For months now our little group has been talking about Gretchen's upcoming birthday and how to celebrate it. Gretchen would refuse any offers to have cake when her birthday rolled around, saying we could do so when she turned 90. Well, she got cake, and so much more! Chefs Mike 'n Mike made her favorite meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, with veggies alongside. And she enjoyed a nice cold Busch beer, her father having been a beer distributor for Busch back in the day. We kept these plans secret from her and many until earlier this month so folks knew this meal was coming up, but shhhhh!
Gretchen knew that some family was coming to church with her for her birthday but was totally blown away that 18 of them showed up! Some from as far away as Mobile and others from Atlanta and Greenville. Here she is flanked by her two 'favorites', a cousin, Steven, and her goddaughter, Bonnie
Betty made Gretchen's cake, using the theme of the Jaguars, of course!
Terri and Kim, her sister, made the centerpieces, and the tables were dressed with the help of OJ and another sister, Gayle. They used the Jaguar colors, of course. Gretchen and Gloria, the sister's mom, were best buddies ever since their Our Savior days, back in the early 1970's. Gretchen is like their mom now...
Gretchen with her plate of food and cup of beer, ready to dive in and eat!
Here's Judy seated at the table
Terri served as hostess of the event. She had gotten a couple e-mailed responses from former pastors and others sent their greetings in a card. More than once Gretchen has contacted me to help find an address of a pastor she knows so she can send them a card. She is the card sending queen!
Gretchen blew out her candles! In the glass cake dome is a cake from someone in the family made using an old familiar recipe. Judy and OJ made my photo, too, as they captured the moment.
On the table behind OJ you can see my bowl which held the dinner rolls. Justin stopped by Publix on the way to church to pick them up but they weren't ready yet. This made him late to church but that was fine, it was for a good cause. When I sat down, he told me they only cost half what I told him they were and said they only gave him three bags. Oh, oh! He left church and went back to Publix. They had only given him half the order and because of this inconvenience, the balance of the order was free! He got back in time for the sermon, which was about love. Two of the hymns we sang were her favorites, and the pastor had a prayer of thanksgiving for our friend, Gretchen, at the close of the service. It was a very nice day!
