Seventeen

My words cannot fully express the love, care, and admiration I have for my oldest daughter. I’m grateful that I haven’t missed a single moment in witnessing the incredible person she has become. Seventeen amazing years, plus the nine months she spent being nurtured inside me, have been a true blessing. I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for the opportunity to be her mom.

Her birthday celebrations included a visit to the latest art exhibit at the Koth Gallery, titled “Friends that Paint,” featuring the work of Scott McRae and Joules Martin. This exhibit showcases the intricate and unique paintings created by two local friends from Longview, Washington, displaying a wide variety of designs, colors, and imagery.

We took a stroll through the outdoor rose garden to enjoy the sweet scents, vibrant colors, and the delightful combination of warm sunshine and a light breeze. The rose garden is truly impressive, and in a couple of weeks, it will celebrate its 60th anniversary in a grand community happening.

Baskin-Robbins offered the birthday girl a free cone or bowl of any flavor to celebrate her special day, and she chose Toasted Coconut. It was both her and my first time at Baskin-Robbins, and we enjoyed their sweets. I was impressed with their regular as well as dairy-free options. I found the Sherbert flavor to be very good!

We enjoyed our visit to Tsugawa Roots, located in the Merk, which features several local businesses. This plant store is a fantastic spot to discover and learn about a wide variety of unique and interesting plants. Melody especially loves cacti and was captivated by the large selection available in one place.

We visited the Broadway Antiques Collectables store for the first time, and as lovers of vintage items, we were excited to discover many items seasoned with time. The people there were incredibly friendly. We brought home a vintage watering can that we plan to put to use, along with a sturdy cast-iron basket that we intend to use for vegetables and other items.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out with her friends making crafts and watching anime. Her dinner of choice was Orange Chicken with a dessert of Berry Pie! She said she had an amazing birthday and that it was her best ever!