My Birthday This Year

I like to say that my birthday is a season; it starts with the first card I get in the mail or email - and it continues until the last one comes in. It has often happened that my first card comes in June, and the last one sometimes as much later as in September. So this year's birthday season is not over yet.

The exact date was on Sunday, and I have had some interesting things happen so far.

My siblings often forget my birthday, so I take most delight in contacts from friends, however small. Ah, well, so far this year;

My sister Elsie sent me a gift last week - a kit to make my own sauerkraut, and a large container of Collegen (which she assured me was necessary for rebuilding my frail bones).

My neighbour, Rita, invited me over for a birthday lunch on Saturday, and gave me a card, and a large bottle of hand soap, apple and cinnamon scented. She also took photos of us together.

Before supper, (also on Saturday), my Aunt Jean called from Toronto, and we had a lovely phone visit for nearly an hour. (Her birthday card arrived in Friday's mail).

After my supper - before doing dishes - a dear friend from my years in London, Ontario, phoned for a birthday visit. She has been an invalid for many years, but we reminiced about happy times in years past when we laughed a lot. My Danish friend, Gerda, has a wonderful sense of humour. So despite her recital of her health problems, and now also her husband's, we were soon giggling and laughing together as we have in the past.

Then on Sunday morning, just minutes before I was to leave for church, my brother Ernie and his wife Dori called, and sang "Happy Birthday" to me. At that moment I remembered that when I got home I had found in my luggage, a birthday card from them, and it included two lovely German bookmarks. (I feel like I should write again to thank them for their great hospitality also).

At church, just before the service began, a young teen, named Reanne, came up beside me to chat for a bit. I had seen in the bulletin that she had won 1st place in the Big Quizzing Meet in Manitoba just the previous weekend. I complimented her on that, and soon we were talking about the joys of memorizing much Scripture and the friends she has made from many parts of Canada just from going to those Quizzing Meets, competing and making great friends of other teens from far and wide. (I was so happy for that conversation!)

After church, I went to a pizza place and used a coupon I had received months ago, for a free 12 inch pizza. I had meant to hold off until I could invite a friend to share it with me, but I decided I could put the extra slices in the freezer and stretch out my birthday some days longer.

Then I went to get some groceries at Superstore. I don't normally indulge in treats for myself, (I'm quite frugal, you know), but somehow, as I spotted certain products I convinced myself that I should allow myself that because it was my birthday. So I picked up things that were not on my list; a bag of bing cherries, a ripe payapa, extra juice cartons, a bucket of chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream!

I'd just finished off two slices of that ham and pineapple pizza for my late lunch, when my youngest sister, Erma, called to wish me a happy birthday. (I wondered who prompted her!) We ended up talking for nearly an hour.

Yesterday I received 2 e-Birthday cards, and a couple of emails with Birthday greetings. Oh, and in the evening a dear friend from Ontario called. We used to be roommates in a small apartment. We don't connect but a few times a year, however, when we do - look-out! We were on the phone just about two hours. It got late enough that I skipped going out to water the garden.

Next Tuesday my dear friend and prayer-sister, Kathy, will arrive. Her birthday is a few days before mine, and we have for many years now, tried to get together to celebrate our birthdays on a day somewhere near both of our dates, so we can have private 'catchup time' on each other's lives. We usually exchange some gifts, and I'm planning to offer her lunch if she can stay that long.

I don't know how long more kindnesses will come into my life, but I accept them all with gratitude - and thank God that I have so many good friends. It is said that most people only have ONE close friend, and that there are a lot of people who have none. How sad for them! Yes, I am truly Blest!

<*> TIPS & SOLUTIONS: <*>

Wish You Could Get to Know Me Better?

If you are subscribed to the ezine edition of this RoseBouquet you have been getting to know me over quite a while. But sometimes I refer to past eras in my life, and you might wonder about my life's story - so far.

Well. I've got a free gift for you.

Back in the days when I worked at Western Tract Mission, I accepted our Director’s challenge to write up our testimony for the website. His was 9 chapters, and mine was 8. However, I have this past winter updated it, and now it has 10 chapters. I now provide it on my website as a free download as an ebook. You may download of copy of this booklet, which I have called; “My Passions – for Jesus & for Others.”

You may use this download link to put a digital copy of the last edited version on your computer. [My Passions - for Jesus & Others (if that link is not clickable, just key those letters into a browser and it should open up before you. You may read it right there. Or, look for the download link in the frame if you want to keep a copy on your computer.)

[Back to Archives Index ] ~~ [Back to Main RoseBouquet Page]