Fifty Celebrations to Fifty

Celebration #50: The End to a Wonderful Year of Celebration

2009-07-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Birthday Bliss, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I put the time for this post at the actual time I was born: 4:41 p.m. As the clock turned, I was doing two things I adore: talking with deep, wise, and wonderful women while drinking a pot of tea!

It doesn't get any better than this.

This is my final post to the "Fifty Celebrations to Fifty" blog. It was a wonderful year of joy and laughter with family and friends. I am thankful to God for His wonderful gifts!

See below for a reverse chronological look at my big day!

10:08 p.m. A Walk with a Lifelong Friend

2009-07-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

10:08 A Walk with a Lifelong Friend, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

What a way to end my special day: Teala brought me dinner and we had a late night walk in the hot, sultry night with Tucker! Teala and I are like "Mutt and Jeff" with a 14 inch difference in our statures but hearts beating very close together!

3:25 p.m. Tea with Dear Friends

2009-07-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

3:25 Tea with Dear Friends, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Friends I have known as far back as 1978 came and blessed me with their love and friendship.

11:40 a.m. Lifting Weights

2009-07-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

11:40 Lifting Weights, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

My dream has always been to be "fit at fifty." I had to document myself lifting 140 lbs on this apparatus.

11:30 a.m. Reading on the Elliptical

2009-07-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

11:30 Reading on the Elliptical, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Doing something I love [reading] with something that I am not inclined to do [exercise] makes it so much more enjoyable. Being fifty is about being self-disciplined!

9:27 a.m. Birthday Backyard Devotional Time

2009-07-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

9:27 Birthday Backyard Devotional Time, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Another goal of my life has been to establish a lifelong habit of devotion, and it has been the joy of my life to commune with God on a regular basis all these years! I love my morning cuppa' with my Lord!

7:32 a.m. Birthday Breakfast with George at the Broken Yoke

2009-07-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

7:32 Birthday Breakfast Broken Yoke, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Another one of my favorite things is to go out for breakfast with those I love, especially the love of my life, soulmate, and best friend, George! (It is nice to have a cuppa' Chai to go along with these two other pleasurable things.)

6:53 a.m. Reading Birthday Greetings on Facebook

2009-07-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

6:53 Reading Birthday Greetings on Facebook, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

The internet can be a vehicle for good! Facebook has connected me with dear, lifelong friends. I loved waking up to birthday greetings from my friends throughout he different eras of my 50 years. Blessings to all of you!!!!

Celebration #49: Baked Brie and Hummus

2009-07-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Celebrating with Baked Brie and Hummus, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

One of my favorite ways to celebrate is to have a casual evening with George watching a good PBS mini-series and eating finger foods like baked brie and hummus. Life's simple pleasures shared with those you love are the best!

Celebration #48: Sisters Since the 70's

2009-07-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

Celebration #48: Sisters Since the 70's, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

We stayed in the Agatha Christie Room of the Sylvia Beach Hotel. I have always wanted to stay there. So, I booked this room in January, and we got it on our calendars. It was a very special time. This was taken on Debbie's actual 50th birthday. Happy Birthday lifelong friend!

Celebration #47: Dinner with Patty and Debbie

2009-07-17T22:55:00.000-07:00

Celebration #47: Dinner with Patty and Debbie, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This is the first night of our stay at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, OR. We planned this months in advance, and it was perfect. We went to dinner at the Table of Contents Restaurant downstairs. It was lovely.

Celebration #46: Cruise to Mexico

2009-05-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Dock Sweet Dock, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This was supposed to be a 50th birthday cruise for our whole high school class, but everyone dropped out except Beth (Elizabeth), me, and our husbands! LOL!

Here is the whole celebration set: ESHS 50th Birthday Cruise

Celebration #45: Time with Lisa

2009-05-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Zac Ephron Groupies, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Lisa and I love High School Musical. So, we had to see Zac in 17 Again!

Celebration #44: A Milestone

2009-05-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Thank You Marguerite for Loving My Kids, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This was Michael's last state test. Marguerite has been testing him since he was in the 1st grade. This is Michael and Paul's milestone today, but it is also mine. So, I am counting it in my celebrations!!!!

Celebration #43: Celebrating SURPRISES!

2009-04-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

SURPRISE from Sweetie!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This is my early 50th birthday present; an Amazon Kindle 2!!!!!

Celebration #42: Resurrection Sunday

2009-04-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

Speaking at our Easter Service, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Spoke at our service. Celebrating God's Amazing Grace in my life!

04/12/09

Celebration #41: Celebrating Spring

2009-03-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

Pieris , originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I feel ilke I am in the spring of my life!

Celebration #40: Dark Monday and Dark Chocolate Delight

2009-03-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

Dark Monday and Dark Chocolate Delight, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

From my friend, Kim Simmons. YUMMY!

Celebration #39: Finishing the TWEM Dramas

2009-03-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Finished with The Well-Educated Mind Dramas!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I finished another genre in The Well-Educated Mind!

