Five Loves on Friday // My Birthday Week

Happy Friday, friends!  Wanna peek at my birthday week?  Let's get right to the good stuff!

One  //  Birthdays are the Best 

Monday was my 43rd birthday!  Cue the confetti! ;)  I fully embrace each year added to my life with a grateful heart that God has blessed me with it.  None of us is promised another birthday, or another day for that matter.  I don't take for granted the gift of life, and even more importantly (since I know my life will one day end) I rejoice in knowing that I have eternal hope in Christ beyond my final breath.  Allow me the joy of sharing the lyrics to a song that sums up my life, my hope, what I will cling to now until my dying day.

 

In Christ alone my hope is found, 

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, 

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All, 

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine - 

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man, 

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

That is the song of my heart from now until this life's end.

This birthday was such a sweet one!  My heart is full thinking of all the love, laughter, family fun, and deliciousness that was fit into that one single day.  I don't have too many photos to share, but basically if I were Maria from The Sound of Music all the things of that day would've been included in the song "My Favorite Things". :)  My daughters' laughter, huge heartfelt hugs, my hubby who always fills my days with such love.  Receiving sweet messages from family and friends.  Sunshine, fresh air, fall plaid, and pumpkins.  Donuts on pretty plates, extra cheesy pizza, Pad Thai and egg rolls with sweet sauce for dipping.  Fun family flicks watched under a cozy new blanket.  Puppy snuggles and happy tail wags.  The smell and taste of a treat baked with love.  More on that to come...

Two  //  WDW Dining Reservations

I love this view of the wood-burning pizza ovens at Via Napoli ... and the pizza perfection baked up in them! 

My birthday began in such a magical way.  It was the day we secured all our dining reservations for our upcoming Disney World vacation!  We'll be enjoying meals at Raglan Road, Via Napoli, The Boathouse, 'Ohana, Sanaa, and Boma.  Dining is one of my favorite parts of vacation, so this made for a very exciting start to a Special Day!

Three  //  A Gift Baked with Love

When I requested a chocolate cake for my birthday my sweet hubby and youngest daughter were enthusiastic about granting my birthday wish.  My daughter came up with a cute design combining a few of my favorite things - plenty of chocolate, sprinkles, and heart!  They planned, shopped, and baked together and the end result warmed my heart and delighted my tastebuds!  

They made the heart topper from Hershey's chocolate bars - so creative!  I loved this sweet gift and it tasted every bit as good as it looked!  *Happy sigh*  

Four  //  A Thoughtful Gift That will Make My Hobby of Blogging Much More Enjoyable

The computer chair I've been using for the past four years has seen better days.  It had become very uncomfortable and after a couple hours working on a blog post I'd have a sore bum and lower back.  My awesome hubby took notice and came up with a gift idea that will make my time putting together posts extra comfy...

My heart is so light just thinking about the thoughtfulness and care that went into this gift choice!  What a man I have, he bakes for me and he gives me gifts that keep on giving!  He is one of the greatest gifts I've ever been given!  God is so very kind!

Five  //  Memories Cherished 

 

Something that I've really enjoyed this week is going back through photos of our 20th wedding anniversary.  I'm currently capturing memories from that couple's trip in my Trip Report Tuesday blogging series and the next post will definitely be one of my all-time favorites as it captures such a magical milestone day of celebrating!  I invite you to return and hear all about it on Tuesday!  

Thank you for spending a bit of your day with me today!  It's always joy to have you here!  Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Now I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for another round of Friday Favorites!  

Earlier This Week on Chatting Over Chocolate:

Direct Link to Post - Trip Report Tuesday: Throwback Edition // 20th Wedding Anniversary WDW Trip Day 5 | Magic Kingdom, Gingerbread Displays, Savanna Views, and an Evening at Epcot

Join me in the adventures to come!

Follow along on Bloglovin for future blog posts and on Instagram for snapshots and stories in between!

Five Loves on Friday // Birthday Celebrations and Fabulous Fall Family Fun!

Happy Friday, friends!  I'm so glad to be sharing a handful of loves with you today!  Let's get right to the good stuff! ...

One // Celebrating our "Little One"

(who's not so little anymore)!

 Her birthday was actually last week, but since technical troubles with our Mac kept me from posting last week, you know I have to squeeze this sweetness in today!

First, I'll share a little flashback!  Here's a photo collage I created for a blog post on the first birthday "Little One" celebrated after I started blogging here at Chatting Over Chocolate.

That was back when she was a single digit sweetie in 2013.  Pass the tissues, please and thank you!  I'm thankful to have been blogging here for the past six years.  I'm grateful to have such precious memories captured here and to be able to share another sweet occasion today!

This year's birthday fun...

I shared this story on Instagram, but can't resist repeating it here.  Many years ago while walking through this lovely pumpkin patch I commented on how fun it'd be to have an October baby and celebrate birthdays there.  Thinking about how God gave us that precious October baby a decade and a half ago, and that we enjoyed celebrating her birthday at that same pumpkin patch (per her request) causes my heart to overflow with gratitude!  God is so kind!

After God fulfilled the desire of my heart for a precious October baby years ago, we hosted her first few birthday parties with family and friends at that pretty pumpkin patch.  Weather in the Midwest is completely unpredictable in October though which makes planning outdoor events a bit challenging.  Her first birthday at this pumpkin patch everyone complained about it being too hot that day.  Her second birthday there it snowed!  Her third birthday we had a barn and campfire reserved, but it rained so heavily that that we decided to move the party elsewhere.  That was the last time we reserved one of their celebratory spaces, but not the last time we'd be back to celebrate our Birthday Girl!  

God blessed us with a gorgeous fall day to celebrate the kind and cute, talented and unique, fun-loving, bubbly girl who completed our family and has filled my heart with joy each day that I've had the great pleasure of being her mama!

Here are some snapshots from her Special Day ...

 The only time a spider is cute is when it's on a cookie. :)

Pig Races

 She shared. ;)

Fun photo ops were enjoyed, naturally.

My two sweet teens sitting at a tiny table. :)

Candy corn colored cuteness! 

Two  //  Birthday Tradition with Grandparents

Years ago when my parents asked what this sweet Birthday Girl would like for her Special Day, she requested a sleepover at their house along with a trip to Build-A-Bear.  They loved the idea and have been enjoying this annual tradition ever since!  (You never have to outgrow the fun of creating cuteness, right? :))  They pick her up in the early evening, enjoy fun at Build-A-Bear, go out for the dinner of her choosing, and then head back to their house for what is always a fun sleepover involving sweet times and special treats!  

This year they watched Toy Story 4 while chowing on her current favorite, Little Caesar's stuffed crust pretzel pizza followed by birthday desserts.  It was a fun and memorable evening for all three of them!

Meanwhile, Jason and I took our oldest daughter out for the dinner of her choice, Firehouse Subs, and headed out to the lake for an in-car picnic with a view.

  

*We watched with English subtitles.  Although, my sweet language loving girl is getting more fluent in Korean with each passing day.

When we returned home "Princess" and I started a new-to-us South Korean show, The Liar and His Lover.  (The title may sound scandalous, but it's really a cute PG rated K-Drama.)  It ended up being such a fun series that we finished it in 6 days!

Three  //  A Fantastic Fall Evening with Jason's Parents

Saturday evening my sweet in-laws came for dinner.  The weather was beautiful!  We took advantage of what was likely our last night of the season warm enough to dine outdoors.  We gathered around the table on our deck to savor the flavor of a scrumptious brisket Jason spent the day smoking for us. When the sun set we got cozy around our fire table and chatted for hours.  It was a fantastic fall evening well spent.

Four  //  Fall Family Walk in the Rain

I'm so glad we didn't let the forecast hinder our fall family walk at the zoo this week.  It ended up raining pretty good, but we all threw on the hoods of our jackets and darted into buildings to animal watch when the rain got heavier.  I'm still loving the pumpkin lined paths and the stunning fall shades of golden, orange, and red trees and bushes throughout the zoo.  They remind me why this is my favorite season of all!

Five  //  New Fall Shower Curtain

I love decorating for each season and holiday.  Fall is my favorite and adding sweet seasonal touches throughout our home truly warms my heart!  This week I added a new fall shower curtain to our bathroom and I couldn't adore it more! 

What are you celebrating this week?  A special occasion or the loveliness of a breathtaking fall day?  There is always a reason to celebrate life, rain or shine.  I hope your Friday is fantastic!

"...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."  - Philippians 4:8

EARLIER THIS WEEK 

AT CHATTING OVER CHOCOLATE:

Direct Link to Blog Post:  

Trip Report Tuesday - Day 13 // Animal Kingdom, Disney Outlet Shopping, and Moonlit Magic Kingdom Fun!

Join me in the adventures to come!

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Five Loves on Friday // My 41st Birthday Edition!

I write today's blog post with a mixture of emotions.  I began this to preserve the memories of a birthday I'll forever cherish.  However, as I return to my computer to finish a nearly completed post my celebratory mood has shifted.  We received a call this afternoon that my husband's last living grandparent, his precious Grandma Nancy is nearing death.  That being said, I'll be sharing much in this post about those I love, the simple joy of a birthday well celebrated, thoughts on brevity of life and the hope I have in the eternity that awaits.  

These loves are listed in chronological order. 

One  //  Pre-Birthday Celebrations

Last Tuesday Jason came home from work and said, "Well, your birthday weekend is coming up.  It's probably time to start talking about what you'd like to do.  I thought you might need this."  Then he pulled a yummy gift from his work bag that had me squealing with delight!  One of his co-workers has family in Wisconsin.  When Jason heard that he'd be WI bound he asked if he'd pick up a couple birthday gifts there for me.  This was such a thoughtful and scrumptious surprise!  We'd open it on my birthday and enjoy it throughout my birthday weekend!

I love cheese and there's nothing quite like Wisconsin aged cheddar!  Yum!

Tuesday evening we were invited for a birthday dinner party at my parents' place.  My mom cooked up a couple pans of comfort food and created a delightful dessert buffet too.  They also gave me such fun gifts - lots of fall themed goodness and some birthday cash that I plan to set aside to get something special during our upcoming Disneyland trip!

Since my birthday fell on Friday the 13th this year my mom decorated everything in a "spooky sweet" Halloween party theme.  There were orange and black streamers and balloons, cute signage, and sweet treats galore!  I so appreciated her attention to detail in decorating and the love she and my dad put into hosting this enjoyable evening together.

Two  //  A Fond Farewell to "40" 

I spent my last day of "40" with a rare solo morning and afternoon out.  Here's a peek at what I picked up while shopping, and where I headed when my trunk was full of fun purchases...

My first stop was Kohl's.  I had the best combination of discounts imaginable for this shopping trip!  My Kohl's app wallet held $10 of Birthday Kohl's Cash, $5 of Kohl's Cash I received for my Kohl's card anniversary, $10/$50 women's clothing purchase and 30% off coupons!  Here's how I used them...

{via Kohl's}

I found this perfectly polka dotted top with the cute flared sleeves and a pair of dark washed jeans. (I had to try on a gazillion pairs before choosing one!  Can anyone relate?  Buying jeans is one of my least favorite things, but worth the effort to find the right pair.)  I also picked up a beautiful Christmas gift for both my first born daughter and niece.  I walked out the door with all that for only $27 and some change!  Happy birthday to me!

After Kohl's I popped over to the Dollar Tree a few doors down and picked up some snacks for my family, beauty brushes, and a cold bottle of cherry Pepsi for few spare dollar bills I had in my bag.

Next, I decided to do something I've always thought about doing, yet never had.  I got some chinese takeaway from Panda Express and drove to the lake for a solo lunch.  I rolled the windows down, listened to some marvelous music, and eat 'n' drank in the view!  

I also enjoyed some rangoon alongside my bowl of sweet fire chicken breast.  They just didn't make it into this snapshot.

Afterward I swung by home to pick up my oldest daughter and we headed off for quick trip to Walmart.  We immediately made a beeline to the fall and Halloween aisle, then moved onto the essentials we actually needed. ;)  All in all, it was a terrific finale to "40"!

Three  //  My 41st Birthday!

One of the fantastic benefits of homeschooling is setting our own school calendar.  While we may not take snow days and all the same federal holidays as the public schools, we do take off our birthdays!

When thinking about how I wanted to spend my birthday, I knew that I wanted to set aside special one on one time with each of my daughters, enjoy a date with my husband, and include plenty of family fun too!  

Lunch with my Littlest Love

This was sure to be a super sweet day!

The celebration got into full swing at lunchtime with my youngest daughter.  We enjoyed a a lovely lunch, a fun flick, and a delicious dessert for two!  Our afternoon entertainment was a blast from the past.  Over the past couple years we've watched the 90's series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch.  I noticed there was a made for tv Sabrina movie that aired just prior to the series debut.  Neither of us had seen it, so we thought it was the perfect movie to cozy up for on that fun mom/daughter afternoon!

Do you recognize Sabrina's love interest in this movie?

Family Fun Time
...But First, a Thoughtful Surprise!

Jason got off of work a tad early to give us a bit more time together.  I was oh so happy to welcome him to his weekend early and head out for some fun in the sun!

Just as we prepared to dash out the door for a birthday outing, we got a huge box from Amazon.  He acted like he didn't know what it was and said it must be something I ordered.  I've done the majority of my Christmas shopping recently, but had already received everything I'd ordered.  I had no clue what it was and no thought that this was actually a gift for me.  He began to open the box and pulled out batteries that were placed on top.  Then I instantly thought, "Ok, this is some sort of electronic.  It's got to be for Jason." (Ha!)  My hubby then proceeded to ask for my assistance getting the item out of its gigantic packing box.  When I saw that it was something large and stainless steel I was even more baffled.  Until I realized exactly what it was, an automatic (motion sensor activated) garbage can! 

Ok, this may not be something that everyone would get excited over.  Yet, my husband knows me well and knew that I'd be over the moon to receive this gift!  You see, recently the mechanism on my step open trash can broke.  I was completely bummed about it.  This upgrade was an unexpected and wonderful surprise!  I'm loving how handy and convenient it is.  He's made germaphobic heart oh so happy! ;)  It's the little things, like the one I love most knowing me well enough to know just what I'd want (even though maybe no one else would) without having to say a word!  

A Birthday Stroll Through Botanical Beauty

The weather here was perfection on my birthday!  It was in the upper 70s with an abundance of sunshine!  This made my choice of a birthday outing so easy.  I couldn't think of a better way to spend it then with my loves on a stroll at one of my local happy places - the botanical garden!  

I walked hand in hand with my sweetheart, chatting and laughing with my three favorite people on the planet, admiring the beauty in God's creative design in every fabulous floral shape and shade!  My heart was so full!

It was very fitting that my daughter who snapped our photo was in full sun while the rest of us appear to be shaded, as one of her nicknames has been "Sunshine" since she was just an itty bitty baby girl!

Birthday Dinner

I was craving a great burger on this delightful day, so I requested Red Robin. "Yum!"  Our nearest Red Robin is in a neighboring city that's just a short drive away from the gardens.  Being that it was such a gorgeous day, I did some looking online to find a spot nearby where we could enjoy our food and that sweet sunshine simultaneously.  It turns out that there's a beautiful lake and recreation area only minutes from the restaurant that I'd never been to.  How perfect is that?  

I savored the flavor of this juicy Livin' Fajita Loca burger, the terrific time with my family, and the splendid scenery!  

The "Sweetest" Birthday Gift!

Earlier this year my husband and youngest daughter baked a simple chocolate cake together.  They seemed to enjoy it and I obviously enjoy cake, so my one gift request was that they bake me a birthday cake for us to enjoy together on my birthday evening.  Friends, I had no idea what they were about to come up with when I placed that simple request.  I wasn't asking for anything lavish.  I really thought maybe they'd have some dad/daughter fun just jazzing up a cake mix.  Boy, did I underestimate their drive to fulfill my request in the most delicious way possible!  They thoughtfully took into consideration my love of both chocolate and cherries and decided on to create a Black Forest cake that dreams are made of!  They spent Thursday evening shopping for ingredients and Friday when we returned from my birthday dinner at the lake they were ready to bake up some birthday bliss, completely from scratch!

Meanwhile, "Princess" and I got cozy in the living room and binge watched all the birthday episodes of The Cosby Show on Amazon.  We laughed and chatted while the other half of our family spent two and a half hours in the kitchen creating a masterpiece in cake form!  

Once they were preparing to assemble the four layer cake and begin decorating it, Jason called "Princess" in to take what she called a "mom amount" of pictures to capture it all for me!  Again, he knows me so well!  These photos (and others, along with a fun video of them at work) were some of the best gifts I received!  

My littlest love used a cheese grater on a giant Hershey bar to create the chocolate shavings they'd decorate the cake with.  The recipe my husband used called for three layers, but he always has to outdo himself so he went for four!  As you can see in the finished cake pics it began to slide just a bit before I captured some pictures of the completed cake.  I wasn't a bit concerned about that as we were prepping to slide some onto our plates asap anyway! ;)

My favorite baking duo!

