24

God is so incredible - He really is.

Where to start really? Thursday was my birthday and it was wonderful, from beginning to end.  In the morning I went to work at the lutheran church/school I work at where I was greeted with a birthday card by the pastor (my boss) and his wife (one of the teachers) with a panera gift card! I was touched, pastor's wife wrote, "we're so glad you're here with us!"  Later that morning, the kindergarten teacher brought her little imps in to say happy birthday - their little cutesy ways were overjoyed and they all gave me big birthday wishes!  A little later into the day, I was waiting in the foyer (lutherans refer to it as the narthex) for my pre-school friends to get off the bus and I was chit-chatting with a mom while I waited.  A van pulled up to the church while we were chatting and out stepped a woman with a vase of flowers; "oh!" I exclaimed "those are so beautiful!" as I opened the door for her, "and they're star-gazers! Those are my absolute favorite! Oh and how nice, bells of ireland and pussy willows!" and then I realized . . . of course, my three favorite flowers, in a vase, being delivered on my birthday . . . THESE ARE FOR ME?!?!?! I checked the card and yes, in fact, my mother in her sneakyness had arranged for the florist to deliver them to me, at work, on my birthday.  She had asked me WEEKS ago for my work address and I figured, since she's a teacher, she needed it for school or something? My mother is my hero and she totally made my day; I had to call her and gush a little.

You see, for the past few years of my life I've always made it my intent to provide for others who normally would go without.  Sometimes, this has been in the form of delivering flowers to my friends who I know would typically never receive them (single moms, older people, newly single friends.)  In my heart I've always been a little sad that my Dad and my brother are the only men in my life who have ever bought me flowers - please don't misunderstand, I am so thankful that they have and I am blessed to have them in my life.  Even still, on a birthday, sometimes a girl just wants flowers delivered secretly - my Mom was able to give me that. :-)

As soon as I left work I went to Mom's house and spent time with her and my baby brother (who is not such a baby anymore at 7 years old!) We went to my favorite beach because, as God would have it, the weather was perfect! Warm and sunny and we walked the beach, chatting, combing for seashells, enjoying this unseasonably warm day.  I stayed for dinner with Mom and little boy and then I was off to my house to get changed for more birthday celebrations with my best friend!

As I went home I walked into my bedroom and there, sitting on my bed, was a beautiful bouquet of star-gazer lillies! Apparently my brother and dad were in cahoots and had purchased what looked like the LARGEST star-gazers I have ever seen in my life! I rushed to put them in water and placed both bouquets, in their respective separate vases, on my shelf in my bedroom. I was so surprised! TWO bouquets of flowers in ONE day! AND they got my favorite kind.  I felt so special and so loved, I never get flowers.

Right on time, my bff arrived (boyfriend in tow) with a beautifully wrapped pink present! With a bow! Ooooooo! I was not expecting a gift at all! And I was pleasantly surprised by a beautiful hand-painted butterfly tea set  (she knows me so well!) I gushed, I giggled, I jumped up and down - God really is so cool, I have a friend who knew what I would love without even discussing it with me.  Later that night we went out to see my older brother at the bar he works at where we stayed for a few hours, had a few cocktails, and did our own crazy dance moves (mostly laughing at others.)  A good time was had by all and then, the night was over.  I went home and back to my bedroom which was now filled with the beautiful aroma of my flowers - it smelled like I was someplace tropical.  I went to sleep with the images of warm summer nights, the ocean lapping on the moonlit shore, the fragrance of flowers in the air, and the promise of a new year with the possibility of new and exciting things to come.  Yes, I think 24 will be a very good year!

Birthdays and Blessings

Today is Wednesday, March 16, 2011.  In approximately 45 minutes (it's 11:15PM now) I will be 24 years old.  My mother has told me time and time again of taking me home from the hospital - it snowed that day.  Today I prayed that it wouldn't snow tomorrow because my birthday is such a fun day and, "Lord, I am so tired of the snow! Could you just please let it not snow on my day?"

Ahhhhhh.  Today is also one of my long days - I work for 5 hours at the church/school and another 8 directly following at the ranch.  My last shift here was difficult - ending with a child cursing me out, spreading a malicious, horrible lie about me, and then AWOL'ing.  *sigh*  Days like those can leave one feeling a little more empty inside, questioning why I do this even.  Can I be a help at all to these boys?

And then, I had a day like today.  A moment was really all it was.  After dinner and chores I took some of the boys to the basketball court and all of a sudden my seven kids multiplied to 30! Sure enough, the boys from the other house had arrived and also, three from one of our other programs.  The three in this program I rarely see, they're more independent and rarely socialize with the boys that live in the houses I work in.  As soon as those three arrived (two of which are my favorites) I instantly was in a better mood; it's such a rare treat to see these kids and I have built a pretty solid relationship with both of them from when they did live in the houses I work in.  They said their hello's to the boys and then, seemingly out of nowhere, one of them ran over and gave me a hug filled with, "I miss you! I  heart you!" 

It made my entire night.  :-) It's true, as my one blog-friend says - loving broken people can leave one feeling hurt at times.  But moments like tonight, when I get to see a life of a child that I have helped make better, a child that can recognize friendship and love, it makes it totally worth it.

With that said I will be taking tomorrow off for my birthday and then next week I am off to California to see my good friend Amy who just moved there.  I will be spending an entire week in California on vacation, to recharge my batteries, relax, spend time with my friend, and unwind from all of the things I have taken on these past two years (the time it's been since my last vacation.)

Please pray for my Mom if you can; she sent me these beautiful flowers today for my birthday, always putting others first.  She has lesions on her eyes from a virus she has - please pray that there is no permanent damage and that she finds health soon!