Our weekend...

Thomas and I had a wonderful anniversary weekend. Remember I told you that he was keeping it a surprise as to where he was taking me...well, I was getting ready to fix supper Friday evening and he came into the kitchen and said, "no need to start anything, we're going out." Ok I said, lets go. Well, we ended up at Lucille's. We had never eaten there before and it was very nice. I can remember Amy as a little girl. Sarah and her played volleyball and graduated together. Amy had stopped in the flower shop a few days earlier and picked up some centerpieces for a party and we got to catch up on things.
On Saturday Thomas worked on the hot tub house and I fixed supper and we had a relaxing evening at home. Sunday when I came home from church he was dressed and ready to take me to dinner again. We headed south and he pulled into the Longhorn Steakhouse. We had eaten there before and he remembered how much I liked it.
Mr. Romantic....that's my Thomas!!

17

Today is a very special day.....17 years ago Thomas and I promised to love, honor and cherish till death do us part. We've been a couple for 24 years. It's had it's up and downs, but the ups out weight the downs. There's not a day gone by that I've not thanked the Lord for Thomas and the joy that he brings to me. We were talking last night about all the fun times we've shared and the times when the girls were home. Raising two girls..well that's another story.
We got a few things planned this weekend. We're going out for dinner but he said it was a secret as to were he was taking me. We'll work on the hot tub house a bit, piddle a bit and we'll celebrate a lot.
Happy Anniversary Thomas, love you bunches!!

64 years

64 years ago today my Mom and Daddy promised to love, honor and cherish till death due them part. I stopped in this morning and visited with them before I came to work. They were smiling from ear to ear. I honored them Sunday at church and I didn't aim to make them tear up. But how many couples get to celebrate a milestone like 64 years. Too many times one partner passes on and leaves the other behind and they had so many years of joy ahead of them.
Is marriage easy? No, it isn't. Marriage is an everyday job. You have to work to make it great. You have to bend, zip your lip, smile, and remember how your heart felt the day you married your partner. If anyone boast that they have a perfect marriage...they are fooling you.
I've ask Mom on many occasions what is a perfect marriage. She says, "some marriages are close but none is perfect. We each have different views and each day brings a hill or a valley. You have to respect each other and sometimes just go with the flow. You must always remember the love that you have for each other and love will see you through". Mom also said, "I never once wanted to throw in the towel with your Daddy, we worked through our problems and our love was stronger when we came out of the valley".
My one prayer is that Thomas and I can live long enough to celebrate our 50th. That would put us in our 80's.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Daddy....I love you!!!

Weekend update....

Thomas and his dad picked up our new hot tub about noon on Saturday. Now we just have to build a platform. Thomas has these plans that he's been working on and I told him whatever he designs is fine with me. I just want him to hurry. We set on the porch Saturday afternoon and I told Thomas, "sure wish I could close my eyes and everything was finished and we were setting in it", he kissed me on the cheek and said me to!!
We went Friday evening and purchased eight ducks from the Maxie's at the FFA building. We got them settled in and I swear they have doubled in size since bringing them home. It won't be long till they are put in with the other ducks. My only worry is that Darrell and Darrell won't be so friendly.
Sunday we went back to the fair grounds and picked up my ribbons from the Family Arts Building. Got those placed in my ribbon scrap book. Now maybe we won't be driving to Brownstown so much in the next few weeks. At least until the watermelons are ready.
I guess that catches you up for the Bridges adventures over the weekend. Now it's on to a new week and many more adventures. Won't be long and Dillon will be calling to come and pick up our baby pigs!!

It's been very busy around our home for the past few weeks. Been working in my gardens trying to keep them looking good through all this heat and humidity. Thomas has been piddling around the garage. He's been thinking about adding a lean to on the side and also talking about getting a hot tub. Oh yea...now he's taking!!! We are going tomorrow to look at one and we will see how it goes. He already has plans on how he wants it set up. It would be so great after a hard days work to relax in a hot tub. Would help out both of our backs and my left leg.
We've been to the fair a few times. I entered a few things in the Family Arts Building and received three 2nd place ribbons. I will add them to my ribbon book. I watched the Maxie kids show their pigs and they did pretty good. It's always a good time when I can spend time with Linda.
We have been extremely busy at the flower shop. We have four weddings this weekend. Heather has went out of town for the next few days. Her oldest son is playing in the state little league tourney. So it's up to me to deliver the weddings tomorrow. You just have to stay organized and keep your post it notes color coded!!
Last night was my floral demonstration at the fair. This was my eighth year. It was one of my biggest crowds. One lady told me there were 35 people in attendance. I designed some pretty neat arrangements. I was able to use some flowers from my gardens and the lady's loved that. A few of them were taking pictures of them. That makes me happy.
Tonight Thomas and I are going back to the fair and pick up some ducks from the FFA building and give them a good home. Linda has a nice selection this year.
Well, that's about all that's been going on around the Bridges household. Enjoy your weekend!!

Kendra's Pie Plate

I had just got to work yesterday morning when my phone rings.....and my heart sank. My friend Kendra Smith had passed away. Kendra was one of a kind. She spoke her mind and if you didn't agree with her, well to bad. Kendra was also a giving person and when you were her friend she always had your back.
Back when Norma and Kendra had their last yard sale in Crothersville, Kendra had told to come and check out the kitchen stuff that they had. So I got up early and headed into town before going in to the flower shop. As I walked up my eye caught a pie plate. This was not an ordinary metal or glass dish. The one was nice..it was from the Roseville Pottery Company out of Ohio. They make the best baking dishes. I grabbed it up right away...Kendra yelled to Norma, "Sherry's got my pie plate, Lord knows she will use it more than I did". We all got a good laugh out of it.
Kendra was ask to show her and Lanny's new home in the Crothersville Holiday Home Show a few years back. She called me and ask if I would help her decorate. So I spent a couple evenings with her, Lanny and Norma. Her Aunt Betty was there one night baking cookies and I think we ate quite a few, but hey, we had to make sure they were good. That was fun times and a time that I will cherish.
As I have worked in the shop today quite a few people have came in and ordered flowers for Kendra. We've laughed, cried and hugged and laughed again at funny things that Kendra did and the things she would say.
I will miss Kendra...but I will always have my memories. I can only imagine the smile that her Daddy Sonny had, when Kendra walked through the gates of Heaven........

Vacation....

Words can not express the 14 days that Thomas and I spent together on vacation. It was back to work this morning for the both of us. We had a hard time letting go of each other this morning. It was a very relaxing time for us. I think we both put on a few extra pounds. I would fix brunch each morning and we would set on the sun porch and enjoy the view of the lake. We went to the farmers market and purchased fresh fruit and vegetables on the weekends. I made blueberry waffles a couple of mornings and they were awesome.
We spent time at Cocoa Beach and took a behind the scenes tour of Kennedy Space Center. We had taken the girls when they were younger and did the regular tour. This tour we had to provide a photo ID and papers had to be filled out. There were certain places where you couldn't take pictures. The tour was over three hours long but was very interesting.
It was good to get away just the two of us and relax and not have the worries of everyday. We've already made plans for next year...already marked the calendar at work!!!