Anatomy of a 60th birthday celebration

So, I turned 60 years old on March 5.
It seems like that is old, but I know differently.  It isn't.  I can still get up and go.  When I can't move, then I will be OLD.  I'm pain free and feeling so blessed! My new knee is doing great and I feel like a forty year old!

Here is how it played out:
March 3
Rick surprised me with tickets to see the acapella group Pentatonix at the UVU center.  We enjoyed the concert, but I would have enjoyed it more if they would have turned down the volume and let their beautiful vocals and harmony shine through. Such talented people, but I guess my age may be showing.

March 4
Went to lunch with a friend from work for my birthday.  I also got to hear my darling girl Sofia (daughter of an Argentine mission companion) defend her thesis speaking English (not her native language) for her Master's degree.  Awesome job!

March 5  -  60 years old!
My office pals treated me to banana cream pie (which I had for breakfast) and decorated my office.
Met Rick for lunch at Noodles & Co.  He gave me a dozen beautiful red roses and a sweet letter.
Got ready to head out on my birthday adventure with my mom, sisters, daughter-in-law and nieces.
Headed to the fabulous home of my cousin Janis and her husband Corey for a birthday adventure
with Jamie, Madi and Mom, later joined by Lee, Jessica and Chelsea.  She gave me the most beautiful pink and green flower bouquet.  We all appreciated the kindness and generosity of Corey and Janis in letting us use their get-away home for this celebration.
Got settled, chatted, ate dinner, played games, sat in the hot tub
Just before turning in I read the amazing messages my kids posted on social media for my birthday and the other birthday wishes and had some tears of gratitude before falling asleep for my wonderful family and friends and for their love and support.  Read some cards and letters people sent me, including my sweet husband.  More overwhelming feels of gratitude and happiness. I'm so humbled by the kindnesses shown to me.

March 6
Went on a brisk morning walk with Lee and Jessica and chatted
Met Janet, Sydney and Tina for lunch at the Springville Trolley restaurant
Toured the Springville Art Museum
Returned back to the house, made an Easter craft provided by Margie, my super creative SIL
Lindsey, Rachel and Chelsea arrived
Enjoyed dinner, birthday strawberry shortcake and a Vonnie trivia game
More visiting and laughs
Back to the hot tub

March 7
Another long walk with lots of chatting
Make-up demonstration by Chelsea
Cleaned up, took pictures, departed
Lunch at the Thai Drift restaurant -  Rick, Janis, Kathleen, Robin, Deborah, Kate and Pat joined the group, 19 in all, yummy lunch hosted by Rick, kind tributes shared by all (thank you everyone!)
Shopping afterwards at the Traverse Mountain Outlets
Watched three episodes of Downton Abbey season 1 with Chelsea who hasn't seen any! She's hooked!

March 8
Sunday birthday dinner at Andy and Chelsea's apartment.  Enjoyed a delicious meal and a visit from cousin Rom and his new girlfriend.

I'm such a lucky 60 year old.  I have my health, my family, the love of a good man and so many extended family members and friends who make my life so rich and enjoyable. I'm so happy and grateful.

Brooke gets married!

We had such a great time celebrating the marriage of our darling niece Brooke and her island husband Danny a couple of weeks ago.  They live in Kauai, Hawaii and they came back to Utah for a winter wedding.  My SIL Margie and her daughter Megan killed themselves putting on a beautiful wedding and reception.  It was so creative and fun.  We wish Brooke and Dan much happiness. 

Happy birthday Vonnie

Happy Birthday, Vonnie!!

Since Vonnie would not want to toot her own horn, I get to toot it.  I want all you to know that it is her birthday today, March 5, 2015.  I don't think she would mind my telling you that she is three score years old.  Please drop her a note on the blog, wishing her a happy birthday.

This blog has been a source of inspiration, information, humor, pathos, and interest for so many for so long.  Vonnie is a great thinker, and a wonderful writer.  She enjoys learning, and enjoys a good discussion, and many of her blog posts have been for you a source of conversation and interest.  I hope she continues to blog and keep us posted for a long time.

