In our town, we have an old community house that can be rented out for parties and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The day started out with Michele, my niece, making flower arrangements in teapots . I did a post on this HERE, with pictures of the darling little teapots filled with flowers from the garden.
Since this is the 103rd birthday which is pretty special, we wanted to do SOMETHING SPECIAL.
We ended up doing TWO SPECIAL THINGS.
SPECIAL SURPRISE #1
We hired an old car with a pretty cool driver. This is how it happened. My niece, Michele, and I were planning Mom’s party (my sister lives in Pennsylvania and since the party is here in Connecticut, she isn’t usually part of the planning of the parties for Mom. She comes with her daughters and granddaughters and gives money so that’s what counts. Ha ha). Anyway, Michele’s husband, Terry, called her and said he just passed an old car show and maybe someone there could drive Mom to her party. So Michele and I went over there and saw some amazing old cars. How fun! We found a fabulous old car and a not-so-old owner who was willing to be Mom’s driver.
Here is Mom with her driver, Morgan. This is a 1931 Ford. It’s an interesting story in itself. Morgan bought this car when he was 14 years old and he’s had it ever since. The interior of the car is all original. It has a certain old smell, too. How lucky were we that he said he would be glad to drive Mom to her party!? AND he couldn’t have been more perfect, either. So gracious! He even dressed the part!! He had hurt his back a few days prior to the party and we weren’t sure if he would be able to even drive a car. THANKFULLY he woke up on Saturday and was well enough to drive. YAY. We could not have hoped for anyone better! Thank you, Morgan!!
Here is Mom when she first saw the car.
Here is Mom getting in the car. She’s such a good sport.
Michele and I rode in the rumble seat. How FUN!!!!
Here is a picture I took from the rumble seat. Reminds me of “Driving Miss Daisy”, the movie.
It was a short drive to the party… Here is Michele with the wind blowing her hair..
Here she is enjoying the ride. Here’s Mom with the car and her driver (ha ha).
She is thoroughly delighted with her surprise. She said that they had a car when she was in her 20’s very similar to this one. Morgan very graciously allowed the kids to get in the car and rumble seat and took them for a ride around the park in the parking lot. They were pretty happy about that, as you can see.
Too cute. Then we went inside.
I made this banner on Print Shop. 103 Years and Going Strong!!!
The kids table. Does anyone remember sitting at the kids table and not wanting to? I do. I was the youngest!
My daughter, Laura, made these treats for the kids, old fashioned candies in canning jars. My Mom remembers McCarthy’s Ice Cream Store from her childhood so Laura made a little candy shop sign and signs for the tops of the treat jars to match.
Old fashioned candies.
SPECIAL SURPRISE #2
Mom has had a prayer box for years. She writes out a request on a piece of paper, says a prayer for the person, and then puts the paper in the prayer box. She says “There is nothing magical about it. The Lord knows that when I put a person’s name in the prayer box, that I expect Him to take care of them.”. She is a follower of Jesus. Our whole family is.
A few years ago when she was in her 90’s she wanted to give everyone in the family a prayer box but it never happened. My nephew, Mike, who makes furniture - see his cabin furniture here said he would take care of the project for us. And so he did. Aren’t they nice? Inside each box is a piece of paper with the words of Jesus, “Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, Knock and it shall be opened unto you.”
Mom was so thrilled that everyone would have their own prayer box. Well, each COUPLE would have their own prayer box, anyway.
Here she is blowing out her candles.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!
Hope everyone enjoyed this. Best wishes,
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This is just wonderful! Look how happy she is!! :) Reading about how loved she is and celebrating the life she has lived is just so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Your Mom looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day for her. I am sure
she was thrilled with everything
you guys did.
Happy Birthday to your Mom!!!
:)
Happy Birthday to your Mom! She looks like a very young l03! What and happy and memorable day to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful party for a beautiful Mom! Wishing her a very Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the birthday wishes for my Mom. So nice to meet you.
