Best Birthday Ever

I can't begin to put into words how very blessed I am as I sit here in the waning hours of my 33rd birthday. What a fabulous day today has been! Nothing over the top exciting, but so much special family and friend time. As a nursing mother, I got to enjoy some of the wee morning hours of the day that would normally be missed. Now it's not unusual for me to be up in the middle of the night, but what was unusual last night was that at 2:10, I was joined by Sarah Grace. She came padding out and sat on the couch with me and watched an old black and white movie on PBS (I now know it was Strangers on a Train by Hitchcock). She looked at me one time and said, "I not sleepy." I quickly said, "Well, we're going back to bed kiddo!" I didn't want to experience EVERY hour of the day.

The family sang happy birthday to me and when they were done Lainey said, "Did you like the way I smiled at you when we were singing?" We had our holiday danish for breakfast and later in the morning Lon made a chocolate cake (from scratch!). Lon went back to work while the cake was in the oven and as I was looking after it for him, Lainey came in the kitchen and said, "Mom, can we sing a special song for your birthday?" I said sure and, trying to think of one I knew she would know, suggested "The Old Rugged Cross". She said, "No I was thinking of 'Deck the Halls' instead." So that's what we sang. Those of you who think that "Deck the Halls" is only for Christmas are really missing out! We took a picnic for lunch out to Birch Bay State Park and the girls had a great time throwing rocks into the water. The weather was beautiful and I think they would have stayed out there all afternoon if we'd let them.




A couple from church called a few days ago and offered to keep the girls for us so that we could go out to dinner by ourselves so we accepted their offer and went for dinner at The Keg (thanks to Lon's parents!). When we returned back to get the girls we had some more friends over to help us eat cake and ice cream. I've said it before but it bears repeating, I love our church family. The Lord has been so good to us in providing us with people who love us and Him and who treat us just like we are their own.

The girls had a great time with Mr. Ken and Mrs. Debbie while we were out on our date. When we got back, Lainey had to show us the horseshoe pits where they'd been playing and where she got a double ringer. She said they had french toast with orange jam, but not the fruit orange just the color orange. Ken let them put on life vests and sit in his kayak while they "rode the rapids" in his backyard. I think some special memories were made and, again, I'm grateful that my girls have these people in their lives.

What a blessing this year has been! I have a husband who loves the Lord and me, three precious and beautiful girls who are learning to love Jesus, a great extended family, and a church family that loves us and cares for us tremendously. My heart is very full. Indeed, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).