It is the joy of my life to be married to Von.  She is good through and through.  Her motivations are pure.  She loves service, and has provided service to thousands through her work, church work, and, most importantly, through her family relationships.  She would rather watch plays than television, and she would rather read than watch television.  When she watches movies on television, she will watch several at a time.  She doesn't necessarily like exercise, but she does it.  She didn't used to like food, but now she does.  She loves black licorice and Thai food.  She is devoted to her family, and has spent her best efforts raising her kids.  She dotes on the grandkids, and they all love "Grandma Vonnie."  She is spiritual, but doesn't wear her religion on her sleeve.  She is practical, has great common sense, and knows what to do in every situation.  She is seldom, if ever, at a loss for how to do things.

In short, she is just about perfect, in this writer's opinion.  Happy birthday, Vonnie, and many, many more!

Rick

February goal report

1.  Attend all 15 temples in Utah, attend the temple twice a month        January - Salt Lake City with Stephanie as she received her endowment, Phoenix temple
       February - Monticello temple, Provo temple
2.  read the Ensign every month
      January - check
      February - check
3.  dejunk, clean and organize my home
4.  update all my photo albums, label and date them
5.  start writing my personal history
6.  sew something for each grandchild
     made Lizzie an apron
     made Will a Superman cape
7.  sew my Christmas presents
8.  spend more time in my yard gardening, etc.
9.  walk 10,000 steps 5 days a week (thanks to my new FitBit this will be measurable!)
     I'm averaging about 6,000 steps over five days a week, thanks to my FitBit for keeping track.           I need to kick that up once I can get outside more.  Not doing as well as I would like to.
10.  Lose 15 pounds
     Lost the two I put on plus one more.  Moving in the right direction now. Slowly.
11.  Read 15 books
       Orphan Train
       Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
       Mary, the Mother of Jesus
12.  support and love my mother more in her advancing years
       Visited Mom at her home and took her to the Hardware Ranch, a place she use to visit as a child,  call her several time a week
13.  strengthen the relationships with people I care about
Went to breakfast with a Kathleen, attended a concert with Shelley, Kevin, Marie and Cydnee, went to dinner at the Dixon's home, babysat for Adam and Syd so they could have a break, invited Cydnee over for a sleepover, visited Jordan and Jake and family, attended Kate's welcome home, went to the airport, went to lunch with LaRita, attended a benefit dinner with the Lindleys, visited Claire and R and family, visited Sarah F., had the Densley's over for dinner, attended a bridal shower for Brooke, threw a birthday luncheon for Kathleen, attended and helped at Brooke's wedding reception
14.  serve at UVU in the Women's Success Center board
Met for two board meetings and contributed.  Signed up to mentor three college students, got training and met with them individually (one widowed mother of five, one 18 year old, one 20 year old from a troubled family) to help them work towards receiving a college degree, attended more meetings and met with my mentees and provided breakfast
15.  finish visiting the rest of the 50 states I haven't been to including: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma

Kathleen

I want to give a special shout out to my friend Kathleen.  She is one of those people who is just so easy to be around.  She is a person of character and substance.  She gets things.  She understands how things work and she is positive, funny and realistic.  Kathleen doesn't complain about her marital status and dwell on what she doesn't have.  She is positive and delightful. She is a great athlete and can play many sports.  She is a true believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ and she demonstrates by the way that she lives, that she is a follower of Christ.  She has the best heart and is kind, compassionate and giving to so many people in different ways.  She quietly goes about doing good.  We've been friends for 30 years and it was been a great blessing in my life to call her friend.
She built a home in our neighborhood 30 years ago.  She wasn't married and decided to just get on with her life by building her own home, moving into a family LDS ward and moving forward in life. I had the privilege of serving with her in many callings with young women in the ward and stake where we live.  She has impeccable judgement and can be depended on to do what she says she will do.  Those are qualities I greatly admire.
She has served youth all of her life as a high school teacher, a coach, a mentor and an example of a righteous woman.  Besides being a high school teacher, she has worked in different businesses and has excelled in whatever she has tried to do.  I admire her keen mind and understanding of investing and saving money (among other skills she has.)
I'm privileged to be her friend and look forward to continued involvement in the years ahead.  She is truly one of a kind and I love her like a sister.  Happy 60th birthday my friend! We are 13 days apart in age and figure we must have known each other in heaven when we waited our turn to come to earth.  She agreed to let me organize a little birthday party for her and it was so fun to sit around the table with some of her family and friends and hear them say great things about her.  I cherish her friendship.