Celebration #38: Ester

2009-03-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Ester at the Window, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I try to see Ester once or twice a month. They are little celebrations of talkingabout God and His word and work in our lives. She is 93 years young!

Celebration #37: Teenager Tea Time

2009-03-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

Teenager Tea Time, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I love the little celebrations with my family just as much as the big ones. Paul and I have had tea times on and off for years. He is a teenager now and doesn't want his picture taken for our times. LOL!

Celebration #36: Sabbath Blessing

2009-03-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

Sabbath Blessing, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

03/06/09

Celebration #35: New Life

2009-02-22T14:22:00.000-08:00

Baptism, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Kim came to New Life in Jesus in October and gave me the honor of baptizing her!

02/22/09

Celebration #34: Celebrating a Selfless Man

2009-02-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

George's 47th , originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Terri White used to tell me, "Pray for a selfless man, Carol" when I was single, and God answered my prayer over and above what I would have ever hoped or dreamed for in a husband.

I celebrate my dear husband's 47th birthday. He is kind, gentle, funny, conversational, intellectually stimulating, loves God, loves me, loves our children, and is, oh so, handsome (not to mention TALL!).

Celebration #33: Valentine's Day Dinner with Dear Friends

2009-02-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Dinner, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #32: My First Published Picture

2009-02-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

Published Picture!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival asked if they could publish one of my pictures! That is reason for celebration!

Celebration #31: Julie Comes to Oregon

2009-02-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

Julie in Trader Joe's in OREGON!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This was a highlight of the whole year. Julie and I spent four glorious days at the Oregon coast, and the weather was perfect! Julie and I have known each other for twelve years now since we met on the Sonlight Forums Boards! Since then, we have continued an online relationship and met in groups many times over the years. We talked, walked, cried, ate, and had a phenomenal time.

Here is the entire celebration: Julie Comes to Oregon!

Celebration #30: Celebrating Michael

2009-01-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

Last Childhood Birthday, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I love my oldest boy who is kind, gentle, teachable, faithful, and diligent.

Celebration #29: Tea for Three

2009-01-23T22:47:00.000-08:00

Tea for Three, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Kim and Rachel are two of my favorite people. Talking with them is real and rich. They love God, their husbands, their families, and their friends. This is celebrating Rachel's 40th birthday at the tea room.

We met each other when I led a Precept Bible Study called "Marriage without Regrets" in 2000. They went on to lead a Precept Bible Study to others. They are dear women and friends.

Celebration #28: Time in God's Word

2009-01-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

Bible Book Club, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

21st Century style! I blog my time in God's Word everyday and share it with others through the Bible Book Club. My quiet time with the Lord is a celebration every day!

Celebration #27: Celebrating Solace

2009-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

My Reading Room of Solace, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I get away from the hustle and bustle and celebrate solace in the Benton County Public Library Reading Room. It is one of my favorite places to get away and read. I have spent entire days here just reading my Bible or a good book.

Celebration #26: Mom and Dad

2009-01-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad Together on My Finger, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Not everyone can celebrate a mother and dad who loved them and loved each other until "death do them part." What a rich example of love I had in my life until I lost my dad in 1985 and mom in 2007. I wear their rings every day to remind me of them and their incredibly happy and FUN union. The single stone is my mom's engagement ring. The multi-stone is a compilation of half the diamonds my dad received in his "year" pins for employment at Rockwell International.

I am celebrating you today, Mom and Dad. Thank you for being in my life.

Celebration #25: Rest

2009-01-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

Is There Life After Vacation?, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Rest is a celebration for this 49 year old!

Celebration #24: Finishing a Great Book

2009-01-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

Finished with Silas Marner, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Life is full of the little celebrations along the way, and I always do a happy dance when I have finished a good classic. I have always wanted to read George Eliot, but I thought that Middlemarch would be too much with my other classical reading goals, but Silas Marner was just right! It gave me a sense of her wonderful style, but it wasn't such a big time commitment. I love it and gave it a ten at book club!

Celebration #23: Amazing Mentors and Hamburgers

2009-01-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Ginny and Lorraine at Alf's, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Ginny and Lorraine took me out for an amazing Alf's Hamburger! They have been my mentors since 1997 when I asked to meet with them before I went to Malaysia. We started meeting again after I came back, and I am so grateful and celebrate their input into my life!

Celebration #22: The New Year with Special Friends!

2008-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Friends Together, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #21: Sisterhood for Thirty Years

2008-12-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

Sisters for Thirty Years, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

We are not only sorority sisters but sister in the Lord!

Celebration #20: Family

2008-12-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

George's Family, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #19: Chai Tea and a Good Christmas Story!

2008-12-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

Reading Giovanni's Light, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #18: SNOW!

2008-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Celebration #16: SNOW!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #17: Winter Warm

2008-12-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Winter Warm, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Warm chai on a snowy winter day. Coffee Culture meeting with Joe, Sunny, and Brian. FUN!

