Shannon here: Betty Woods shares fun times had by at her 50th wedding anniversary celebration, plus a chance to win a paperback copy of her Historical Romance, A Troubling Suggestion, U.S. only. Deadline: May 31st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Betty:
Our friend took pictures of the gathering.
Our Almost Not Romantic Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration
We celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary last spring. Probably not the way someone would write it in a romance novel, unless it’s a romantic comedy. The kids originally envisioned renting a nice room, simple but elegant until they found out how much all that would cost. Plan B our large backyard. But since we wanted an outdoor celebration, we waited until early April in hopes of better weather. It’s an understatement to say Texas weather is unpredictable. The high was in the eighties that afternoon. As you can see in the cake picture, Craig is wearing shorts.
The day started early. Our children, grandchildren and a couple of dear friends arrived by ten that morning. They came bearing pans of food, ribbon, signs, and balloons. Lots of yellow, gold and white balloons. They all had to be blown up and tied around our carport and yard to our daughter’s specifications. Our den soon looked like party central for a balloon drop on New Year’s Eve. We had to be careful where we stepped so we didn’t pop any balloons.
While all this is happening, our ten year-old grandson tells me he needs me to print out the jokes he’s written since he’s our designated comic/entertainer. His mom was so busy planning our celebration, he didn’t ask her to help him format everything for him to read more easily. Writer Grandma to the rescue. Every joke is handwritten on notebook paper in fourth grade writing and spelling. No wonder his mom/our daughter didn’t have time to help him. I decipher his words and type up his program. Good thing writers can edit too. He’s very happy when we finish. Score one for Grandma.
Did I mention the rental people delivered the tables and chairs during our balloon chain assembly?
Our daughter had this made from our wedding pictures our friend took.
Our early April spring day is promising to be very warm for a three o’clock outdoor party, so they had as many tables as possible set up under the carport.
Shortly before two o’clock, our backyard was more or less arranged to our daughter’s specifications with balloons wrapped around the posts of the carport the way she wanted. The pans of food were ready to set out just before people would start coming at three. I barely remembered to check my watch and run inside to change clothes to be ready for pictures at two. The photographer had problems with his camera and didn’t come until about two-thirty.
Whenever we had a slight gust of wind, a balloon rubbed against at metal post. Popping balloons really add to the atmosphere for an anniversary celebration.
All in all, we had a wonderfully blessed day. Our photographer was a dear friend we’ve known over fifty years who also took our wedding pictures. The man who introduced me to Craig came. Our middle grandson drove a little over 175 miles to be with us. We had nearly seventy family or friends come by. Our grandson’s jokes were a big hit. People asked for our son-in-law’s recipe for his baked beans. Everyone complimented our kids for what they did to help us celebrate.
Craig and I have lived through a lot of ups and downs in fifty years. God has been, and is good.
Our friend also took my headshot for my book covers
Question for Readers: Have you ever had special plans almost not work, but yet they did?
Betty Woods writes heartwarming romance with a Southern accent. She’s an incurable history buff
who was once mistaken for the tour guide at an historical site while answering her grandchildren’s questions. When not living in her make-believe nineteenth century world, she enjoys time with her family, especially vacations with children, grandchildren and sometimes great grands. Going on RV trips with her husband and Chihuahua to research information for books is another one of her favorite activities. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – A Troubling Suggestion:
Clarisse Matthews still grieves the tragic loss of her fiancé and doubts she’ll ever love anyone again. Particularly if she has to divulge the secret abolitionist ideas she keeps hidden deep inside that only her beloved knew.
After the lady Luke Williams loved spurned him and married another man, he will never risk giving his heart to another woman. Especially not to Clarisse who had to have known about her best friend’s ruse and helped the woman to conceal it from Luke. He doesn’t need a lady by his side to manage his family’s plantation or forge a path to become an attorney.
But when Luke’s cousin is deceived by a rogue, who only Luke and Clarisse know the whole truth about, they form a reluctant alliance to protect his cousin. Their feigned attraction grows into genuine love. But will the differences between them become a wall too tall to climb or can they find a way to go around?
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Many times I have had plans work out even when they almost didn’t. It’s a pleasant surprise. I do like to have a Plan B as a backup but that is my personality.
My brother surprised us by showing up for Christmas dinner. Which meant there wasn’t enough sitting at the adult table, so I volunteered to sit with my grandchildren. Tons of fun! Things have a way of working out.
I have a winner! Mary Ann won the drawing. I appreciate Betty for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.