If one were to look back on a good life being lived, complete with the work, worry and challenges dropped in our path, it can feel as though one has hit a lucky streak when days of bubbling-over happiness land directly on our path.
Getaway
I am blessed to have just lived one of those days, and I am realizing what a blessed soul I am. I celebrated a birthday and wedding anniversary with a weekend getaway, thanks to a gift from our son and daughter.
We had such a nice, relaxing stay at the lodge where we had spent our wedding night.
A surprise snowfall on the evening of my birthday brought enormous snowflakes, tumbling slowly through tall trees, as we sat beside a fire crackling in a stone fireplace. It felt as though we were living inside a picture postcard, created to perfection.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast while watching many colorful birds pecking at their own feast at various feeders, each showing up vibrantly atop the fresh snow cover. The enormous windows overlooking a serene woods provided an incredible view of nature.
Party
On our way home later that weekend, Doug told me the birthday celebration was going to continue, with a big party in my honor already in the works. The gathering was absolutely perfect.
My niece had gone beyond measure to create a fun, light-hearted, memorable evening of celebration. The place was filled to the brim with friends and family, love and laughter.
Games were created around questions pertaining to my life, with three teams coming up with answers for the win.
There was plenty of giddy guessing as the competition roared on. My heart was full as I took it all in.
Beautiful flowers, balloons, gifts and cards and happy souls. There is nothing that touched me more than knowing each person truly wanted to be there, celebrating happily with me.
We don’t get many of these treasures, a time of pure joy, a wonderful realization of all being on the cusp of true perfection. There is no gift as meaningful as the presence of those gathered in joyous celebration.
When it came time to make a wish over the candles on an ice cream cake, I didn’t have to think too hard on that one.
This was birthday No. 57 for me, and it’s going to be hard to top it, but we can wish for anything we want, right? Ah, I’m looking forward to it already.
