the happiest

It was my favorite birthday ever (in memory).  I didn’t even have to hunt rainbows that day.  They found me.  They found me when I woke up and opened my door to tropical skittle hued fringed (by Christina’s own hands that she willingly got cramped to give such an awesome twist of goodness to the) streamers flowing from my doorway to greet me with kisses. 

China did those fringes by hand! Best big sister. Ever. 

The streamers graciously moved aside to reveal a pile of presents from two very tall and very wonderful birthday elves that I happen to live with.  Then there was a nutella crepe waiting for me (a la Sean) when I came home from spending some quality birthday time at Mass thanking my Creator for the gift of this life. Not bad for a Wednesday morning.

Then I got taken down a couple of notches by a 4 year old who isn’t quite accustomed to thinking of anyone besides herself.  Even if it is their birthday.  But we danced in her living room to brown eyed girl.  We twirled and twirled, and sashayed (sp?) (Wednesday is ballet day), because you have to dance on your birthday.  In birthday land this is one of the most stringently enforced laws.  And I’ll be darned if I commit a felony in birthday land on my birthday.  Not an option.  

It was all rainbow sprinkled bliss from there on out.  We took over the almost-as-perfect-as-Cavallis pizza place down the road from our house, and we stayed until they were mopping over our feet as subtly as possible to get us out of there.  I can remember very few times when I have felt more loved and I can’t thank anyone there enough for how beautiful it was.  It was more love than I knew what to do with.  

Christina and Sean were the instruments of the Beloved, and He played me the most perfect birthday tune through them.  

Lianna and Ed surprised me with the best treat I could ask for, and that was to bring Sophia and Madeline along with their wonderful selves.  They are such a rock star family, and stayed until way past Soph’s bed time so they could be a part of the toasts (don’t even get me started on those).  

 There is no other word but perfect.  Outside the skies cried of joy for the beauty within the warm, friend and family saturated pizzeria.  I was showered with flowers and given the gift of a bouquet of balloons.  One that I was secretly hoping for all day long, but scarcely believed this dream would come true.  The rainbow hits just kept on a-comin.  

It was perfect.  Sean rocked the house and made an amazing cake (note the rainbow sprinkles inside and out), they sung the famous song, Sophia cozied in my lap wanting to get as close to dessert as possible.  I have now had her at every birthday of mine since she was born.  I smell a tradition I hope never gets broken.

It was perfect.  It was magical.  It was rainbows and sunshine and joy.  Love Himself embraced me and filled my heart to overflowing.  Thank you thank you thank you.  All of you were Christ to me and it was one of the best times I have ever had.  Ever.  

I am so glad I have this little blog to preserve the memory of the happiness in words and photographs that was so real to me on my 27th birthday.

 
And Christina just brought me my favorite flowers in the world (white peonies) for no reason at all.  But I suppose, after all, that Love is always a good reason to do something beautiful for no reason at all.  

Cheers to birthdays and birthday land and the best family in the world and true friends and Spiritual bouquets/the best gift I have ever received that touch my heart and soul (thank you a million times to all who offered any prayer for me!) and birthday cards (fuzzes, and aunties, and friends thank you!) and texts (special thanks to Rachie who sent me morning noon and night birthday love via texts) and singing birthday voicemails (Michelle and her girls, and Trishey- I loved it!) and toasts that fill me to overflowing with love and to being hunted and caught by rainbows!

I am not kidding about how much I love these balloons and streamers

And I can never leave my parents out of anything regarding my birthday because they were the first ones to celebrate my life. Before they met me, they loved me. And they never will stop, of this I am certain. I love you, Momma and Dad! Thank you for the life you gave me through the grace of God.

with a cherry on top

I have never met a weekend that I didn’t run to greet, arms flailing with glee, in the middle of the Friday afternoon driveway. 

The point is, I like weekends. A. Lot.  I’ve said it (several times) before, and i’ll say it (many times) again, the only truly satisfying weekend is a 3 dayer.  The rest just feel a dollar short.  But this weekend was so out of this world. 

And I am, for once, more than reconciled that it is ending. But of course, extraordinarily rare circumstances are behind such a radical change of heart. In two sleeps (as Ella would say), I will be whispering happy birthdays to my new niece who will be all sugar and spice and everything nice, tiny and wriggling straight outta the oven, better than homemade bread or cookies kind of wonderful.  

Can't wait to meet you, little girl!!!

The weekend went like this.  

Friday. Silver diner.

Sophia in sunglasses.  My parents and Lianna.  A whole lot of good (for us, not so much for whoever had to bus our table)

Then I got seconds of Lianna, Sophia and My parents at sweet frog for Easter froyo with Ella. 

And I received an Easter miracle present of taking Ella to a Church to visit with Jesus, and out of the blue, she requested that we stay longer (usually she is ready to bolt after a few minutes), and she wandered quietly around the church while I prayed. It was such a clear gift from Heaven.  

Friday night.  Sean’s birthday celebration.  Karaoke.  My dad, Sean and I singing the Beatles, my Mom, Christina and I singing RESPECT; Christina and I singing “No Scrubs”.  Too, too, good.  Sadly, no photo evidence. But it's all so true.
Saturday.  Sophia’s and Mimi’s Birthdays.  Mass with family.  Mexican food in D.C.  Mom being hilariously loopy from lack of sleep (she and Dad stayed out at a bar with us until wait for it 1:00AM!!!).  
And then, the cous de gras (sp?), Sophia’s 2nd birthday. 

There was a rainbow toulle tutu that Ed claims looks like troll doll hair.

There was a little 2 year old fairy skipping about in pigtails.  

There was an adoring crowd of Sophia enthusiasts enjoying the rompings of a little toddler just getting the hang of birthdays.  

She ate cake.  Oh boy, did she eat cake.

 I love the series of pictures of people posing next to the girl while she scarfs cake like a pro.

And of course, the presents went over like a pink helium birthday balloon. 

It was all so very delightful.  

And cheers to Lianna, my role model, for rocking 9 months of pregnancy with grace, beauty, style, and most of all, with such a servants heart.  

All she wanted was for her girl to have a happy birthday.  

 

Mission Accomplished, Li.  It was perfect.  And the cake was so darn good.

Having my parents here is the best. 

Sadly, Dad had to go back to Texas to do that little thing we call “doctoring”.  We miss you, Dad!!! 

Thankfully, we get to have mama here for a little while longer.  She is staying to perfect her grandmothering skills (they don’t really need any perfecting), and take care of the little dumpling while her mama is off to bring a new munchkin into the world.  

Exciting, miraculous, beautiful things to come this week.  Please pray for my beautiful sister, her hubby, and Sophia as they prepare to welcome a new precious immortal soul into their family. 

And pray for my mama.  Sophia is the best.  She is also a rambunctious little rascal with a strong-will and a surprisingly strong wriggle-out-of-your-arms maneuver that very few can withstand.  

God bless you with an extra happy with a cherry on top new baby girl kind of week!