June 29, 2016

Celebrating Twenty Five Years

Where shall I begin? Words seem inadequate in this case. I mean, how do I express through words the extreme love and pride I felt for my children this past Sunday afternoon? Perhaps photos will better convey my feelings. Yet even the best photo, I fear, would fail to illustrate the feeling behind the happy tears I shed when I walked in our door and realized what the four precious souls Steve and I brought into this world did for us. Here. Let me show you...

Here is the Snapchat I took as Steve and I set out to visit his Mum in her nursing home and grab some lunch Sunday afternoon.  I called the kids a few times throughout the afternoon, and was told they had macaroni and cheese for lunch and were playing a game of Trivial Pursuit.

Fast forward a few hours, and here we are returning home.
To a surprise, beautiful, intimate Twenty-fifth Anniversary Dinner planned, prepared and hosted by my four amazing children. With one Danish boyfriend lending a hand.
I was totally surprised.
And overwhelmed.
And proud.
As was Steve, who is holding a loaf of bread which the kids asked us to pick up for the grilled cheese sandwiches were we supposedly having for dinner. : )

It was amazing.
My children know me well.
They know I don't feel comfortable with a fuss being made over me.
They know my love of home and family.
We celebrated with our family and my dear mother, sister Margie, and her husband Chris.
Perfect.

Look.
Look what they did.
For their father and me.
All on their own.
And the cake?

You guessed it.
Peyton made it.
And Madison helped her decorate it.
They decorated it to resemble our own wedding cake.
And it did.
And it was delicious.

We cut it together, just as we did twenty five years ago.

Everything was beautiful...





We drank this...no one cares for champagne in this house...
and dined on delicious Baked Ziti, Garlic Toast and Tossed Salad.
Made by Peyton. : )

Then we opened our present.
They presented us with the most beautiful engraved silver platter.
And Kathleen...they specifically referenced The Brady Bunch episode for the idea!

After that we had cake.
And it was honestly better than any wedding cake I have ever had.
Honestly.

It was the most special afternoon I can imagine.
To see what our children accomplished for us.
To think these are the little souls we brought home from the hospital and celebrated with so much joy.
Now...on this day...they celebrated us.
It was perfect.
My family, my sister and her husband, my dearest mother.
My heart sighed for a moment missing my dad.
But somehow, I felt he was there.
Just as he was twenty five years ago.
And I know he is as happy and grateful as we are that through those twenty five years, the two of us became this...

The six of us.
Plus two dogs.
And a boyfriend named Nicolas.

Thank you, my children.

Thank you Madison for thinking of this, and for organizing it and for ordering and purchasing everything. And for helping Peyton with the cake.

Thank you Peyton for preparing the delicious meal and baking that amazing cake. And for helping Flynn get dressed and ready. Exactly as I would have.

Thank you Rhett for doing everything the girls asked you to do. For getting the drinks ready and emptying the trash. And for always going along with whatever idea the girls dream up.

And thank you Flynn. Thank you for being such a good helper. And for being such a grown young lady at our surprise dinner. And for helping set the table.

Thank you my children.
For one of the happiest days of my life. : )









30 comments:

  1. You have taught your children well. Everything looked beautiful and I know it was good. What a special day for you and hubby.

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  2. What a lovely celebration! Your children are so thoughtful! Congratulations on 25 wonderful years!

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  3. How beautiful friend...Congratulations on 25 years. smiles

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  4. Wow! Happy 25th Anniversary again and you are incredibly blessed! The surprise celebration down to the cake and menu, decorations, etc. looks and sounds amazing! Your face is pure joy and you know you have done right when your own children do this for you! Oh I sure hope when our girls are older that they would do this. I'm so glad you have shared! Much love and blessings to you, your hubby and whole family!

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  5. Now that was beautiful, what an amazing celebration. You have raised them well. Once again congratulations.

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  6. Wow! Happy 25th Anniversary again and you are incredibly blessed! The surprise celebration down to the cake and menu, decorations, etc. looks and sounds amazing! Your face is pure joy and you know you have done right when your own children do this for you! Oh I sure hope when our girls are older that they would do this. I'm so glad you have shared! Much love and blessings to you, your hubby and whole family!

