Hey, hey it’s my birthday week….Day 5
Hey all! It’s the end of this week of remembering birthdays.
For my 60th the surprise was for Russ when he asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday. I asked for a friend party. I asked him to invite my friends and their spouses, who are also friends, and have a party for me.
I wanted it at our house but he insisted on taking care of the meal and such by catering it all. It was crazy, extravagant and such fun and I loved every minute of it.
Leading up to the day of the festivities, with nothing to plan or prep for meals, I thought about each couple who was coming and I wrote a letter to them. I had a paragraph for each outlining what they meant to me and to us as a couple.
My intent was to gift it to them as they left, but for some reason before Russ prayed over our meal, he asked if I had anything to say and I ran and got the letter and read it them so I could look in their eyes and tell them what they each mean to me.
I found the document in my files this morning and as I read over it, I am still so very thankful for the love and longevity and life lived with each one.
What I wrote to them is personal, but the general intro is true of my deep gratitude for the quality and quantity of all the people the Lord has packed into the days and years of my life.
If the true gold of this life on planet Earth is knowing and loving good people and being known and loved by them, then I am the richest of women.
My hope is that in my words to these dear friends that gathered to celebrate my 60th, you will have in your heart a stirring of gratitude for the people God has encircled your life with. I also hope it will encourage you to take the time to tell them in some way that is true for your nature.
I think of the group of people who read this little corner of the internet, either daily or from time to time and I want you to know how grateful I am for you. Sometimes I hear from this or that one. Sometimes you know things about me that I have shared which means you read it. Often I am so surprised to know who actually reads this and gets something out of it.
You have no idea how that blesses me.
So as you read the words, count yourself in amongst the crowd.
In my heart, there is always room for more <3
Dear dear you….my circle of friends…
When Russ asked me what I wanted to do for my 60th birthday, I told him I wanted to have a birthday party. I wanted to invite my friends to come and celebrate and have fun.
And he has come up with and given me this night – you all – here in our home.
It is indeed…the best gift ever. (well that and the fact that we will have time with each of our children this weekend, but stilll…)
The anticipation of it and the prayers of our hearts that each of you will be blessed and have a wonderful time have been a gift in itself and my heart is full.
All of you are the people who are a haven in this upside down, crazy world we live in.
You are each, individually and as couples, people of character and integrity and beauty.
You all make me laugh til I cry and have helped me get back to laughter when my heart was breaking and I thank God for each one of you.
How can I be so blessed that all my girlfriends come with guys who are my friends AND the bonus gift of my husband being involved in loving and being loved by each of you as well.
Are we highly blessed, my friends?? Yes we are <3
On top of it, you all have your own thing going with each other and I love that too.
As I looked over the list I thought of the ways your lives are interconnected amongst yourselves and with us and surely this tapestry God has woven of all of us is a picture of the fabric of eternity.
Because with all our differences and all we have in common we share the one thing that matters and that is our love for Jesus.
Your hearts and your eyes and your lives reflect that to Russ and me and to all who know you.
When they ask at church if we are in a small group, we say yes…several actually…circles upon circles of small groups and tonight we gather all the small’s into one large one and our home and hearts will be bursting at the seams. Joy multiplied.
Sometimes we save the best comments for others for when they are gone from us and it is too late…so I thought it would be fun to share just a few of my thoughts toward each of you because words are never spared with me, you know. So in no particular order….<3
From there the letter had something for each couple, and then I ended with this:
And then Russ…my best friend for life who is the one who always has my back and loves me in my best interest. The one who gave me this wonderful day and this amazing chance to let each one of you know how precious and special you are to me and how your love for us AND for each other is one of God’s great gifts to us.
Thank you for sharing this day of celebration with me. Thank you for the people you are, the friends you are. You have brought joy to the journey and sweetened our lives. The connections between our lives are all strung safe on the thread of the love of Jesus Christ.
All the wonderful gifts we have enjoyed in these relationships came from above and so it is to Him I give thanks for each one of you. May the Lord continue to bless us.
Thank you for celebrating and doing life with us…in all seasons. <3
With love and gratitude, Laura
written July 13, 2018
This is true of each of you who sit on the other side of the screen and are part of the journey.
Blessings and thank you for sharing my birthday week with me <3