprised!) 

I wanted pinks and whites. I love the babies breath, I love the pink roses and I adore the stargazer lilies but I didn't understand why the florist insisted on adding the rest.

So there this what I did. 

I separated the arrangement into two arrangements. I pulled all of the red, purple and some white out to create a different vase. It reminds me of a friendship vase. The stargazer lilies and roses speak boldly to me. They seem to scream celebrate! Whether it be love or happy birthdays, they simply take my breath away.

I also went one step further and ordered myself this....

This cake was divine. Mmmmm makes me wish I had a piece right now. Mmmmm

Thankfully since my husband and I have been married for 17 years and he knows me well, he understood-sort of- after the initial shock- that I wasn't being ungrateful and that I did NOT mean to hurt his feelings. I simply want what I want sometimes. I like what I like and in simple things like flowers if I can fix it, well....I fix it. 

I am a very spoiled wife. I have the greatest husband in the world. 

Tony, I want to thank-you for putting up with me. For loving me. For spoiling me so. I love you so much and this truly was the best birthday ever. 

And just so you know, my stargazer lilies are STILL blooming and putting off there sweet smell in my home. I smile every single morning that I come in and sit down in my spot on the couch beside them. 

Check these out....

Happy Birthday to me! 

Our 16th Anniversary-Chateau Morrisette

This is one of my most favorite places to go. It's pricey and last year was the first time we actually dined in at the restaurant. Tony and I decided that we would try to do this as our own little date thing each year for our anniversary. This place is absolutely gorgeous. I dream of one day owning land off of the parkway near these places we love to visit.

The Chateau Morrisette Winery

Inside of the winery

Where you do tastings

Inside chandelier

Entrance

Me by the outside waterfall

Again

Walking from the winery to the restaurant

beautiful

place for the kids to play

the sandbox

The restaurant

again

The sign over the doorway entering the restaurant

Tony waiting for us to be seated

Outdoor dining area

again

The view from our table

Tony viewing the menu

I completely forgot to take a picture of the Manhattan style Clam Chowder, fresh sour dough bread and garlic butter. These dishes below are from the appetizers that came after the soup and after we'd eaten them. We had the chef's choice of 3 different scallops, one with a dill sauce, one with fruit salsa and another with a buttery sauce. Then we had the low country jumbo crab fondue that was accented with roasted red peppers, sweet corn and served with grilled pita bread. You can see why we devoured these before thinking to take pictures!

My entree was the slow roasted prime rib of beef, a 13 oz cut of choice rib served with Yukon gold potatoes and a creamy horseradish sauce. It was delicious. I love the horseradish sauce.

Tony's entree was the shrimp and grits with black tiger shrimp sauteed in Cajun spices and served over organic, stone ground grits smothered with Carolina low country gravy with andouilla sausage, tasso ham, bell pepper, scallions, and tomatoes served with grilled country bread. This dish was my favorite. The grits were nothing like we'd ever eaten before and it simply melted in your mouth.

This was after the meal, a nice couple offered to take our picture together for us.

Again.

For dessert we had Jeremy's Coconut Cake served with grilled pineapple and fresh pineapple coulis. The cake part reminded me of an angel food cake, not at all like the southern coconut cakes that we are used to, so this wasn't my favorite. Couple with the delicious whipped topping and pineapple made it delectable. I had never eaten grilled pineapple and this will definitely be something we try at home.

This was leaving the restaurant. I think this walkway is so romantic. There is ivy growing all along the inner walls.

Well, thats it. We had a wonderful time. I believe the next trip we take will be for the Sunday Buffet! I should have gotten more pictures of the flowers too.