Rebekah's Insights

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Many thanks to all of you who remembered my birthday last week and sent well wishes via e-mail, postal service, or telephone! While some days I DO feel "old," for the most part it still doesn't seem possible that I am in my thirties. (Okay, so I don't look at the gray hair in the mirror very often! LOL!) All humor aside, I AM thankful to the LORD for all He has brought me through these past thirty-two years and for His many gracious blessings to me.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the blessing of my husband and to share how he celebrated my birthday this year. It was rather like a birthday weekend for me, beginning with an opportunity to go out on Friday night with the ladies from our "neighborhood." It was only at the last minute that I learned I would be available to go celebrate the birthday of one of the other ladies. William offered to take care of the children and put them to bed, so I could go to dinner. ("Going to dinner" is also a bit more involved here than I am accustomed to and so I was gone longer than I had anticipated, but enjoyed myself very much.)

I was able to sleep in on Saturday and then spent a lovely day with Will and the little ones as we visited some of the British stores we do not frequent often. Usually, I shop with the two children and although we always have fun on the "adventure" it is a NICE change to have Daddy to help while I compare prices, especially with the price conversion. Then, I was able to sleep in AGAIN on Sunday! I was informed that I needed to be dressed to go out by 1100 and so by 1055 I was ready and was about to get the children ready when friends unexpectedly arrived at the door to babysit the children while Will took me to our favorite pub down the road! I was SOOOOO surprised! We enjoyed a LOVELY three-course meal in the dining room, then adjourned to the "pub" to enjoy coffee and chocolates by the roaring fire. (I intend to blog later in the week about the fabulous food, so stay tuned!) All in all I felt like it had been a WONDERFUL birthday, but was looking forward to getting home to the kids.

Well, was I in for a surprise! As I stepped through the front door, Liam yelled, "Surprise!" I noticed that my house was decorated with balloons, streamers, banners, and there were friends and neighbors there with food and a cake! I NEVER guessed a THING! William REALLY outdid himself with the planning and the couple of friends whose help he enlisted pulled the whole thing together. I never, in my wildest dreams, would have suspected a surprise party mere months after moving! It was a wonderful surprise!

It didn't end there, either! On Monday, I was told to relax, while my husband cleaned up from the party and cooked dinner!!!! He told me to enjoy the children and take some time to get used to the new camera he gave me for my birthday! So now all my hopes of learning about photography can be put to the test! I have now taken so many new photos that we need to upload and organize them all. You will see them in the coming weeks, and hopefully there will be steady improvement in my technique!

So suffice it to say that I had a VERY memorable birthday this year, and although I DID enjoy each and every part of it, what meant the most was the fact that my beloved cared to show in such an overwhelming way that he loves me. It was a wonderful beginning to my thirty-third year. For as many breaths as He grants me, I will give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness expressed in so many ways, so undeservedly!

"...Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear Presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!...
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

(Selected lyrics from "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923)