Ninety-Seven Years Young

Today is my mom's 97th birthday.  That's really something, isn't it?  Coincidentally, Tropical Storm Nicole arrived in the area today bringing a tempest of rain and wind, too.  Somehow I think it is fitting since Mom has always created a stir wherever she has been.  But seriously, can you imagine being almost a century old?  I'm pretty proud of her and grateful that God has blessed us with this many years with our mother.

This nurse at the nursing home is a favorite of my mom's.  She is such a sweetie.  Last year she made a special breakfast for Mom of crisp bacon because she knew that Mom loves it so.  Well, this year she actually made a trip to the grocery store to buy bacon on her way into work when she realized that she was out of it.  Then before her shift started, she went down to the kitchen and cooked up some just the way Mom likes it so that she could have a real treat for her breakfast.  That's really going above and beyond and I just so appreciate those special touches that the wonderful staff does like this where Mom is.

We had fun opening birthday cards and her presents and then I finished up one book that we were reading and started another one for her.  When it was time for lunch, I joined her in the private dining room that they have set up for visits from family.  There was another family in there with us and their family member was celebrating her 96th birthday.  After our main meal, the staff brought in this lovely cake that they'd baked for her.  It was angel food cake with a middle layer of strawberries.  Yummy!

My daughter and her husband are coming up on Sunday to join us for another little celebration with Mom.  We'll bring BBQ ribs (Mom's favorite meal) over to the home and enjoy those and then have some more cake and punch and hopefully some of her friends will be able to drop in to see her.  I figure you don't turn 97 every day so why not stretch out the celebration a bit?  Happy Birthday, Mom!