Birthdays....

I was sitting outside on our swing, enjoying the air and sun and reflecting on the day. Julia came out and asked if she could join me.
"Sure!" , I said, "but I really don't want to talk right now. I just want to enjoy the moment quietly, if that's okay."
"Yeah," she said, "I just want to be quiet too."....." So how was your day?"
I laughed out loud and rolled my eyes at her. She began to laugh and said " Just kidding!!"
Ever her daddy's girl. And witty, already.


It's my birthday, today. It was a normal, plain day. But I think it was absolutely one of the best birthdays I've ever had in my life.

I was allowed to sleep in.
My husband made and brought me French toast in bed.
When I got out of bed, I got a call from a dear friend and her children singing 'Happy Birthday' to me on the way to school.
I got an email card from a friend first thing this morning that cracked me up.
I went to work and got a card from my co-workers who said just some genuinely nice things.
I got a call at work from another dear family of precious friends singing 'Happy Birthday' to me.
I found a gift from a friend under my desk at my feet.
I got an email from my mom that meant the world to me. And a call. And a visit tonight.
I got a call from my kids singing "Happy Birthday" to me.
I went home and found some wonderful, meaningful cards from my father-in-law, my aunt & uncle, my friend, and my birth mother.
I found a wallet from Africa that my son spent his last dollar on for me. ( With an apparent price reduction from the precious couple selling them,) and even more meaningful since he was saying just yesterday he didn't have much money.)
I found a collection of hearts, signed by my all kids' classmates and teachers. And 2 notes from Eli, one painfully written in cursive, which he hates, but knew I would be proud of.
I found a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the porch, from my birth sister, who I've never even gotten to meet yet.
My son just came in the back door and as he ran past me, slapped my shoulder and called out over his, "I love you, Mom".
And the day's not even over.

I write this for no one in particular. This is just the place I spill out my heart, and it's overflowing right now with feelings of being the richest person in the world. I can remember a short-sighted time when I thought that the best birthdays included the most memorable gifts. I never imagined that one day the simplest moves would completely overshadow such gifts and so completely fill my heart.

Thanks. :-) If my life is marked & measured by the quality of people I'm surrounded by, it's indeed worth celebrating well.