November 28, 2022

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

 


Good Monday morning! Thanksgiving 2022 is but a memory now. We enjoyed the roast turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, and pumpkin pie for days. The fridge is now empty of leftovers and pretty much everything else, and the tablecloth is washed, folded, and stored away until next year. Suddenly, it is Christmastime! We have only a few weeks to enjoy Christmas music in the car, twinkling tree lights in the evening, nostalgic shows on television, and that general joyous feeling reserved for this time of year. I say this not to incite fear or a sense of panic but instead as a reminder that the joy of time of year is specific to each of us and our families, as is how we choose to spend it. This year, I choose simplicity, introspection, intention, and calm. That works for me, but not for all. Some people wait all year for the excitement, the shopping, the parties, and the crowds. That is joyous for them. Enjoy your time with your people, for it passes quicker than Santa flies back up the chimney.

Before the Christmas celebration began here, we celebrated the birthday of my firstborn, Madison Marie! My Madison turned 26, and as I type those numbers, I still remember all the excitement, happiness, and joy we felt in a hospital room on a snowy November evening. I remember holding the baby I had dreamed of and thinking she was mine. I was her mother. Madison has brought us joy from that day on, and I am so proud to be her mom and her friend.

Her husband Nicolas planned an entire party for her, which was amazing! Nicolas prepared the most delicious food ever! My favorite? Smoked salmon and cheese spread with radish on Brioche bread for an appetizer. And the dinner was fresh pasta with vodka sauce with the most delicious tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad. He served us and cleaned all the dishes. It was the most beautiful party for my wonderful girl. 


The cake? Oh, the cake! Madison is perhaps the biggest Taylor Swift fan ever, and Nicolas was inspired by a cake in one of Taylor's videos. He sent the picture to Peyton, and...well, I'll just show you.
This is the picture from the video...


And this is the cake that Peyton made...



Madison was so happy!





It was delicious.

 Just a little note to any mom who feels sad that her daughter is growing up. I validate you. I do. But allow me to let you in on a little secret. Grown children are a whole new kind of wonderful. Your child becomes your friend. You will step back and let others do things for them out of love, which will bring you so much happiness. I promise. 


Well, time for me to pour another cup and get going with my day. Today I plan on finishing my laundry, so my bathroom will be ready for the yucky hunting camp laundry. I also have some lesson planning to do. This week is pretty quiet except for tomorrow when my little Mocha goes to the vet for dental surgery to clean and extract some of her teeth. Poor little thing. She will be at the vet most of the day. I am nervous for her, but I believe in the people there who know much more than I do.

Have a cozy day, my friends. 
Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo












24 comments:

  1. The food and cake for the Birthday girl look amazing!! I actually think the cake looks better than the original. This is my favorite time of year so you know I'm trying to focus on each day so it doesn't go too quickly. Have a great week Billie Jo.

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  2. Happy Monday my friend! We celebrated my daughter Lauren's 21st birthday just yesterday. I can appreciate what you said about how your grown children become your friends. It is such a blessing. Hugs to you and Merry Christmas!!!

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  3. Happy Birthday to Madison! Her cake is gorgeous and the dinner looks amazing! Thank you for the sweet reminder about growing children - I needed to hear that today. My daughter was talking with a friend last night and her friend asked where she might want to go to college and I was like No, it's too soon to think about that. It makes me sad that she is growing up, but also happy in so many ways for the wonderful young lady she is becoming. And we really are great friends too - which I am so thankful for! Have a great day! Enjoy the start of this wonderful Christmas season.

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  4. I love this post, and I love YOU! ❤️❤️❤️

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  5. That cake was identical! Great job Peyton! What a beautiful party, Happy Birthday Madison! Glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving... and now Christmas!

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  6. Happy birthday to Madison!!! Such a lovely party! And I think Peyton's cake looks even better than the one in the video!

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  7. It's Christmastime!.....the most magical time of year. And your side bars are so cute for the season. Happy Birthday to Madison. Peyton made her a fabulous cake. I love the color! The pasta dinner looks so delicious. And I noticed that picture of Santa in Madison's house. I love that! Looks like the original Santa.

    Have a blessed week, Billie Jo.

