Happy birthday, Scott and Colin!

We spent the day yesterday at the home of my brother, Al, and his wife, Kathy, seen below with her father, Phil . . .

My son, David, came, too . . .

Scott, the oldest of Al and Kathy's three sons, and Colin, the youngest, have always shared celebrations because their birthdays fall just a few days apart . . .

They are such hams . . .

I love these birthday parties when three generations of family get together. Here's Kathy's brother, Dan, and his wife, Kelly . . .

Al and Kathy are very laid back, and their house has always been the hangout for all their kids' friends. Below, my nephew Kevin and his friend, Shawn, watch me prepare a Greek salad . . . Actually, I think Kevin was just keeping a close eye on the Kalamata olives . . .

I love the openness of Al and Kathy's kitchen, where you can cook while the party swirls around you . . .

Greek salad . . . olives, tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, lettuce, feta cheese . . .

The birthday boys with their auntie . . .

Staring contest between David and Jake-the-dog . . .

My nephew, Kevin . . .

Colin and his friend, Jenii . . .

Beautiful cupcakes by Jenii! I'm going to have to try making these . . .

We've gone to these parties every year ever since the boys were born. It's been a privilege, and a true pleasure, to play a small role in their lives and watch them grow up!

A Housewarming Basket

We put together this basket for my nephew Scotty and his wife, Jackie. These newlyweds just bought their first house and have wasted no time in turning it into a charming home.

The inspiration for the basket came from that old classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life." The basket consists of:

• Bread (That this house may never know hunger)
• Salt (That life may always have flavor)
• Wine (That joy and prosperity reign forever)
• A 60th Anniversary DVD of "It's a Wonderful Life"
• A dish towel (just because)
• A framed plaque displaying the blessing

And here I add my own prayer: May your home always be filled with love and laughter. God bless!

Tempus fugit . . .

Another picture from Scotty's wedding. The five boys are now men.

A Wedding Poem

Bright faces surround the woman in white,
the man in black, the sweetness of their attention
to each other a shine rising toward the high ceiling.
The men watch the groom, and the women
the bride, as they speak their candle-lit vows,
as if there were something in it for us personally.

Worn by the distances we the already-married
have traveled down the road on which these two
are setting out, we leave the dust of the journey
outside the door of this house where tonight no word
is casual, no posture undignified, and each
becomes again handsome in them, beautiful in them.

—Thomas R. Smith

Here's wishing you all the happiness in the world, Scott and Jackie!

Wedded Bliss

My godson, Scott, the oldest of my brother's boys, just got married. Weddings tend to follow traditional patterns, but some things do change over the years. Take bubbles: Now, instead of rice, newly married couples are showered with bubbles. I don't exactly know why, but it sure does make for a cute picture.