Surprise!

I hope you are all having a fun weekend. Amongst the fun, though, be sure to take some time out to be thankful for all of the people that have given their lives up for the freedom that you and I are experiencing right now. I can think of a couple of people in my family who died serving their country, one of them in World War II and one in Beirut, Lebanon. I'm sure there are more in my family, but I don't hear stories about them. It was my great-Uncle that died during WWII, I never knew him, but know about him. My second cousin died in Beirut. He was six years older than I was and we grew up in the same small town, so I knew him fairly well. I can remember playing Twister with him at his house and talking to him at basketball games in our small school. Also thanking God for all the people serving our country today and asking Him to proctect them.

The Princess with all of her loot!

On the lighter side of life, we had a great day Saturday. We have been planning a surprise for our Princess's 16th birthday for a year. We don't have to keep it a secret from her any more. Her Grandpa Dan hand crafted this hope chest for her. Isn't it beautiful? She didn't even know they were coming over Saturday, so it was a double surprise for her; one when she saw them at the door Saturday morning and another when she opened the box that held the hope chest Saturday afternoon.

The Princess and her friend with the new hope chest made by Grandpa Dan.

Several of us gave her items to keep in her chest for when the day comes that she moves out on her own. She received cast iron skillets, a cast iron dutch oven (the kind that is covered in blue enamel or porcelin), a Red Wing pasta serving dish, purple towels and a set of Emeril pots and pans. While I am not rushing the time by, it will be neat to visit her in her own home some day and watch her use these gifts.

Can't you smell that cedar inside of there?

Between getting her driver's license, receiving cash (for gas and insurance), gas gift cards and her hope chest, I think this is a birthday she will always remember.