Monday's Weekend Recap...

My nephew, Mike, is doing a medical rotation in Miami this month and he asked if he could drive up this past weekend for a visit.  Of course, we said yes!  He arrived around 1:30 on Saturday afternoon.

Joe and I had previously RSVP'd for a birthday party (mentioned before) so I told the organizers that we would drop in after the dinner hour to give the guest of honor a hug.  She said to bring Mike with us. The dinner was to be a buffet and a plus one wouldn't matter.  How nice was that!  So we sprung it on Mike that he was going to a birthday party for our 100-year old friend, Judy! He was fine with it!

Mike never meets a stranger so I knew he would enjoy meeting some of our friends. I especially wanted him to meet Mike & Mary Ellen because Mike is a doctor who did his fellowship in Australia. The two of them had a LOT to talk about.  The party was in the parish hall at our old church, Resurrection Catholic, and we hadn't seen some of the folks there for several months so it was fun catching up with everyone.

We have known the guest of honor, Judy, for nearly 20 years, and her son and daughter-in-law for almost as long.  Judy is a cancer survivor and she and her son & daughter-in-law were on my Relay for Life team for all seven years I did that. So were Mike & Mary Ellen.  I am on the end, next to the Geico Gecko and Judy is beside me. This was in 2008 and our team was picked to lead the survivors in the opening lap.

So, we were honored to be able to celebrate Judy's 100th birthday.  Her kids have been celebrating each birthday since her 95th in a big way, but this party was over-the-top!  Here are some photos.

Mike & Mary Ellen talking with nephew Mike.

Just a photo of the room and all the balloons.

Judy was at the door greeting people.

We took advantage of this photo op!

Lakeland's Mayor was there with a proclamation, making

November 18th (her actual birthday) Judy Knowles Day in Lakeland!

She is standing with her grandson as the proclamation is being read.  

Friends of ours, Bonnie & Rusty. 

Resurrection's Priest, Fr. Mark, with Judy.

Our friends, Mike & Mary Ellen, and Fran. 

Preparing the Champaigne for a birthday toast!

One of the two cakes.

The other cake covered in roses.  Judy loves roses.

The Proclamation, in a frame.

And this is what a bouquet of 100 roses looks like!  Wow!

They smelled amazing, too.

When we got home, we sat up talking with Mike for a couple more hours before we all turned in.  Mike went to church with us on Sunday and really enjoyed our new church and the service. Before he went off to med school, he was in his church's praise band and he enjoyed ours.  He plays guitar and drums. We took him out for lunch after church, then back home so he could head back down to Miami. It's a good four-hour drive.  He texted us when he got there (as I requested!).  It was a great weekend!  He has five more months before graduation and getting to add that M.D. to the end of his name.  He is busy interviewing for a place to do his residency.

Thanks for your visit!!  Peace & hugs!  God bless!!