Monday, July 27, 2009

Celebration #50: The End to a Wonderful Year of Celebration


Birthday Bliss, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I put the time for this post at the actual time I was born: 4:41 p.m. As the clock turned, I was doing two things I adore: talking with deep, wise, and wonderful women while drinking a pot of tea!

It doesn't get any better than this.

This is my final post to the "Fifty Celebrations to Fifty" blog. It was a wonderful year of joy and laughter with family and friends. I am thankful to God for His wonderful gifts!

See below for a reverse chronological look at my big day!

10:08 p.m. A Walk with a Lifelong Friend

What a way to end my special day: Teala brought me dinner and we had a late night walk in the hot, sultry night with Tucker! Teala and I are like "Mutt and Jeff" with a 14 inch difference in our statures but hearts beating very close together!

3:25 p.m. Tea with Dear Friends


3:25 Tea with Dear Friends, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Friends I have known as far back as 1978 came and blessed me with their love and friendship.

11:40 a.m. Lifting Weights


11:40 Lifting Weights, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

My dream has always been to be "fit at fifty." I had to document myself lifting 140 lbs on this apparatus.

11:30 a.m. Reading on the Elliptical


Doing something I love [reading] with something that I am not inclined to do [exercise] makes it so much more enjoyable. Being fifty is about being self-disciplined!

9:27 a.m. Birthday Backyard Devotional Time


Another goal of my life has been to establish a lifelong habit of devotion, and it has been the joy of my life to commune with God on a regular basis all these years! I love my morning cuppa' with my Lord!

7:32 a.m. Birthday Breakfast with George at the Broken Yoke


Another one of my favorite things is to go out for breakfast with those I love, especially the love of my life, soulmate, and best friend, George! (It is nice to have a cuppa' Chai to go along with these two other pleasurable things.)

6:53 a.m. Reading Birthday Greetings on Facebook


The internet can be a vehicle for good! Facebook has connected me with dear, lifelong friends. I loved waking up to birthday greetings from my friends throughout he different eras of my 50 years. Blessings to all of you!!!!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Celebration #49: Baked Brie and Hummus


One of my favorite ways to celebrate is to have a casual evening with George watching a good PBS mini-series and eating finger foods like baked brie and hummus. Life's simple pleasures shared with those you love are the best!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Celebration #48: Sisters Since the 70's

We stayed in the Agatha Christie Room of the Sylvia Beach Hotel. I have always wanted to stay there. So, I booked this room in January, and we got it on our calendars. It was a very special time. This was taken on Debbie's actual 50th birthday. Happy Birthday lifelong friend!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Celebration #47: Dinner with Patty and Debbie

This is the first night of our stay at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, OR. We planned this months in advance, and it was perfect. We went to dinner at the Table of Contents Restaurant downstairs. It was lovely.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Celebration #46: Cruise to Mexico


Dock Sweet Dock, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This was supposed to be a 50th birthday cruise for our whole high school class, but everyone dropped out except Beth (Elizabeth), me, and our husbands! LOL!

Here is the whole celebration set: ESHS 50th Birthday Cruise

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Celebration #45: Time with Lisa


Zac Ephron Groupies, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Lisa and I love High School Musical. So, we had to see Zac in 17 Again!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Celebration #44: A Milestone

This was Michael's last state test. Marguerite has been testing him since he was in the 1st grade. This is Michael and Paul's milestone today, but it is also mine. So, I am counting it in my celebrations!!!!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Celebration #43: Celebrating SURPRISES!


SURPRISE from Sweetie!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This is my early 50th birthday present; an Amazon Kindle 2!!!!!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Celebration #42: Resurrection Sunday

Spoke at our service. Celebrating God's Amazing Grace in my life!

04/12/09

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Celebration #41: Celebrating Spring


Pieris , originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I feel ilke I am in the spring of my life!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Celebration #38: Ester


Ester at the Window, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I try to see Ester once or twice a month. They are little celebrations of talkingabout God and His word and work in our lives. She is 93 years young!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Celebration #37: Teenager Tea Time


Teenager Tea Time, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I love the little celebrations with my family just as much as the big ones. Paul and I have had tea times on and off for years. He is a teenager now and doesn't want his picture taken for our times. LOL!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Celebration #35: New Life


Baptism, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Kim came to New Life in Jesus in October and gave me the honor of baptizing her!

02/22/09

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Celebration #34: Celebrating a Selfless Man


George's 47th , originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Terri White used to tell me, "Pray for a selfless man, Carol" when I was single, and God answered my prayer over and above what I would have ever hoped or dreamed for in a husband.

I celebrate my dear husband's 47th birthday. He is kind, gentle, funny, conversational, intellectually stimulating, loves God, loves me, loves our children, and is, oh so, handsome (not to mention TALL!).

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Celebration #32: My First Published Picture


Published Picture!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival asked if they could publish one of my pictures! That is reason for celebration!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Celebration #31: Julie Comes to Oregon

This was a highlight of the whole year. Julie and I spent four glorious days at the Oregon coast, and the weather was perfect! Julie and I have known each other for twelve years now since we met on the Sonlight Forums Boards! Since then, we have continued an online relationship and met in groups many times over the years. We talked, walked, cried, ate, and had a phenomenal time.

Here is the entire celebration: Julie Comes to Oregon!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Celebration #30: Celebrating Michael


Last Childhood Birthday, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I love my oldest boy who is kind, gentle, teachable, faithful, and diligent.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Celebration #29: Tea for Three


Tea for Three, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Kim and Rachel are two of my favorite people. Talking with them is real and rich. They love God, their husbands, their families, and their friends. This is celebrating Rachel's 40th birthday at the tea room.

We met each other when I led a Precept Bible Study called "Marriage without Regrets" in 2000. They went on to lead a Precept Bible Study to others. They are dear women and friends.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Celebration #28: Time in God's Word


Bible Book Club, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

21st Century style! I blog my time in God's Word everyday and share it with others through the Bible Book Club. My quiet time with the Lord is a celebration every day!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Celebration #27: Celebrating Solace


My Reading Room of Solace, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I get away from the hustle and bustle and celebrate solace in the Benton County Public Library Reading Room. It is one of my favorite places to get away and read. I have spent entire days here just reading my Bible or a good book.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Celebration #26: Mom and Dad

Not everyone can celebrate a mother and dad who loved them and loved each other until "death do them part." What a rich example of love I had in my life until I lost my dad in 1985 and mom in 2007. I wear their rings every day to remind me of them and their incredibly happy and FUN union. The single stone is my mom's engagement ring. The multi-stone is a compilation of half the diamonds my dad received in his "year" pins for employment at Rockwell International.

I am celebrating you today, Mom and Dad. Thank you for being in my life.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Celebration #25: Rest

Rest is a celebration for this 49 year old!

Celebration #24: Finishing a Great Book


Finished with Silas Marner, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Life is full of the little celebrations along the way, and I always do a happy dance when I have finished a good classic. I have always wanted to read George Eliot, but I thought that Middlemarch would be too much with my other classical reading goals, but Silas Marner was just right! It gave me a sense of her wonderful style, but it wasn't such a big time commitment. I love it and gave it a ten at book club!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Celebration #23: Amazing Mentors and Hamburgers


Ginny and Lorraine at Alf's, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Ginny and Lorraine took me out for an amazing Alf's Hamburger! They have been my mentors since 1997 when I asked to meet with them before I went to Malaysia. We started meeting again after I came back, and I am so grateful and celebrate their input into my life!