When Mama's dreams came true

“Good morning, Mama – Happy Birthday!” Kaydee announced, arms outstretched for a hug.  And that was how my day began.  Could it get any better?  Then I walked into the kitchen and found a wicker basket with two glasses, a bottle of wine, chocolate, and two CDs I had been wanting.

“Awwww!”  I squealed aloud.  An endless romantic, my husband is a wonderful match for me. 

Kaydee asked about my excitement and I said, “I am seeing my present!”  She was confused asking, “Are you in my room?”  haha  Soon, she came running with a huge picture including a candle on a cake that read “I hope your dreams come true Mama.”  I was moved to tears!

She asked me if my dreams came true and I told her that indeed she was one of them!  I told her that for many, many years I had wanted a Katherine and when the time was right, God sent her to me!  “Are the other kids your dreams, too?”  What a thoughtful soul, that one. “Well, I always wanted 3 or 4 kids, so Amanda, Michael and Steven are exactly what I always wanted, too!”

My dizziness was a little better than the night before, so I asked her what she wanted for breakfast.  “Cereal??”  I exclaimed, “No way!  On my birthday?!  Let’s go to McDonald’s!”  She jumped up and down which only made my joy increase.  Still in pajamas, we threw on coats and made our way to the door.  Roadblock.  Mandy-dog was bouncing around with all the excitement and looked at us, hopefully.  Ok, I guess.  Come on!

We three girls piled in and headed to the drive-thru.  We stopped at a park near home and I asked Kaydee if she would take Mandy just inside the gate to run where I could see them since Mama didn’t feel very well.  She said she wanted to have a picnic with her dog and her breakfast; I agreed.  I let them inside the gate and headed back to the car, hoping no one would see me.  Mandy wouldn’t hear of it.  She paced back and forth, whining to the car, barking through the gate.  Oh, all right!  If anyone I know sees me, I’ll just say I'm sick.

There we were in our pjs at the picnic table.  Silly!  My 16-year-old in a 4-year-old’s body surprised me saying, “So. Tell me a story, Mama!"  haha!  So, I told her how I had been very sad when I was 36, because I had just been divorced.  But I said I was also happy because it was my birthday and I went out to sing “a game called karaoke” with my friends.  I recounted that a waitress had come to our table saying a man at the bar had ordered me a drink. I looked and exclaimed to my friends, “Why, that’s Pastor Chuck!”

Kaydee laughed with delight and said, “And was his real name Daddy?!” Why YES it was!! Hahaha!  It was a wonderful birthday surprise. I told her that within two weeks, I knew we were going to get married. She asked,“When did he ask to marry you?” and I laughed! “Oh, it took Daddy over a year-and-a-half later to figure that out! Boys take longer!” HAHA 

We walked Mandy a bit after breakfast, but as I was still off-kilter, I had to keep closing my eyes.  The grass looked very much like it does after you spin faster and faster in endless circles.  We made our way around the dog park giggling and laughing and trying not to bump into things!

Got home and did a quick check on Facebook. LOVE it!   How I love sending messages to friends with a birthday and I adore getting them!  Reconnecting with friends I haven’t spoken with in years, even just that simple one-liner, says they took time out of their day to think of me.

Sent a quick email arranging a cookie-making date with one of my favorite preschool students and her mom and then promptly laid down, wondering what had I gotten myself into?  Well, at least then Kaydee could have a playdate and I’d get some of the cookies done for worship on Wednesday.  I put parameters on it, explaining that Chuck was going to take us out for my birthday lunch and a very important hot fudge cake!

Our visit was a great opportunity to deepen a new friendship, but ran 90 minutes longer than I thought and I was exhausted, needing desperately to lie down.  The girls played wonderfully, but very few cookies were made – and several of those, eaten.  C’est la vie!  I was so happy they’d come and enjoyed a quick nap, afterward.

I was thankful and excited that my daughter agreed to pack up her baby for her first long trip to come see me the next day and help in the cookie-making effort!

Chuck came home and took us to the Big Boy where we enjoyed an early dinner (dessert FIRST!) then I ran into Kroger to get chocolate kisses and a line just happened to open up.  "Oh, one of my favorite cashiers!” I exclaimed. She smiled and said I was one of hers, too, because I "always looked incredibly happy." Today was because it was my birthday, I explained.  “29 and holding!” she said, "44 and proud of it!" I corrected with a mile-wide smile.

At home, Chuck helped me get Kaydee ready and soon she and I were off to the mall in crazy costumes for the “12 Days of Christmas” we were going to sing with our signing class.  Chuck and a group of the Deaf community in Midland met us there, cheering us on; it was great fun.  We headed to a nearby retirement center to sing and sign with Kaydee front and center in her best Christmas dress.  She was especially good at “Silent Night” and the grandmas and grandpas loved her!

I dragged my sick self home and found that after the mall, Chuck had come back and cleaned the entire time!  After three days of lying around, the house had definitely started to look lazy and in an hour, he had transformed it.

My father thoughtfully rang and I enjoyed hearing Kaydee call him “Grandpa Denny.”  We then called her Grandpa Ivan, too, and I relished talking politics and granddaughters with him.  Love both of my dads!

We enjoyed part of our favorite shows, answered some emails and got ready for bed…but stayed awake long enough for my son to call and wish me Happy Birthday!

*Whew!*

It had been one, indeed.

~~~~~
Pondering points

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Ecclesiastes 11:8
However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Native American Proverb
'When you were born you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.'
Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2 Scene 1
Beatrice: "But I beseech your Grace pardon me.  I was born to speak all mirth and no matter."
Don Pedro: "Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best becomes you, for out o' question you were born in a merry hour."
Beatrice: "No, sure, my lord, my mother cried.  But then there was a star danced, and under that was I born."