Birthday Week

There was some spring-like weather between snows that allowed me to get to the park and walk without kicking up a ton of mud.  Tomorrow is supposed to be another such day.  It's hard to remember now if that was the beginning of Steve's birthday week, but I think it was.














We don't have a lot of good pictures from Steve's childhood.  In fact, we have hardly any.  There are a very few tiny little snaps of great lack of clarity that picture him as an infant or even a toddler.  But some of his school pictures survived and are fun to look at, analyzing that pensive (or was it patronizing) smile he felt obligated to give the overly cheery school photographer or the good-natured grin of the ranch-loving, friendly, adventure-seeking boy.

Perhaps around 1962

'61-'63 range

                                  

March 12 itself was pretty ordinary.  Oh, there were lots of birthday greetings, but after a failed attempt to plan (very last minute) a dinner out with friends, we ended up just staying in.  Anna Deatherage, good friend and member of the Deatherage family who live near-by, baked these cupcakes that her dad Todd brought over later in the evening.

                                   

She and her good friend Georgia run a little neighborhood cupcake business after they were inspired to take a cake decorating course at the local craft store.  They are both eleven.  Please note the special one decorated in honor of his new book.

                                 

Steve and Todd with the precious baked goods

                                 

The real celebration was planned for Friday night when the DC area family came over for a traditional birthday dinner.  The occasion seemed worthy of Grammy's china and silver which we put to good use on a nice tablecloth.

                                 

The gang's all here, including Charlie's brother John who happened to be in town for the weekend from State College. From left: David, Erika, Jonathan, Steve, Charlie, John, Eden

Eden had fixed a delicious pork loin roast in the crock pot with wonderful gravy.  I added mashed potatoes and salad to it before cupcakes and ice cream for dessert.

Jessica returned from her amazing, awesome, and wonderful trip to Florence, Italy with the Greens and Elliott, Becca, Lena, and Gil.  BEAUTIFUL! But you'll have to get all the dope from her.  As a result of her being in town for a few days, there were some sibling and family get-togethers.  One of those was a walk along the Georgetown Canal on Sunday afternoon.  That was with David, Jessica, and Eden, me and Mia.  But a shady looking character with hood pulled low came up to us at the end of the afternoon, and it was Jonathan who had just been driving home from work.  So I was able to get the almost full group here.  This is the "nice" pose and below is when everyone is just not quite ready or were done.  They were all headed to worship at Church of the Advent 5:00 PM service, and I headed for home.

That night, as predicted, it began to snow and snowed throughout the night, giving us a St. Patrick Day snow day--our 10th or 11th, but who's keeping tract!  It was not unwelcome since it is one we don't have to make up.   Steve left for Portland and Seattle later in the afternoon for the rest of the week and was able to get out okay after his first flight was delayed, making him miss his Denver connection.  They put him on a straight through flight in first class, so he didn't complain.   The next morning was a two-hour delay, so another leisurely morning.

And finally, everyone--absolutely everyone--is enjoying Visions of Vocation!  Isn't it great!?!