How to celebrate a birthday and feel all filled up

It wasn't the pinterest-inspired cake that I made for my family and me that filled me up on birthday.

Or the pinterest-inspired sangria for my husband and I to enjoy later.

However, it was my kids announcing to strangers we passed at the grocery store that tomorrow was their mommy's birthday. It was the special secrets they shared in front of me about birthday presents for mama.

It was helping Brad fill and tape balloons around the house...even though I'm an adult and we weren't even having a party.

It was Peter's surprise the next morning that there were decorations and his disappointment that followed because we didn't do streamers too. ("The floaty things")

It was the multiple hugs and kisses and "Happy birthday, Mommy!!!"s all throughout the day.  

It was the phone calls (even if I missed it and only got to listen to a voice-mail) and cards and e-mails: friends and family taking a moment to let me know I'm special in some way to them. And yes, even getting some Facebook love feels nice, too.

It was, especially, spending the day with the people most important to me and enjoying a day being surprised by Creation together that left me feeling all filled up and satisfied on my birthday. (Click here to see an album of more pictures from our hike.)



And, yes, the hour of P&Q in the morning while Brad took the kids out was really nice, too! "P&Q" (peace and quiet) are gifted-moments these days!

Thank you, Lord, for this full life. For my amazing husband and wonderful kids. For my family and friends far and near, new and old. For health. For freedom. For opportunity.

As you have so blessed me, help me also to be a blessing!