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    1. I don't know why my comments keep doubling! I'm so sorry for that. I don't know how its happening and I'm only clicking publish once!

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  7. Beautiful! Happy 25th Anniversary! Many many more blessed years! Thank you for sharing. A testament to you and husband for raising such wonderful children.Priceless.

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  8. Tears in my eyes! Really. You have done such a good job raising those kids. What a celebration of your love and theirs. I just love this!

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  9. Lovely!! Totally made me tear up! What a wonderful and thoughtful surprise!

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  10. What a blessing to have your children honor you in such a lovely way!

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  11. Love all of this!! What a wonderful afternoon spent with your beautiful family!
    Happy Anniversary my beautiful friend!❤️

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  12. Awwwww... this made me tear up! What a beautiful loving family God has gifted to you!

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  13. Ok, I take my last comment from your last post back.
    THIS is my favorite post of yours. Oh my goodness. I had the biggest smile on my face reading about yours and Steve's day and all the love that went into the planning for it. Your kids are the BEST. Love you all!!
    And before you even said it, when I read "silver platter" the Brady Bunch episode was already in my head! We think alike.
    Congratulations on 25 years!! Catch a hug.

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  14. Oh how wonderful!!!! What a fabulous way to celebrate your wonderful marriage and lovely family all in one! Here's to many more happy years!

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  15. Another post I'm crying at? Really, I am.... you are so blessed you two. I can't even put into words. Guess what? It doesn't surprise me that those beautiful children did that for you two. That's who you raised. Down to Flynn's beautiful dress... every little detail. Oh Madison, Peyton, Rhett, Flynn, one Danish boyfriend, and two dogs... you did good... darn good!

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  16. Good morning Billie Jo,

    I am a day late, but I am so glad that I made it over here to see this grand event. I am very impressed with all that your children thought up and prepared for the two of you. What a happy anniversary indeed! Yes, you are truly blessed a precious family. It all is lovely!

    May God continue to bless you and Steve in your marriage.
    ♥Hope

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  17. Oh my goodness!!! Your kids!!! How thoughtful and sweet and absolutely perfect!!

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  18. Wow, this is amazing!! You did a great job raising those four kiddos, I can only imagine the pride you felt when you walked in and saw all they had done for you and your husband. What a wonderful gift! Happy 25 years!!

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  19. Happy Anniversary!!! This is the sweetest, most amazing treat! The look on your face walking in the door is priceless! What wonderful children you have! I am so happy for you!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥

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  20. Oh my goodness, your amazing children! It looks perfect from here and I know you're so proud of them, and the boyfriend. That cake!

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  21. Happy silver anniversary! What a beautiful milestone, and such a lovely dinner to celebrate. Your kids did a great job!

    My husband and I celebrated our 30th back in February. Marriage isn't always easy, but persevering through the difficulties makes it even stronger.

    Blessings,
    Patti @ Embracing Home

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  22. Oh my GOSH!! What amazing children you have I am so impressed and overjoyed for you. They truly took great efforts to make your 25th anniversary very special, which goes to show how special they are. I'm glad you captured the pictures because they will be forever treasured.

    Happy Anniversary my friend!!

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  23. That's so awesome!! Happy Anniversary!

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  24. Oh how wonderful! I'm sure you're very proud, especially that Rhett is now working! I will be excited when our oldest, now 11, starts working. I started a caking business 5 years ago and posed it to raise the girls fulltime and will be starting back part time when they're older to get some work ethic skills! How fun! Those cookies and pie? *drooling*
    Everything looks amazing, thank you for sharing! I can't wait to start seeing you Fall posts soon! Time is flying and will be here before we know it! That is the time I truly become "alive', lol! Happy 4th of July! 😍💗

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  25. Oh Billie Jo - this is just so magical, and touching, and sweet. Great job parents on raising such amazing kiddos!! Such a memorable and special day. And congrats on 25 years again dear Friend!! xoxo

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  26. Oh how beautiful. What a blessing. Oh....the cake...and everything. So precious.

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  27. How absolutely beautiful and what wonderful children you have! xx

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  28. AWE that is so sweet! I may or may not have got teary eyed. Thank you for sharing, what wonderful children you have. the look on your faces as you were walking in is priceless!

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo