Happy Birthday To Me...

Happy Birthday to me....
Happy Birthday to me....
Happy BIRTH-day to meeeeeee....
Happy Birthday to me....

To quote the card my kids gave their dad for HIS birthday: "A long, long, long time ago.... (inside - with Star Wars theme music) You were born" Yeah, that's me.... (though not QUITE as long ago as their dad!)

As I write this, the official day hasn't even arrived, yet, thus far it has been a gift ... my facebook wall has been bustling with pre-birthday greetings, and my mother is here visiting. With her, she brought a box full of photographs of her generation as children and some of generations past (my "greats" and "Great-greats"). We spent the day reviewing, discussing and capturing them digitally, to preserve forever after!

She also brought a box or two of some other memories.... mostly, clothes I wore as a child - many that were sewn by her mother, my grandmother. But there was also a box of letters of mine from the mid-80's. One of the ones I pulled out quickly was a card from my (now deceased) childhood pastor congratulating me on my high school graduation. Going through that box will be an adventure for another day.

While I was at the store and bought myself some flowers - orange-y-yellow-y-pink alstromeria and white tulips. I mixed them together with the exception of two white tulips that I sat at my bedside...in two glass bottle vases. Beside that sits a note my daughter wrote for me for when I wake up.

There is a cake that my kids (and I) can hardly WAIT to dig into! But wait we will and celebrate as a family after school, with candles and song.

As we headed to bed, I was searching for my son's Nintendo DS charger (at his request). I opened his pack and found a thick envelope that says "Mommy" on it. When I brought him his charger, he asked if I saw anything.

"No...not exactly."

He, of course, questioned that further. I told him, "when I saw something white and papery, I closed my eyes and just searched with my hands".... He was thrilled and I get the anticipation of waiting til morning for the surprise he has created for me. It's taken me years and years to learn to wait and savor the anticipation....I'm much more of an instant gratification kind of girl! Perhaps I am catching on!

Life is a gift. Pain, sorrow, struggles, crazy insanity and all....

I am blessed... and I am loved. Thank You God...

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The picture is of me, circa 3-4 years old, at a creative arts program I attended. The 'baton' I am swinging is a paint brush. My mother - decades later - is still amazed that a "high school kid" captured this picture from across the room... The Joy is pure and unadulterated, childhood bliss! Amen!