Thankfulness

This afternoon's festivities started a little late as Paola had a massive amount of homework. The girls that weren't working on their homework or chores had locked me out of my room and living room so they could "decorate and clean." Until supper the most exciting thing I had done was take one of the girls to the Dr. for an infected toenail. (It is really gross.)

Then the party started at supper...


My cake was made by Fede, Karla Josie, Steph and Gloria. It says, "Emi, Feliz Cumpleaños en el desierto" or translated "Amy, Happy Birthday in the Desert."


Friends from town(Liliana and her son, Luis Carlos) brought over flowers.


What a great cake, huh? This picture was taken during the rounds of non-ending birthday songs. When the songs finally ended I was ready to hand over the cake so we could cut a small piece in which my face would be smashed. My wonderful friend Gloria decided that only the whole cake would do for my birthday and began the chant, "bite, bite, bite."


As soon as my face came out of the cake I sat gasping for air, (it definitely crossed my mind that I was going to drown in the cake.) Daniel, threw his gift in my lap and said, OPEN IT NOW! (He had been patient for a whole day.) :) Let me point out to you the amount of frosting up my nose. While the kids were lovingly shoving me in the cake, I was let up for air, only to be shoved more firmly at the same moment as I was trying to take a deep breath.


Immediately after I opened Daniel's gift, I excused myself to clean up. Before I could reach the safety of the kitchen, Gloria yelled, "Lift her up, let's lift up the birthday girl!" I didn't have time to even think about an escape and I was soon being "body surfed" through the air...on the shoulders of small children...Not the way I expected things to go, but hey, life is better lived spontaneous, right? ;)


The girls had planned extensive snacks and went so far in their "cleaning of my room" that they refolded clothes in my drawers! They were so proud...They blindfolded me to walk me into the room and then to throw a very large, plastic spider in my face...aren't they just so cute...


We pose for a shot before the presents and food.


Opening one of the gifts that I actually hadn't bought myself yesterday. I received a sun and a moon from Gloria, brought all the way from Jalisco. The condition to opening this gift is that it was "very fragile" but we all had to shut our eyes.

A friend wrote in an e-mail today, "may you feel very celebrated." I think I had enough birthday celebration at least until I am 26th... ;) I was made so thankful today for everyone who thought of me and showed me they cared in so many ways. Thanks to everyone who dropped me a note, e-mail, blog comments, e-cards, packages, wished me happy birthday, made me a (cup)cake, gave gifts I bought myself, etc. I don't deserve such wonderful people surrounding me in all areas of my life.

Praise the Lord for one more year of life. I think big things happen when you are 23.

Psalm 139:1-10
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.