    ~Sheri

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  8. Happy new week to you Billie Jo! It was a lovely Thanksgiving (minus some poor sickies) - and I loved just dwelling on the abundant blessings in my life. God is so good! I want a bit of it all this year. The introspection and some of the parties and fun. ;) And Happy Birthday to Madison! Such a beautiful and talented young Lady. What Nicholas did was amazing and so special (& Peyton too!). And I agree about our kiddos growing up and becoming friends and blessings in whole new ways in our lives. 💗

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  9. Oh Madison! I was so happy for her to get Taylor Swift tickets. I tried for so many hours and kept getting kicked out and tickets would fly out of my cart. What an excellent birthday cake to celebrate her and her love for Taylor!

    So glad you had a good weekend and I hope Mocha is back in your lap soon!!

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  10. Happy birthday to your beautiful Madison! My oldest just turned 40! Hard to believe, and time passes quickly. You are right, grown kids are a blessing of another kind.
    The cake is so pretty!

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  11. Happy birthday to Madison! Her cake is gorgeous (kudos to Peyton!) Today we are celebrating Rebecca's 16th birthday! I hope you have a wonderful week my friend!

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  12. I love this so much! Nicolas went about and beyond! And that cake!!! Peyton outdid herself! How special! All of it!!! Happy Birthday to Madison. She is such a special person with a heart of gold and a beautiful soul! Miss you all! xx

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  13. Hi Billie Jo! What a wonderful birthday celebration for Madison! The cake and everything else looks delicious. So glad you had such a lovely Thanksgiving. Have a good week. See you again soon!

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  14. Such a good dinner for your daughter Morgan via her husband ❤️. Peyton made a delicious looking cake. I enjoy asking cakes myself from scratch not boxed. Our daughter will be 43 next month. She still lives with us as it's too expensive for her to buy a house or rent an apartment. We have mostly a good time together.
    It's Beginning to look alot like Christmas 🎄 , Becky

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  15. Oh poor Mocha - hope she is not feeling under the weather too long after her surgery. The dentist is the worst, Mocha!! And happiest wishes to your birthday girl. What a gorgeous cake! Such a special day. Glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving - and I am with you...I am choosing calm! Keep me away from all the frenzy.....

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  16. Hi Billie Jo! i also had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We enjoy time with family, and view it as the opening of Christmas for us! The birth of our Savior! Your daughter is beautiful! What a wonderful husband, to plan and do all the work for her birthday! And that beautiful cake! I believe as you,,,,calm and peace for us! I always order gifts online, and save us going out!

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  17. I feel the same as you do about Christmas. The quieter and calmer, remembering the Christ-child and the gift that He gave to us is the most important in our life. I'm completely done with gifts as I made most of them. Well, I'm still working on a sweater I'm knitting for our oldest, my daughter, who will understand if I wrap it and the needles are still in it! She's a knitter too. :-) This year I made 90% of the gifts we're giving because I'm trying to get away from the material thing about Christmas and make the gifts, gifts made with love.
    Your beautiful daughter sounds like she has a very caring husband. The party sounds like it was wonderful and the cake Peyton made is a perfect replica. How special Madison must have felt that night. You are blessed.
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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  18. We are so grateful this year. We have 3 parties on 3 consecutive nights. Since they are all drastically different crowds, one weekend and one outfit (barring any spills) will suffice. Then we will have the remainder of the season with no obligations other than being with family. It is perfect.
    The photos of the birthday look wonderful. I agree adult children are as much fun, it is just different fun.

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  19. Happy Birthday to Madison! I know she makes you so proud! What a gorgeous cake…and her husband really outdid himself. So glad to hear Thanksgiving was wonderful for y’all. I’m also trying to slow down and savor this upcoming holiday season, I sure hope sweet little Mocha is doing ok. I’m a day late reading this but hope all is well!

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  20. Your family is so beautiful. You are very blessed my friend.

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  21. Happy Birthday to, Madison!! What a birthday party, and what a beautiful cake, Payton is such a gifted baker! The dinner looks delicious as well, but the company looks better. You are so right, Billie Jo, your grown children are such a blessing...they will always be our babies, but they bring just joy as adults. hugs

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  22. Happy Birthday Madison! Beautiful cake indeed!

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  23. Happy birthday Madison! So glad you were with your family to celebrate all together!!

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo