We Pulled Off a SURPRISE Retirement Party for Richard!

Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.














Amy told me a few weeks back that she wanted to throw a retirement party for her Dad. As we talked about it, we decided to host it at our house as this last week of school is so very busy for her. We decided to make it a surprise and led her dad to think that it was a going-away party for friends who are leaving in June. He had to be given a reason for the party for we would be making food and setting up tables to host about 20 people in our home!! I made the guest list and told Richard all of the couples who would be coming. He didn't know that Brian, Amy, and the kids would be here for the party so that is how we surprised him. (NOTE: Chip wanted to be here but of course, Sundays are his big day of ministry. At over 300 miles away, he just wasn't able to buzz on down after church. We spent 5 days with Chip right after Richard's retirement and he "feted" his dad's retirement during that time.)

After all of the guests (6 couples from church: James & Ann, Jerry & Peggy, John & Jeanette, Dan & Dorothy, John & Regina, Ed & Arda ) arrived on Sunday night after church, I called Amy to ask if I could "borrow" something and if she could bring it over. Well, she and her whole family walked in and that's when Jaden handed the invitation to Grandpa and said, "Here Grandpa, read this!"

URL of video of Richard reading the invitation AT the party that you can copy and paste into your favorite browser: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3b93043a744af0c259c5

We had a good meal with Chipped Ham Bar-B-Que sandwiches (Brian's mother's recipe that Amy recommended), potato chips, a veggie tray, and a mixed fruit bowl.

After we ate, we had a "Congratulations, Richard" cake with coffee or punch. Here is the URL for the video of the group singing and of Richard and the grandkids waiting to blow out the candle: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=63c71afd2721bf306c53

Everyone gave Richard some retirement exhortations using words starting with the letters R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T and that was fun. Richard opened the cards from our friends and then it was time to wind down as ALL OF THOSE WORKING PEOPLE had to get home to bed and be ready for the Monday morning alarm. We didn't set ours. :) Here are some pics of our fun evening:

Christmas Party Blessings

Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.


The tables are set and we await our guests as we come together to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.... (Click on any pic to enlarge for a better view)



Richard and I always enjoy hosting our annual "Couples Christmas Party" which this year included inviting 8 couples to our home. This year we were privileged to have our new pastor and co-pastor and their wives attend as our very special guests. We have grown to love Dr. Neal and Tracy and Dr. Lloyd and Karen. (I don't use last names on my blog.) In addition, the following couples came: John and Jeanette, Jeff and Sandra, Ed and Arda, James and Ann, Jerry and Peggy, and Larry and Margie. With Richard and me, there were 9 couples so we had 3 tables set to accommodate 3 couples at each. The ladies helped with the meal so we had delicious food and precious fellowship. Richard and I can only hope that our friends enjoyed it half as much as we did. Here are some pics from our party which was held on Sunday night, December 9.

Ed and Arda are the first to arrive. Here comes Arda with her tray of veggies and dip.


Jeanette and Karen visiting.


Fellowshipping during dinner...


We played a Christmas Carol game and then shared around the circle...




Our friends graciously posed for pics...



Merry Christmas from Richard and Susan!

FRIENDS ~~ special gifts from God

Proverbs 18:24~~ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly....

Richard and I hosted a dinner party last night. We had met a new couple in Sunday School three weeks ago who are new here and have come to enter into the ministry of which we are a part. Having moved here just 5-1/2 years ago from my hometown of where I lived my first 50 years, I remember that one of my biggest concerns was "would I be able to make any new friends ~~ real friends." I thought that might be a concern for this new couple who moved here from out-of-state just 4 weeks ago so we had a "Welcome Jerry and Peggy Party!"

In addition to Jerry and Peggy, we invited 4 other couples which made for a total of 12 people. That way, I was able to seat the men at our kitchen table and the ladies at our dining room table. The men were able to chat with Jerry and the ladies were able to chat with Peggy. It certainly sounded like our ladies table had the most fun. :) Except for Peggy, our guest of honor, the other 4 ladies each brought a dish so that made for some good eating! We had chicken cordon bleu, squash casserole, slaw, cheesy potatoes, bread, and 3 different desserts. I want to thank James and Ann, Ed and Arda, John and Jeanette, and Jeff and Sandra for coming, bringing a dish for the dinner, and showing themselves friendly to Jerry and Peggy. It was good food, great fellowship, and a special time of sharing prayer requests and closing our evening in prayer. Welcome to our new friends!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so thankful for the DEAR friends with which God has blessed Richard and me here. He is so faithful in every area of our lives. Here is a cute story that was read at the party last night. You might enjoy a chuckle from it....

DINNER FOR EIGHT

A group of country friends from the Cottonwood Baptist Church wanted to get together on a regular basis, socialize, and play games. The lady of the house was to prepare the meal.

When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts - Janet wanted to outdo all the others. Janet decided to have mushroom-smothered steak. But, mushrooms are expensive. She then told her husband, "No mushrooms. They are too high." He said, "Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of those mushrooms? There are plenty in the creek bed." She said, "No, some wild mushrooms are poison." He said, "Well, I see varmints eating them and they're OK. So - Janet decided to give it a try. She picked a bunch, washed, sliced, and diced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back porch and gave Ol' Spot's (the yard dog) a double handful. Ol' Spot ate every bite.

All morning long, Janet watched Ol' Spot and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect him, so she decided to use them. The meal was a great success, and Janet even hired a helper lady from town to help her serve. She had on a white apron and a fancy little cap on her head. After everyone had finished, they relaxed, socialized, and played 42 & Mexican dominoes.

About then, the helper lady from town, came in and whispered in Janet's ear. She said, "Mrs. Williams, Ol' Spot just died." Janet went into hysterics. After she finally calmed down, she called the doctor and told him what had happened.

The doctor said, "That's bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quick as possible. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them calm."

Soon they could hear the siren as the ambulance was coming down the road. The EMTs & the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump. One by one, they took each person into the bathroom, gave them an enema, and pumped out their stomach. After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now, and he left."

They were all looking pretty weak sitting around the living room, and about this time, the helper lady came in and said, "You know, that fellow that ran over Ol' Spot never even stopped!!!

John and Jeanette~~ Jewels in Friendship

If you have read about my birthday dinner and what happened after dinner, you will know where these friends are and what they are doing. :) Someone commented this morning how that it seems like we have made lots of friends in Pensacola. God has truly blessed us with PRECIOUS friends in our 5-1/2 years here, and we praise HIM for that. This is John and Jeanette. Richard has the privilege of eating lunch with them at work most every day. We enjoy getting together in each other's homes and they are our "let's-eat-out" buddies as well. J&J: thank you for your special and precious friendship!!