Celebration #16: Meeting Michael W. Smith

2008-12-11T23:41:00.000-08:00

Celebration #15: Meeting Michael W. Smith, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

. . . and going to his Christmas Concert. It was a wonderful evening!

Celebration #15: Time with My Family

2008-12-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

My Family, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This is at Heather Wroblicky's wedding on St. Nicholas Day! I love my family and all our friends!

Celebration #14 on Paul's 14th!

2008-11-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Happy 14th Paul, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This is a God thing! Wouldn't you know that my 14th Celebration would be on Paul's 14th birthday!

I celebrate Paul; my kind, sensitive, hard-working, inquisitive, deep (loves to talk), and teachable.boy!

Celebration #13: Lazy Pajama Day with Chai Tea and Whipped Cream

2008-11-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

Red, White, and Blue, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #12: Tea with Dear Kim

2008-11-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

Birthday Tea, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

She is my soulmate friend. She loves God, her husband, her children, and me. What a gift she is in my life!

Celebration #11: Celebrating My Mother

2008-10-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the one who gave me life almost 50 years ago by raising $215 and walking in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk in Eugene, Oregon.

Thanks Mom!

Celebration #10: Celebrating My Brother's Life

2008-08-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

This may seem morbid, but I count this as one of my Fifty Celebrations to Fifty because death is a part of life.

Celebration #9: Reuniting with Rita and Family

2008-08-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

Celebration #9: Reuniting with Rita and Family, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Rita and her family braved rush hour traffic to come from Seremban to see us. What a good friend! We had a wonderful celebration laughing into the late night.

Celebration #8: Reuniting with Tini after Eight Years

2008-08-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

Seeing Tini in Malaysia was worth every minute of traffic we had to endure to get there and back. I love you, Tini!

Celebration #7: Breakfast at Taman Tun with Julie

2008-08-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

Actually, we also celebrated with Dave and Julie and Hannah the night before at a Thai restaurant, but we forgot our camera. So, this covers the whole celebration with old and dear friends. Julie and I had a good hike up Bukit Kiara like days of old, and we had this YUMMY Taman Tun treat for breakfast. Friends are reason for celebration!

Celebration #6: Soaking Wet in the Southeast Asian Rainforest

2008-08-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Soaking Wet in the Southeast Asian Rainforest, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Oh how I wanted to see the virgin forest of Brunei from the canopy walkway high above the forest floor, but just as we were ascending the stairs to the walkway, a HUGE storm came in, and we had to abort the mission. BUMMER! Another reason we need to come back!

Celebration #5 - Me at High Tea

2008-08-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

Me in the High Tea, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

August 11, 2008

Celebrate

2008-08-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

Celebrate, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

August 11, 2008

Celebration #4 - Sisterhood

2008-08-06T19:07:00.001-07:00

Celebration #4 - Sisterhood, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Teala and I went to see The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 because we saw the first one together, and we thought it would be fun to see another one. LOVED IT! I hope Teala and I can see sequel after sequel as the 20 something get married and have babies and gain weight and get wrinkles. . . Just like Teala and I have done over the last 30 years. We have grown up together. We are truly sisters although she got the short genes (5 feet even) and I got the TALL genes (6 feet 2 1/4). So, we think if we every had a Sisterhood movie it would have to be the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Shorts" because her pants would not be long enough for me. So, I will get the shorts, and they will be pants on her. LOL!

She is sitting next to me right now, and we are laughing . . .another thing you should not do when you are getting old because of the accident that could occur.

(BTW, I cropped this picture, but I realized that Colin Firth would be cropped out on the right, and I just couldn't do that to Colin. Can you see how I am squatting, but why is Teala also bending her knees? LOL!)

Happy Together

2008-08-06T19:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Together, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Celebration #3 - Mary's Peak Hike

2008-07-28T23:50:00.000-07:00

Mary's Peak Hike, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

It was a double celebration day as we hiked the East Ridge Trail to the top of Mary's Peak via Connor's Camp. It was great to hike hard and take in the beauty of the Oregon forest and spectacular views of the coastal range and Willamette Valley floor. The fellowship was sweet with dear friends and my family too.

Celebration #2: Breakfast with Dear Friends

2008-07-28T23:48:00.001-07:00

Celebration #2 - Breakfast with Dear Friends, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Teala, Debbie, and I were in Sheryl Rice's Design for Discipleship Bible Study back in the fall of 1979. It was so fun to CELEBRATE a musli breakfast with two of my dearest college friends this morning out on the patio at Nearly Normals.

Nearly Normal's Musli

2008-07-28T23:45:00.001-07:00

Nearly Normal's Musli, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Yogurt, Musli, Marion berry, raspberry sauce. YUM!

Celebration #1: Forty-Nine and Fine!

2008-07-27T23:27:00.001-07:00

Forty-Nine and Fine!, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Today was my 49th birthday, and the whole day was a celebration from the morning call from my brother to an evening dinner, walk, and dessert with Debbie and Ralph from Boise.

Forty-nine is oh so fine!