A Beautiful Surprise and a Creation of Our Own

I'm realizing that birthday's really aren't really exciting the older that you get because you reach an age where you don't want to get any older than you already are.  I'm reaching that age because in a few short years I will be 30 and in some ways I'm beginning to wonder where my 20's went.  But as much as I don't want to grow any older, it was so nice to receive cards, phone calls, and birthday wishes on facebook from many friends and family.  And I also received something extra special from someone extra special to me...my Mom.  She contacted our pastor's wife to find out if there was any florists close to our tiny, blink-and-you've-missed-it town and lo and behold, we actually do.  When the doorbell rang and the beautiful bouquet below was delivered to me, surprise was not only my reaction but also Jamie's.  I thought maybe they were from him, but he commented that if they are then he needs to have a talk with himself and find out where he can get more.  So, almost 2,000 miles away, Mudder Smucker was able to pull off a big and beautiful surprise and make my day extra special.  Thanks, Mom!  I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful, thoughtful Mom such as yourself.  And since she ordered them without even seeing or knowing what they would look like, here is a preview of them for you as well, Mom.  You did a great job!

Aren't they beautiful?  I thought so.  Jamie also took me to the city for a little trip away since there isn't really much to speak of close by...we don't even have a decent restaurant for quite a few miles and I was in the mood for something good.  One goal I had was to find a Christmas wreath for my front door.  Although we won't be home over the month of December I still wanted our house to look somewhat festive for the holidays and so enjoy decorating for Christmas.  So we made a stop at the Hobby Lobby...a wonderful store that tops AC Moore and the like.  (I'm thrilled to hear they will be putting one in PA so Mom and I can shop there together.)  After much looking for the perfect door ornament I just couldn't decide on one I felt was worth paying the high price for, so we bought our own undecorated wreath for way less than half the price (and everything we bought was 50% off) of the other ones and found some wonderful embellishments to make our own.  The following are a few pictures of the finished product and I must say I think it looks way better than the over-priced floofy wreaths in the store.  I especially like the "D" that really personalized it.  I am really looking forward to transforming my Mom's house for Christmas...oh, we are gonna have so much fun together, Mom!  A very Merry Christmas to all my blog followers.  I'm hoping to pick-up the blogging again once we get back after the New Year.

(Please disregard the grungy door my wreath hangs upon...we have a few remodeling tasks that lie ahead of us, but we are having so much fun doing them...pictures of the house to follow in a later blog.)