Birthdays are beautiful things

September 18th came and went as all September 18ths do.  We had a busy day with spanish, PE, soccer, 3 visiting teaching appointments, 1 vehicle due to the truck deciding brakes are not an essential component, homeschool, music, and bunches of last minute preps for my first day teaching playschool this year.  I never felt sorry for myself that there wasn't a big shindig in my honor.  I never even had the thought that things should in some way be different, more special somehow.  I started thinking there must be something wrong with me because birthdays are special and mine wasn't anything special.  In all my ponderings I recognized that my birthday was special, because my life is sweet, and that is pretty cool :)

 

Wednesday when Sam got home from work there were some sneaky whisperings and everyone was a little too eager for me to get going on my shopping trip for playschool supplies.  I got home late to find Sam and the three oldest setting up the telescope on his truck to see Jupiter and some of it's moons.  Again, a little too eager to help mom unload the van, a little too obedient at bedtime, and a little too kind to one another.  I found the school room a complete disaster and then happened upon three extremely crafty (that means lots of stuff) birthday cards. I quickly forget about them, and the mess, and march out of the room, willing myself to remember that messes can always be cleaned up later.  I decided my birthday present would be Sam and the kids cleaning up the mess.

 

The next morning I woke up to the sound of busy children downstairs.  My first thought was "Oh no, I don't have time to clean up extra messes today."  As I made my way closer to the stairs I hear, "NO!  Mom don't come down."  I acknowledged that what I didn't have time for was the stress I would cause myself with the thought that I didn't have time, so, I kicked that thought out and a big smile crept on my face and into my heart.  Messes can always be cleaned up later.  After a relaxing morning routine with Addie camped out on my bed in front of a Baby Einstein movie, I thought it might be time to venture downstairs; nope, not yet.  Finally, when we had just barely enough time to eat breakfast before spanish class; it was time!  My birthday surprise was ready :)  

 

Nothing could capture the beauty of my house decorated by my kids for my birthday.  I took some pictures to try.  I am sure it looks like a big fat mess to the untrained eye (my eye was untrained for a brief moment of forgetfulness).  It was awesome, and I mean that in the truest sense of the word, in so many ways.  I cannot possibly describe it for you but I'll try; streamers (pieces of paper cut into strips) hung with stickers on the ceiling, walls, table, chairs, and stuck all over the floor (some fell down so they became confetti, but wouldn't stay put, so had to be stuck down with stickers), stickers all over my "special birthday place" at our beautiful wood dining table (yes, on the wood, any suggestions for clean-up methods that won't hurt the wood), cotton balls and 1 inch pieces of yarn (lots and lots of pieces of yarn) for "the storm" in the living room, a bed sheet circus tent in the family room for my "circus party, later after all our busy stuff is done", dry macaroni noodles, dry oatmeal, glitter, pom poms of all sizes, toothpicks, craft sticks, tape (okay I could simplify here by saying our entire box of crafting goodies), in a most beautiful "mosaic" _all_ over the family room floor, smooshed goldfish "in case I get hungry" strategically placed on the floor, an assortment of books for me to read spread out (yep you guessed it) on the floor in the living room, paper, crayons, markers, stickers, and glue sticks covering the kitchen table and much of the surrounding floor "in case I want to do crafts for my birthday", puzzle confetti (a fancy name for puzzle pieces thrown all over the floor) in the dining room "so I can have puzzle fun", butterflies made from hangers practically covering the floor on the landing upstairs, oh yeah, the best part ... assorted books, toys, magazines, and such covering the dining room table because "they were in the way of the decorating and we didn't have time to put them away, we just needed to get them out of our way quick!", and much more that I am forgetting.  It was a glorious site!

 

My first thought, "Holy cow when did they wake up this morning?"  My second thought, "WOW!"  My third thought, "How am I ever going to get this mess cleaned up with everything going on today and through the weekend?"  My fourth, and final, thought, "I am the luckiest mom in the world!"  My wonderful children used every possible resource at their disposal to create every opportunity for me to feel special and have fun on my birthday.  

 

I had the thought (and quickly wrote it down as I felt I might need a reminder, or two, throughout the day, and maybe next couple of days) that, "Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.  The messes I am so concerned about are often the masterpieces of life."  I am getting better at recognizing the masterpieces my children so willingly create for me :)  It's still not all cleaned up, any volunteers?

 

There was no cake, no presents, no singing, no relief from life's duties for a day.  No, there were none of those things, and yet, it was one of the best birthdays I have ever had.  It had nothing to do with anyone else and everything to do with me.  I was so in the moment, and present with my life and family, that each moment was a present, a treasure to behold.  With each whispered word and giggly "don't tell mom" came a beautiful song of my life.  All the shoulds ,were not, and all the IS, was, and it was all beautiful.  Thank you for my sweet life, I love you family :)

 

There were; a dozen pink roses from a dear friend, an early home surprise from Sam, a sweet phone call, fun e-mails and an e-card from my mom and Neil (oh yeah and the check earmarked for a massage, yipee!), an e-mail from my dad, the ever important, and awaited, birthday call, and card, from my grandma and grandpa Milner that I have gotten for 34 wonderful years now, a new necklace made of pipecleaners by Zackary, my very own purple monster made of cotton ball and toothpicks by Jacob, and  ... the decorated house with the three beautiful cards made by my children.  How much sweeter can life, or a birthday get?  I really don't know :)

 

Why am I posting when I have a huge "masterpiece" to clean up?  For exactly that reason!  Sam and the kids are making a huge dent, but there really is nothing like a "mother's touch" so I will get to it, someday :)