Ward French's 80th Birthday--and Carmen Durkee's Baby Shower

This weekend we enjoyed attending two special celebrations.

First was our dear friend Ward French's 80th birthday celebration Friday evening.

 It was held at our friends Robert and Fern Lefever's home.

 The photo on the cake was this photo of Ward as a youngster standing on the back of a cow--

and ending up in the newspaper.

 This incident ended up in the newspaper, too--Ward raising a chicken which had a habit of sometimes laying an egg inside an egg.

That's right--this was not just a double-yoker. It was a double egg!

That got into the newspaper, too!

 Fern, Eunice Gault, and Cindy Kearney all did a lovely job of preparing all these delicious edibles...

 for the ever-growing crowd of people that crowded into--and outside--the house!

We outdoor Lucases, of course, joined the crowd outdoors--

where Crystal, Carrie and Rose arrived about 7:30 after leaving Missouri at 6 a.m. and traveling all day to try to get back in time to celebrate with Ward, whom our whole family dearly loves. 

 Out on the deck by a crackling fire, we talked about everything from the miracle of the Florida Hurricane Irma being rerouted by God's Almighty Hand and Hobe Sound folk staying safe--

to how our former pastor, the Goodwins, were when our girls were in Missouri helping them this week--

to the announcement of Ned and Judy [Hunt] Sherman's new baby girl born that day.  

 It was a fun evening!

May God bless dear Bro. French, who has such a heart to help everybody any way  he can.

Then the very next day while the girls were back at work at the restaurant or receiving puppy customers, I took Hannah to Littleton where we'd been invited to the baby shower for the

Michael and Carmen Durkee family. 

 Sheralyn Cruz had done a delightful job of decorating.

I loved these pink and white bouquets in the blue jars.

 And the duckies in the vases with blue pebbles (thanks to Pinterest, Sheralyn shared with a smile!)

There was a game to see who could keep or capture the most plastic babies!

When I set mine down to take a picture, Carmen's oldest girl got mine!

Hannah won that game with 13 babies!

I loved this cute woodburned decoration with pictures of Michael and Carmen's first three babies, and a space for the expected little one, too!

Dads and granddads and friends were all included.
Michael's dad was great with keeping the little kids entertained and happy--including hiding little plastic babies in the most unusual places--like high up in the ceiling somewhere, and then lifting a little girl up to find it!

Time for cupcakes!

 Michael and Carmen opened gifts and cards together.

I thought it was nice to include the dad, because after all, there wouldn't be a baby without him!

 There were some gifts for the three children, too, like sidewalk chalk,

crayons, playdough and even several brand new clothing articles about the right size for each one

that I found on clearance at Walmart a few days ago!

I remember the one baby shower our church had for me, when someone brought gifts for my other children, not just the baby, and that meant so much to me and my kids!

A couple months ago when we were at a job Jonathan had in the mountains, we were going through the Walmart in that town and discovered cartfuls of baby clothing on clearance for $1 a set!

I picked up bunches of it for layette bundles the girls like to do for Christian Aid Ministries

but also with future baby showers in mind.

So for just a few dollars, I could share some brand new sets of onesies, sleepers, bibs, socks, burp rags, etc. I am so glad for how God sees my desire to give, and young mother's needs--

and He provides in such amazing and sweet ways! 

 This darling card came from Michael's parents.

It says, "Locally grown!"

 It was so fun getting to be part of this sweet little celebration. 

I wanted to get the pictures right on my blog, so especially our friends the Albertsons could share in it, too, from afar, as they are friends with these folk.

We hope to worship with the Durkees and Cruzes in the morning.