80 YEARS YOUNG - November 24, 1932-2012

The best kept secret is about to be unfolded and revealed.

The guests have arrived, the table is laden with delicious finger foods and Mackie is tending the food table.  Mackie is the precious woman that let me highjack the Young At Heart meeting as a cover for this entire venture.

 The banner is hung, Phyllis & Tanya are ready to serve the punch and the guest book has been signed by the guests.

Mickey & I entering (sorry the picture is so dark).  He was TOTALLY surprised and the tears came to his eyes as it starting registering on him that ALL these people were here to honor him.

 Mickey went around both sides of the 2 long table set-up greeting each & every person who had come.

 Greeting his dear friend, Ronnie Young.  Ronnie is the one who came and mowed the grass and did so much for us after Mickey's heart bi-pass surgery 4 years ago.  Also the one who got him involved in Bee Keeping and whom he still helps on occasion.  They also work in Royal Rangers together with the young boys of our church.  

 Another shot of the crowd finally eating. 

 The family at the head table, Benny, Son-in-love Dave, Eldest Son David (who flew in from San Francisco unannounced for the event) Grandson Aric

 Daughter Jacque greeting her beloved father.

 Youngest son Marc (who helped pull this surprise off from the very start), our granddaughter Oksana (who Marc flew in from Indiana for this surprise) and grandson Aric. 

 Mickey with his 2 1/2 year younger brother Jerry (who drove in from Nashville)

 This isn't too clear but Jeanne, (who hosted this wonderful event and literally made it happen) is on the stage with the mic as the crowd plays Mickey Trivia and she throws candy bars to the ones with the right answer!  In the background playing, during the entire evening, is the video presentation our son Marc put together with pictures I selected depicting Mickey throughout his life.  The background music on the video was "Why Me Lord" by Vern Jackson.  This is Mickey favorite song and one he relates to.

 Mickey & Susan just prior to the cutting of the cake.

The party carried over into the small group Real Christianity class Kent & I teach on Sunday mornings.  We served left over birthday cake, more cards were brought, by those who weren't able to make the party, and

  Jasmine & Sean brought him this silly cap.

Thanks so much to the more than 80 people who showed their love and affection to this wonderful man I have been honored to call husband for 54 years. 

I LOVE YOU FOREVER, MICKEY JOYCE, and that is no SURPRISE to any and all who know us!!!! 

Shhh, It's a SURPRISE

The invitations read:  

Happy 80th Birthday Mickey

Shhh, It's a Surprise!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

6:30 pm

Main building 

(multi-purpose room by the small kitchen)

Please join us to celebrate

Mickey Joyce's 80th years young

Birthday Bash!

Bring finger food to share and help us

honor this special Brother in Christ.

Cake and Punch will be served

Coweta Assembly of God Church

29707 E State Highway 51

Coweta, OK 74429

RSVP Jeanne Oswald

(her phone #'s which I'm not including!)

The fb notice of event went out and 105 were invited. 

After MUCH planning and sneaking around keeping this a secret the day finally arrived!!

Tim & Phyllis hanging the banner, Michele in the foreground.

Tim, Jeanne, Phyllis & Michele hard at work on the balloons.

The tables & chairs all in place as Tim, Jeanne & Michelle take a small break

Some of the decorating "stuff"

Hostess with the mostest, my dear friend Jeanne who came up with all the wonderful ideas and decorations, setting the first of many center pieces that were made that morning.

Son Marc brought the cake and punch ingredients and it is set in place

Phyllis & Tanya ready to serve

The 80 some guests have arrived and the table laden with good eats is ready!!!

Gift & Surprises Part III

I cannot believe it has taken m 24 days to get back to finishing up about this trip.  In a few more days I'll be able to tell you why :o) 

Friday, October 5th, David drove us to the San Francisco airport about 5 a.m. to catch our American Airlines flight back to Tulsa.  We were scheduled to arrive at 2:15 and Marc was picking us up.  The plane loaded but was a few minutes late and we were a little concerned about making the connection we had to make in Dallas.  When we landed in Dallas we RUSHED to the gate, we needed to be on, and boarded just in time.  We were so relieved.  

So we settled down in our comfortable 1st class seats, 2nd row on the right.  Then the pilot came on the speaker and said,  "We are going to be leaving a few minutes late because we are awaiting a connecting flight."  No problem.  We wait and we wait.....finally a bunch of American stewards and pilots come rushing on board.  So that was who we were waiting for!!  Then we wait and the pilot came on and said, "We have a minor problem with an engine light and we are waiting for a mechanic to check this out."  We wait and we wait and we wait....."The mechanic has arrived and we will be leaving shortly".... and we wait and wait ....."We have a shift change and the mechanic is leaving and they are sending another."  WHAT????  Shortly..... "The mechanic needs just a small part and has left to go get it from the service area across the field."  Everyone is patiently sitting, at least in our 1st class area.  We have no idea what it must be like in the main seating with 3 narrow seats.  The little female stewardess is literally running up and down the isles tossing bags of snacks to the people and offering water.  Trying to "feed the animals"?

Mickey and I knew instantly what was going on...because we have a big American plant in Tulsa...and are aware their is a labor dispute between American Airlines and the pilot union.  This was definitely a "quiet demonstration".  Because we had no connecting flight to worry about, and because it was afternoon Mickey & I just sat and visited and I worked a lot of puzzles in my Sudoku puzzle book.  

FINALLY, after 2 1/2 hours we are in the air and on our way to Tulsa.  We arrive at 5:30 and Marc, who we had been in contact with telling him, "we're still on the ground" and finally, "we're finally in the air" was waiting for us.  We had to go to Owasso, to Marc's house, to get Mickey's pick-up.  Marc says, "We'll have to jump the pick-up because the battery is dead."  No problem.  We decide to go out to eat before heading home so pick up Aric at the house and go to Red Robin.  Have a delightful meal and visit with Marc & Aric, telling them all about our trip.  

We leave Red Robin and are going to head to Marc's get our pick-up and head home.  Oooopppps.....Marc's car will not start!!  WHAT???  He has jumper cables so a man in a car pulls up beside us and Marc asks him if he will let us jump the battery.  He is very nice and we think wheee "thank you Lord".  Well, guess what?  The car will still not start.  The man offers to drive us where ever we need to go, even offering to drive us to Coweta (which is a 40 mile trip) but we thank him and call AAA for service.  About 45 minutes later the man comes out of Red Robin after his meal, we are still waiting for AAA who hasn't shown up yet so and we tell him if he really doesn't mind we'll take him up on the ride.  Mickey, myself and Aric all hop in his vehicle and he drives us to Marc's, which is a very short distance away.  Then this wonderful man helps Mickey & they jump the battery on the pick-up.

AAA finally arrives and Marc's vehicle is hauled to a near by Auto repair store, Tate Bros., so he can get it fixed the next morning.  Mickey picks Marc up and brings him home.  It is now so late, and at this point Marc has no vehicle so we decide to just spend the night with Marc & Aric.

Tate Bros. got right on his vehicle the next morning and had it done  by noon.  By the way.....it was the starter, and of course a $300+ bill.  So after a nice breakfast at IHOP we drop Marc off to pick up his vehicle and we head to our home in Coweta, a day later.

I have to say, it was an exciting end to an exciting wonderful trip that we will never forget!!!  We live such an exciting life.  

GIFT & SURPRISES Part II

The wonderful gift from our #1 son, David, was First Class American Airlines Tickets first to Phoenix on September 29th, and covered in the preceding post about my surprising a blog/fb friend, then from Phoenix to San Francisco on October 1st to visit our son.

Early morning (4:30 am) September 29th as our wonderful son, Marc, takes us to the airport.

We arrive right on time in San Fran and David picks us up at the airport.    David & Karin have a wonderful Shish-q-bob dinner catered in for us this first night.

They have a beautiful condo with a fantastic view!!  I took this shot early Tuesday morning, while everyone else was still sleeping.  My little camera really didn't catch the beautiful off their deck.  It was very clear and the moon was a beautiful golden color.

A day time, clear shot, view from the same deck.

Karin & Mickey pointing up to their upstairs condo.  The apartments are upstairs and the garages are below. 

On Tuesday Karin went to work and David, Mickey & I just hung around the condo and enjoyed each other and visiting.  David, who travels all over the U.S. with his job, scheduled vacation time so he could be with us during these 5 days of our visit in San Francisco.  That evening they have Indian food catered in.  Different to our tastes but yummy.  The four of us watched a Leo Gigglio tape How Great is Our God which we had brought with us.

Wednesday Karin took off at 2.  David picked her up and we went sight seeing.  Karin did all the driving in her Volkswagen, stick shift with power pack.  She was an amazing driver, going up and down the packed, steep streets of traffic.  She drove us down Lombard street, the famous crooked street, but I failed to get a picture. 

The Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.  Mickey & I had been here on our RV travel trips.

Father, Son & Mom 

Karin & David 

David had researched things for us to see and do and one of them we decided on was visiting The Parrots of Telegraph Hill.  From the above picture we are preparing to walk down a series of 289 steps and then back up to Coit Tower.

A view of the skyline, on this overcast Wednesday, just before we began our decent. 

Lovely, very expensive and lovely apartments & condo's all along the way down.  

The beautiful gardens as we are making our way along the 289 steps.

Another view as we are making our decent.  The corker of this excursion was we saw not ONE, nadda, Parrot but it was a fun climb.  There would be 10 or 12 steps and then a landing and it would turn a degree, and then another group of steps, etc.  Coming back up we had to keep stopping and catching our breath but we made it!!!  

Hurried back to their condo and ordered Pizza and watch the 1st Presidential debate together.  Fun!!!  And no arguments :o)

Thursday David took Karin to work and then the 3 of us went out for another day of sightseeing.

First was the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts - This was October 4th which was our 54th Anniversary.  What a beautiful way to spend it, in this beautiful city with our son.  We are so grateful for the wonderful marriage God has enabled us to build, even through some difficult times along the way.  

Next to Pier 45 

David & Mickey enjoyed touring this submarine.  I sat on a park bench and waited for them and visited with a young couple from Bonn, Germany. 

We drove up and down many street to find this Mel's Drive-in.  Made famous from the firm American Graffiti.

Wonderful diner meals, we all choose something different and with my meetload dinner I had a yogart malt.  A first for me, and it was very good. 

Autographed items and pictures on the walls from the movie.

One of the places David for sure wanted us to see was this beautiful Grace Chapel.

Built 163 years ago.  I tried to take pictures of the beautiful inside stained glass windows but my little camera didn't get good shots.

Son & Mom climbing 40 steps up to the chapel (after our 289 yesterday this was nothing!!)

Added unexpected treats of the day was they were setting up for The Americus Race and The Blue Angels were flying over us!!! 

Then it was home where we enjoyed a shrimp platter, cheese & crackers & left over pizza.  We watch a Bill Cloud dvd we had brought with us.  Early to bed as we had to be at the airport early for our flight home.

There is MORE to this story, but since this post is so long I'm going to make a Part III of this wonderful gift, trip & adventure.

Thank you David for making our 54th a really special treat with this wonderful trip and visit. 

GIFT'S & SURPRISES

Where does one begin on a Saga (Any long story of heroic deeds)  like this one?  At the beginning!!

This one began with our oldest son's gift of a 1st Class flight on American Airlines to visit him (David) and Karin in their lovely San Francisco condo.

David first invited us to come in early spring, but with my just beginning a new Small Group Class, for the first time, at our church we did not feel we could leave at that time.  Over the summer we kept trying to find a time to go and as Mickey & my 54th (yes 54th!!) anniversary was approaching on October 4th we decided that would be a perfect time for this trip and special celebration.

I have had in my heart to somehow, sometime, someway, make a trip to visit our wonderful blog friends, Danny & Kathy Wright who live in Phoenix, who spent a few days with us over July 4th, 2011.

SO - I called David and told him I had a request.  Since he was flying us to California, would it be possible for him to first fly us into Phoenix for 2 days and then into San Francisco.  His response, "Sure Mom!!  But why do you want to go to Phoenix?"  I explained and the wheels were set in motion.

Step #2 - I privately e-mailed Danny and told him I wanted to pay a surprise visit to Kathy and to show up at their worship service on Sunday morning.  He answered me back and was excited about the event and asked him if he could share it with Mary Lee Glassman, their very close friend who is like family.  I did not know Mary Lee well, but did know her a little bit from fb and that was totally agreeable with me,  So Mary Lee and I were in contact, by e-mail,  as all the details were put together.  It could not have been done as smoothly as it was had it not been done with Mary Lee's help.  The added benefit, Mary Lee is now a good friend!!

The three culprits, in our see no evil (Susan) , hear no evil (Danny), speak no evil (Mary Lee) pose.

 Susan & Mickey as we are leaving our son's (Marc) home in Owasso early morning, September 29th, for our 6 a.m. flight.  We drove to Marc's home in Owasso to leave Mickey's new/old pick-up and for him to take us to the airport.  Praise God for a son who will arise at 4 a.m. on a Saturday morning to help and accommadate his parents.  Side note - We are blessed with the best kids!!

We arrived in Phoenix at 9:10 a.m. and since we decided we didn't want to spend the day at a motel or movie, etc., waiting for Sunday church, when we could be spending it with these dear precious friends and their 2 children Danny came up with the idea of our showing up at their house for coffee.  He additionally got Kathy out of the house for a short time under the pretense of visiting some garage sales.

Mary Lee picked us up at the airport - (she had generously offered, in the very beginning, to be our "wheels" and that we didn't have to rent a car) .  She has a key to their home to let us all in. Bethany & Daniel were home and Danny had told them just before they left what was going on.  

So Mickey & I are quietly, and nicely sitting on a love seat in the living room with Mary Lee beside the love seat.  Danny & Kathy come in through the garage door and Kathy proceeds into the kitchen and is doing things.  

 After a few minutes she starts for this living room.  Here is Kathy in total shock!!!

 Danny, Mickey & Kathy having a good chuckle that we had pulled off such a great surprise. Here is Kathy's fb post from this wonderful morning: It takes a lot to pull a surprise off on ole' Kathy, but these 3, Mary Lee Glassburn, Danny Wright, and Susan Errett Joyce have done just that. Susan and her beloved Mickey are our dear friends from Coweta, Oklahoma whom we came to know thr

ough Danny's and Susan's early blogging adventures. Our connection in Christ drew us into a very easy and deep friendship, and finally last year (summer to be exact) Danny and I and the children had the blessed opportunity to spend a few days as Mickey and Susan's guests in their home in Coweta. It was like a reunion even though it was our first face to face meeting. Lo and behold, Susan (the most adventurous one out of all of us) got an idea to come and see US, and here they are! I had NO IDEA they were coming, and I cannot even begin to explain my delight and joy. We are looking forward to the next two days with our dear friends. Folks, we're talking WEEKS of a really well kept secret. I am loving this!

 
  

 Susan, Mickey, Mary Lee, Daniel, Bethany, Danny & Kathy at Meme's Cafe Saturday evening.  All who know me know how I love & treasure, "Breaking bread together" with dear Christian friends.  We were all 7 blessed to do so 3 times during this brief visit:  Here at Meme's on Saturday evening, Kathy serving us a wonderful meal on Sunday after church at their home, and on Monday morning at Denny's for brunch before catching our 2:30 plane on to San Francisco. 

 Sunday morning Mary Lee, along with Brethany & Danial, picked us up and took us to Covenant of Grace Christian Fellowship where they all worship and serve our Lord.

 Kathy leading worship, at the keyboard, Danny to the left (didn't get him in the picture due to the lighting) on the drums.  Kathy did say she was glad we surprised her at her home on Saturday and not in Church, during worship, on Sunday.  She felt she might have "lost it" had that occurred.  God always works out the "details" best!

 The three bloggers, fb'ers, Danny, Susan & Kathy in front of the additional building at their Phoenix home on Sunday afternoon. 

Monday morning Mary Lee picked us up at our motel and the 5 of us got to spend more delightful time with each other at Danny & Kathy's lovey home (pictured below). 

Bags packed and on the curb and final picture of Mickey & Mary Lee as she prepares to drive us to brunch and then the airport.  Mary Lee even took a days vacation on Monday to do this!!  What a new, dear, precious friend you are Mary Lee.  Thank you again!

The next post will continue this wonderful trip with our time in San Francisco with our #1 son David who made it ALL possible.

Thank you David and thank you Lord Jesus for giving me yet another "desire of my heart!".