My family made sure I had a lovely birthday--complete with bargains from a store at which Jonathan stopped today, and another bargain he got at Home Depot! (I love bargains! Those are the best birthday gifts--except for ones that a person really did spend money for just because they cared about you!
But the best gifts I had could not have been bought with money.
I got to choose a favorite Psalm, Psalm 113, and remembered how the Lord lifted the lowly missionary girl over in Kiev, Ukraine, from her loneliness 27 years ago, and gave her a family!
Jonathan suggested that during prayer time, each of the children thank the Lord for something about their mother, and Sam was the first one to pray.
"Thank You that Mom was such a good teacher," he said simply. "Thank You for her raising us in the way we should go."
And his mother was sitting there with that kind of trouble with her throat that happens to moms sometimes, when their adult sons are grateful to God for the way they were raised,
instead of reminding God about all his mom's faults.
Daughters were asking God to bless their mom's writing and her new book, that it would be a blessing to many. And another daughter was saying, "Thank You that we can have a big, happy family. And help those with broken families. Help them to find comfort in You."
And the mom kept just squeezing and squeezing the dad's hand, because, really, what is a mom supposed to do when prayers like that are prayed?
The mom is grateful that her children aren't just thankful for their blessings, but also think of others who don't have those blessings.
And then after supper dishes, Carrie and Crystal try out a couple piano duets--and that is a gift for Mom, too!
Crystal's dog had to get right in on the music, if you can find her tail!
I got such a kick out of that dog wanting to be right in on the action!
Another gift is daughters who get along and help each other. Crystal is supposed to be in charge of a time especially for the young, unmarried girls at the ladies' retreat in South Dakota this weekend.
The girls were trying to figure out some paper flower crafts.
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