I mean seriously, this was AMAZINGLY delicious!  Photos don't even do it justice!  The only thing sweeter than their gift was all the thought, care, and dad/daughter teamwork put into creating, baking, and decorating it with such love!  I am blessed so far beyond what I deserve!  I praise God for the gift of family, for love, for incredibly thoughtful gifts, and for tastebuds to fully enjoy every scrumptious bit of the goodness on that day (and always)!

One on One time with my Firstborn Sweetie

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries // Murder She Baked

For my one on one time with my oldest daughter I chose a girls mystery movie night!  She's really starting to get into Hallmark Movies & Mysteries like her mama, so I picked up a birthday gift for myself (a 5-movie dvd collection of Murder She Baked) for us to watch together.  (The title sounds scary, but it's really a Hallmark style mystery with more love story than suspense.)  The first in the series is called "A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery".  Naturally we had to bake some mini chocolate chip cookies to enjoy with our fun flick!  However, after eating a huge slice of that beloved birthday cake I couldn't get past a couple tiny cookies.  Most were enjoyed later in the weekend with another movie in this series.  It was such a fun ending to a completely wonderful day!

Four  //  Birthday Weekend Date Night

If you've been around here for a bit, you will not be a bit surprised by my dinner date choice - Thai takeout!  Mmm!  We relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.  It was a sweet and simple night with the one who has held my heart for the past 21 birthdays!  We began dating at 19 in the spring of 1998.  Were engaged a few months later on the 4th of July and were married (both just a few months into our 20s) on November 14th of that year.  It was a whirlwind romance and remains a long lasting love, all through God's grace and goodness.  No matter how many more birthday God affords me with this wonderful man of mine and the beautiful children God has blessed us with, this birthday, will forever be one of my favorites!

Five  //  Life and Hope in Death

As I mentioned in the opening, I'm returning to my computer to finish this post, now knowing that my husband's grandmother is nearing death.  It is crystal clear in this week of celebrating life, just how fleeting this life truly is.  None of us know when we'll celebrate our last birthday, or last day for that matter.  The one thing we can be certain of is what the God who created you and I has made abundantly clear to us through His trustworthy Word, the Bible.  Today I'd like to give you a glimpse into the desperate state I found myself in upon examining my life's actions, thoughts, and motives in light of God's Word.  I'd also like to share how and in Whom I have found hope and rest, today and always.

The Bad News that Makes the Good News Exceedingly Good...

When I looked at the mirror of God's Law, The Ten Commandments, I saw that I stood guilty before a Holy and Just God.  I have lied, dishonored my parents, taken God's Name in vain, coveted what was not my own, failed to honor God above all others, and the list goes on and on.  I knew I had a serious problem.  Could my "good deeds" help me?  The Bible assures me in Isaiah 64:6 that nothing I have to offer can bribe God.  It says, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy rag."  I knew I had broken His Laws.  I also knew that "inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement" (Hebrews 9:27).  Knowing this grievous truth, where does my hope come from?  Romans 6:23 sheds a light on it, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  My hope is in Jesus!

God sent His Son, Jesus, to live the sinless life that He alone, being fully God/fully man could.  Jesus died on the cross, bearing the wrath of God that sinners like myself deserve.  Three days later He rose from the grave, victorious over sin and death.  When I repented and placed my trust in Jesus, His payment for my sin was credited to me.  I didn't earn it and don't deserve it.  As Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "it is a gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  He gets all the glory due to Him!

I don't know how many more birthdays I will have in this life.  I recently heard of a YouTuber who died suddenly a few months into the age of 41 within about a week of being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.  We aren't all promised a long life upon this earth.  I don't know if I'll live into my 80s as my husband's dear grandmother has, or if this year shall be my last.  I hope that when I draw my last breath, whether it be soon or many decades from now, that I will not leave the incredible gift of salvation and eternal life that my Savior has offered to me and offers to you, unshared.  That is why I'm sharing this with you today, dear readers and cherished friends.  Out of sincere care for you, I ask that you'll think about the day when you will stand before God.  Do as the Bible instructs us to in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves."  Please, do so today.  We aren't promised tomorrow.  It is the only thing that will matter one hundred years from now, a thousand years from now, and for all of eternity.  For more information visit: NeedGod.com. 

Thank you for being here today.  I praise God for this opportunity to share with you the joys of this life, and more importantly, the hope that lies with me for eternal life to come!

Join me in the adventures to come!

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