DeleteAfter browsing on Sew Many Ways I can across your blog page and saw the most beautiful story of how you and your family honored you beautiful Mother of 103 years young with one of the nicest and well put together parties I have ever seen!I want to make my family and friends a prayer box...they look so sweet and what a nice thing to give...Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting and for wishing my Mom a Happy Birthday. We bought the prayer boxes from A.C. Moore Crafts store, but boxes can be bought at Joann Fabrics or Michael's Craft store also. Happy Day.
DeleteThis is the most uplifting and awesome story!!! I so needed to hear about this beautiful healthy lady. Yes, the prayer boxes were the perfect surprise, giving so much to this family. And the car and driver, I am just so speechless. Thank you so much for sharing this at Freedom Fridays, this totally made my day.
ReplyDeleteYour mom is lovely! I know she must have enjoyed all the festivities with the family on her special day! She looks far far younger than her actual age, she needs to do a guest post on your blog and give her secrets away!
ReplyDeleteThis is the best post I read for the year! Your mom is such a amazing one... wish her a belated happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Birthday to your Mom. She looks wonderful for 103. I hope I can look 1/2 as beautiful when I'm her age. Your party had so many special touches it showed how much your Mom means to your family. Thank you so much for sharing this on my Our Favorite Things Link Party. You're post truly made my day.
ReplyDeleteGuess who is being featured this week at Freedom Fridays? Your mom is going to love it because we all have fallen in love with her:)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Mom!! She looks FABULOUS!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the idea of the prayer box. She must have been thrilled to see them! LOVE the car too! What a special day it was!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!
Hello I saw this post on Feathered Nest Friday and it was such a blessing. My grandmother is 81 and I have told her since I was six years old that she HAD to live to be 100! I hope she lives and looks as wonderful and happy as your mother. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWanted to share with you that I featured your post as one of my favorites in the Our Favorite Things Link Party. Check it out at http://mylifesatreasure.blogspot.com/2012/07/our-favorite-things-link-party-5.html
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, sweet post! Your mother looks so happy (and not a day past seventy!) Love the car idea - sometimes the spontaneous ideas are just the best -- and the prayer boxes. How very, very special this day must have been for everyone! Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your beautiful Mom's 103rd birthday with us. She is so pretty and she looks amazing. You can tell from her picture that she is blessed :o) My Grandmother lived to be 103 and she was a true blessing to us. I really loved hearing all of her stories....there is so much history in 103 years of life. Thanks again for this post. It brought a huge smile to my face :o)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness what a smile this brought to my face :):) Happy birthday to your beautiful mother!!
ReplyDeleteThat is just so wonderful Linda! Your mum is an amazingly elegant woman who looks NOTHING like 103!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful surprise (and party)
love the car!
xx
So happy birthday to your Mom, she sounds like such a wonderful lady! She sure looks good for her age too. Reading helped me to remember my Mom, hold on tight, they are gone before you know it. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday's Best!
ReplyDeleteWell, that was just the sweetest story ever! And when I read her reply about how the prayer box works, I could actually here her matter of fact words. :) What a special lady!
ReplyDeleteShared your story on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 143. :) (Hi Gram!)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151052721341141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater
Donna
Coming over from Funky Junk Interiors. This has to be one of my all time favorite posts. How nostalgic it must have been for her to see that car pull up. Happy belated birthday to your beautiful mom! She has some really amazing kids too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing at Fun in the Summertime Blog Party! Your Mom is adorable... her smile in the pictures made me smile! I'm so happy she got to ride in that car and give her guests a prayer box!
ReplyDeleteOH MY! What a wonderful birthday for a special mom! Love the car,too. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect summer post. I'm so happy for you that you still have your mother with you. Thanks for sharing this story at Hot Fun in the Summertime.
ReplyDeleteThis is so freakin wonderful!!! How lovely that your mom is so vital and happy! I have a prayer box - it is a box charm that I wear as a necklace. I don't always wear it - only when there is something really heavy on my heart - like when my son was in Iraq. Then I wear it continuously.
ReplyDeletePlease stop by Bella Nest to see your feature!
ReplyDeleteOh my, I'm about a month behind in reading, but I am so delighted to see your Mom's Birthday party. I remember when you were getting ready for her 100th party. Many blessings to your sweet Mom, and to the two daughters that love her so much.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn