"What does the hat say?"

"What does the hat say?" at Ruth Short's 80th birthday tea party.

A Vintage 1933 Tea Party.
For a special vintage 80 year old - Ruth Short.

Full of vintage memories.
...And vintage party hats.

Every year my mom faithfully polishes a family heirloom silver tea service that sits on my buffet. We never use it. She just polishes it and polishes it and polishes it...year after year after year.

When we were deciding how to celebrate her big birthday, Cassidy reminded us how she loved to play tea party with her and Kristen as little girls with play tea sets. That memory became the theme of her 80th birthday. We were going to do it...use her cherished silver tea set to celebrate her big day.

The tables were set with tea and treats and nice dishes and dainty old hankies for napkins.  

Banners of old photos telling the story of her 80 years were hung as decorations.

For her gift, we had a collection of 80 used books (she loves to read.) Family members sent us a collection of 80 words and phrases that she was remembered by.(many were very kind and some hilarious!) We made bookmarks with one of those special words/phrases on it. The books were wrapped in clear party bags so she could see the book and the word/phrase on the bookmark. She could unwrap them one by one as she read them making this a gift that lasts a LONG time. It was a mini - memory library in a basket trunk. She loved it!

Many of her friends and family who couldn't be here took part in a birthday card shower. It was a treat to hear her joy in receiving all those special cards.

That sounds like a great party. Right? 

Well...there was one more thing we needed...party hats. Not just regular paper hats...this was a tea party and mom loves dressy fancy stuff. So what else would go with her silver tea service? Vintage dress up hats! Lots of them. It was fun to collect and try on these interesting hats and decide which hat goes to who. Many were found at thrift stores and some were found tucked away in closets. Everyone enjoyed dressing up in their fancy hat for this very special lady.

There are years of love under each of these special party hats...and...it takes a lot of love to wear one! The photos that follow will finish this sweet story and say more then I could ever write. 

So here goes...."What does the hat say...to you?" Join the party and post a comment below!

Ruth(birthday girl)& Bill(husband)

   Dale(son)& Sandy(daughter-in-law)

Johanna(daughter)& Lynn(son-in-law)

Stephanie(daughter)& Gordy(son-in-law)

Eric(grandson)& Cecilia(grand daughter-in-law)

Kristen(grand daughter)& Cassidy(grand daughter)

Nick(grandson) & Nate(grandson)

Natalie (grand daughter) & Emma (great grand daughter)

Judah (great grandson)

Rick(grandson-in-law)& Lincoln (great grandson)

Mom's 80 years are full of love...even in the not so good times. 

Her love for God and family has sure been her life theme. 

SO what do the hats say to me?

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

What does the hat say to you? 

"It was 96 until I ate that apple pie."

"It was 96 until I ate that apple pie," says Ruth.

Ruth.
My 'getting ready to be 80' mom.
My great model of a giving heart.
My reason to be in a heart surgery waiting room today.

Those of you that know her would agree...my mom has a very generous heart that's quite unique and very one-of-a-kind. All she loves to do, she will do with all her heart for you. From soup and fried chicken to flowers and sewing to ironing and praying.

She really prays and irons. And..she irons everything...even sheets & dish cloths. I have to say there's nothing like sleeping in freshly ironed sheets..esp if you didn't iron them. (I have to pray to iron.) Mom just has a big heart that works really hard at loving us in her unique way.

Today her aging hard working heart is getting some needed medical attention. (She did well.)

As the doctor questioned her about her medical history, mom was her usual talkative self giving the answers and then some. After a number of humorous and often too much info answers, this doctor became wise.  He asked her, "What is your blood sugar?" Her answer was, "It was 96 until I ate that apple pie." Before she could even begin to give him the pie recipe, he quickly responded with, "The important question is...was the apple pie good?"

Often we can miss tasting the pie in life...we miss the little blessings..the good that God does for us when life is hard. In the mean time, life wears us down and sometimes wears us out.

My important question to you is, "What good thing is God doing for you in the middle of your tough times?
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Psalm  34:8