Birthday Gifts!!!!

Well, I promise ya'll could gawk at all my treasures from the birthday party..... here they are!!!

These are all the cards...and they really meant a lot to me - I sat down Sunday afternoon and read each one and just cried my eyes out....ya'll are so sweet - I love all of you!!!!!

These are from Angela - I call her Brandi's friend, but she is my friend too, just Brandi's age...I think this was the show stopper - these iron work crosses to go on the brick wall in my patio that Paula is decorating.....two big crosses and see the little black one at the bottom...I just love them.
About 5 blogs ago I featured some purses from Sam Moon's that I really liked, Cynthia, one of the ladies I work with, ordered one for me...now I have to switch over to the new purse...that is always such a chore for me......
Everyone knows I love books so that is always a safe bet with me - I also got a Barnes and Noble gift card - one Saturday soon I will spend there - browsing and sipping coffee...it just doesn't get any better than that!!!

Now this is a jewel and the perfect color for my house - I am trying the perfect place for it - because I really want it to show...I just love it!!!

Cookbooks, my all time weakness - that is the section I head straight for in the book store - like I need another one - but there is always that jewel out there and you just don't want to miss it....I can't wait to browse through these babies!!!

I was sooooo tickled to get this - and it IS wonderful - someone blogged about this not too long ago (can't remember) and she said it was GREAT and she was sooo right!! My heels are pathetic, and this really worked on them and very quickly - just sitting on the couch watching TV.....LOVE IT!!! Thanks Tonya!!

I just love this gorgeous make-up brush from Miss Mary. Kelsi is already trying to take it from me...look at that handle...and this picture does not do it justice at all.....

Now, I know all of you will want to come to my house and take this....I was so excited to see this little lady - she will go perfect outside by my chair. She is the perfect color. I think she is just beautiful....thank you Sandra!!! And when I got to work this morning, she also had some turquoise coasters for my table outside and some cute, tiny citronella candles...

This is a beautiful journal from sweet Emily...she knows I love to write - just write - what I do is not really journaling, I just write sometimes everyday and then maybe not for a year - but I just love to make list and notes, etc. - - - - uhm, there was also some Godiva chocolate with this journal, but it didn't make the picture..........someone ate it!!!!!! Imagine that!!!!!

Isn't this necklace and earring set beautiful, Patti said she had a very hard time giving it to me...don't you hate that....you're looking for a gift for someone and you want everything you pick up for them.....I do it all the time....don't give many gifts!!!! (Smile)

2 Calphalon skillets - from Donna & Jeff - Jeff is the cook in the family and he knows his cookware!! Thank you so much - I will use them a lot!!! (I guess I could have taken the label off so you could actually see the skillets....awh - you know what they look like!!!!

...and on top of all this I got Movie Theater gift cards and restaurant gift cards and about $200 in cold hard cash!!!!

And best of all I got the money for a dishwasher from the hostesses!!!!! We picked out one at Lowes and they opted just to give me the money and let me take it from there!!! So I may price shop a little bit....what power!!!!! Mine has been broke for about 8 months so I am really looking forward to this!!!!

Again, thank you all so very much - you have made this birthday a very, very special one - Sandi at The WhistleStop Cafe said this is her 50th birthday and she said she is celebrating all year - it is her birthday YEAR!!!

Hey, I think I like that - I think you can celebrate all year when you turn 50!!!!!!!!

The Big 5 0....and I'm loving it.....

I work in a 24 story building downtown - this is what greeted me at the escalator this morning - I was SHOCKED!!!

I felt like I had just seen my picture hanging in the Post Office - I was ducking and diggin in my purse trying to hide my face - I just never expected such a VISUAL birthday greeting in the lobby of the building, cheeezzzzz!!!

Then when I got off the escalator I got back on and went and took a picture - the shock has worn off a bit then.....

Then this is what my office looked like....it's hard to see because of all the glass and light - but there are black ballons and streamers everywhere.....

Then this is what is on the back of my chair.......



I can thank Miss Annie for all this - she is the one who took all the great pictures at my party - I work with her and she is just a doll.....
Like I said - I have some GREAT friends....I feel so blessed....for one to have such great friends and two to just still be around......
I sure don't feel 50....I still think I'm 25...and I'm gonna keep right on thinkin' it!!!!!!!!

We had a PARTY!!!!!

I had the time of my LIFE!!!

Let me begin by saying - there is a ton of pictures here and if you don't know me, my family or my friends - you are going to be totally BORED!!!!!

