I have started this blog post several times and each time it doesn’t sound quite right, so I delete it. There’s just so much swirling around in my head…and I have no idea how to express it, but I want to try. Someday I want to look back on this day and remember how happy I am. This has been the best birthday EVER!!!
Ed was off today, so he let me sleep in. Oh man, 9:30am has never looked so good :) While I was sleeping, he took the kids to the store and got stuff to make yummy french toast and sausage. Mmmm!! Then (and here’s where my fellow mommies will agree with me that it was beyond wonderful) I got to take a super duper loooong shower with no interruptions. Woot woot!! The rest of the morning and early afternoon were just spent being lazy around the house, playing with the kids (when they weren’t napping of course). We headed to Wilmington to find me a new pair of running shoes. My knees are still hurting from running last week on 8-year old shoes. Oops. After a successful trip to Shoe Carnival (buy one get one 1/2 off….Edwin got a pair of Cars shoes that light up!), it was time for church (PC3)!! Um…have I mentioned how much I love my church? ‘Cause I do. I even convinced Ed to sit up front since it was my birthday and all. After picking the kids up from Grow Zone, we headed to Sam’s Club to pick up diapers. We had already planned on having a low-key dinner at my parent’s house with Katie, Brian & Anthony.
For two weeks, Ed has been telling me all sorts of different things about my gift. A couple of times he said he was worried that he ordered it too late, so I might have to wait until Monday to get it. Then he said that he paid extra to have it delivered, but he had to store it in my parent’s garage. I was convinced at that point that he had gotten me a bike trailer for Lillian. We were on our way to my parent’s house when he called my dad to tell him to bring the present outside. Ed told me I needed to close my eyes and keep them covered until we pulled up. Never one to ruin a gift (I used to wrap my own presents when we were younger…how trustworthy! haha), I complied.
I had Lillian’s (clean) burp rag over my closed eyes when we pulled up to my parent’s house. I thought it was strange when Ed rolled down the window…and then I heard “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” Oh my goodness. It was a surprise party!!! As my eyes scanned the crowd, I was completely flabbergasted (I’m 31 now, so I try to use big words). My girls from work were there, friends from church, family….it was so amazing! They had set up the slip-n-slide and sprinkler, and the kids were already taking advantage. We had tons of yummy food and of course CAKE!
The whole time, I was walking around in a bit of a daze. You see, my birthdays growing up were notoriously “blah” in the party department. Having a birthday in August usually meant that friends were either on vacation or just didn’t stay in touch over the summer. There’s one birthday in particular that we all still talk about. Nobody showed up!!!! It was pitiful. But today more than made up for that! My hubby surprised the heck out of me. Mom, Dad, Katie and Brian were also in on it and played a HUGE part in making it all come together. Thank you to everyone!!!! Once Katie gets some pictures to me, I’ll post them on here (if I remember…or you can always check out facebook).
God has been so good to me, even though I don’t deserve it. That’s why He is so amazing!
Psalm 139: 13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
