Birthday Bash

I feel as if I have lived a lifetime since my last post. At least that's what it feels like. A mere seven days ago, I was cleaning house and working and cooking and grocery shopping like mad. Preparing for Christmas is always hectic. Christmas was not the main event this year, however.

My mom celebrated a big birthday this year, and we did it up right! The entire family spent the weekend at The Hotel at Old Town in Wichita, complete with elegant buffet dinner on Saturday night. I have three siblings, who are all married with children, so we totaled 18 people. It was quite an achievement to get us all in one place at the same time!

The historic hotel was beautifully decorated for the holidays. After checking in on Saturday afternoon, members of the family went out to lunch and then hit the Museum of World Treasures. That place is cool! Upon returning, we dressed for dinner and spent time in the piano bar of the hotel. They have talented musicians playing there in the evening.

During the sumptuous dinner, we had plenty of time for visiting and looking at a photo display of Mom's life. Then we took lots of family photos and had a little bit of fun with a small program. (Just some jokes about growing older and a little bit of "This is Your Life.") Games and refreshments in the hotel lobby finished out a rather pleasant evening.

On Sunday morning, after a delicious hot breakfast at the hotel, we left for Derby to attend Mom's church services. The whole family took up over two rows of pews! I think the congregation was surprised to see such a large turnout on the Sunday after Christmas. The perfect topper was a deli lunch at Mom's house, complete with birthday cake and candles.

The best part of the whole weekend was that Mom really seemed to enjoy the whole thing. She is a terrific person and I really look up to her, so if I can make her happy, I am happy, too. She deserves all the best that life has to offer.

I closed our little celebration with a quote by motorcycle racer, Bill McKenna:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride!’”

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Pictured in the photo above are: My mom, Marilyn, in the center, surrounded by her grandchildren: Sarah, Rachel, Devin, Sara, Jacque, Hannah and Nick.