So you may to skip this post and tomorrow I will post pictures of the LOOT (my birthday presents!!)

Here goes....in no particular order.......

June Barnhill, a dear friends for 30+ years...she is one of those friends that requires no maintenance - you don't have to call and keep up - but when you need her - she is always there...I love you Junie.....(she hates to have her pictures taken - so she is really going to hate me for this!!)

(you can double click on the pics and get a clearer view)

This is June's gorgeous daughter, Amy, (she is due the same day as Brandi)..and her cute hubby, Brock Berlin - name sound familar to sports fans - yes, the quarterback for University of Miami and now with the St. Louis Rams...and then June's hubby, Darrell - I love him, too!!!!

This was the cake - it was wonderful

Danny & Mary - they have been in my life for as long as I can remember - he was one of my Dad's best friends - now that my Dad is gone - he is always a very sweet reminder!!

Mary, Me & Donna (another Donna) there were three at the party - Donna is married to my childhool friend Jeff



Danny, Me and Jeff (the childhool friend - married to Donna (above)

Connie & Sammy - in her card it said "We have loved you for a long time...." they are very dear friends - that I don't get to see often..someone told me the other day I looked like her, that is one of the greatest compliments I have ever had - because I always thought she was sooooo very pretty!!


Joyce, Glenda, Patti, Paula & Me


Frances, Me & Judy



Kelsi, Me & Brandi (my daughters)

Lillie, Fallon & Me

This, my friends, is Judy...and there are no words.....she was the MC for the night - Judy has been in my life since Brandi was 2 (23 years) and she is just like my Mom - she was escorted in Brandi's wedding as a grandmother - she is that close to our family - Judy put on a little skit about me....that is what the telephone is about - oh yes, she had props and everything!!!

Brandi & Judy (I think they even look alike!!)

Me & Judy (there is no telling what she is saying - but I thought it was funny!!!!)

Judy - she was born with a mic in her hand!!!!!

Judy and her incredible hubby..J.R.

Frances, her and her husband have been the pastor of my church for over 45 years - they are now retired and their son is the pastor. She has been through thick and very, very thin with me and she has never wavered with her committment to be there for me for over 30 years!!!!

Paula - yes, for you ladies that have been here before, she is the one that did my patio for me - we have been friends for over 40 years - she is the sister that I never had - we will always be together, whether we like it or not!!!!!!

Joyce, my soul mate - she is my prayer partner - one of my most cherished friends - when I want to scream and throw a fit and don't want anyone to know - I call her and have my hissy and we hang up and I know not of word will be said about it - to me or anyone else - we all need a friend like that!!!!!

Joyce and her husband Randy - he is my LSU football game watching buddy...we both like to read, so we are always discussing books - he is my pal!!!!!

Kelsi - youngest daughter - and there is no telling what she was saying about her Momma!!

Paula - another one - she got the most laughs - she is just funny!!! She is so fun to be around - everybody was talking about her by the time the party was over - they all wanted to be her friend!!

Emily (sitting) - a fairly new friend - but we have fast become "buddies" - she will sit and listen to you for hours - crying...snot flying...she doesn't care - she's wonderful!!

I promise I wasn't singing - but I can do a mean "Harper Valley PTA"!!!!

Miss Jo - Landon's (Brandi's husband) grandmother - very sweet lady!!!

Judy (another one- there was three at the party also - all we had was Judys & Donnas) Cynthia, Me, Annie (who took all these pictures - this is the only one she is in - bless her!!) and Sandra - these are the ladies I work with - I have only been with them 1 year and they have become such good friends.

This is Sandra (from above) and her husband Tommy - I even think he was having a good time and he didn't know a soul there!!!!!!

Brandi, my brother, Kelly, Me and Kelsi

Landon, Me & Brandi

There was about 60 people there - I couldn't believe that many would come!!!!

Angela (Brandi's friend) and Kristin (Landon's sister)

Donna, Lillie (her granddaughter) and my aunt, LaVerne

Buck and Donna (the 3rd one) this is Landon's parents - Brandi's in-laws - they are the greatest couple - they love Brandi like their very own and that means so much to a Momma!!

Joyce, Judy, Me, Brandi, Glenda and Paula - these were the hostsses for my party - my dearest, dearest friends.

I just have one thing to say....if I never have a dime to my name...I'm one of the richest women in the world...because I have some of the very best friends...not just acquaintances, but REAL friends, who I know would be there for me at a minutes notice if I needed them...that is true RICHES!!!!!

Thank you all for the great gifts, a fantastic party and most of all your love.