Events and plans can change at a moment’s notice. I decided that because part of my birthday was sort of ruined last year by a family member, I’d make a plan for this year, to make up for it. I thought if I asked for the simplest thing, my simple dream would come true. All I wanted was to have ONE DAY where I could be in control and get to do what I wanted to do. No biggie, right? So, hubby and I decided that on my Bday, the 26th, we’d go down to the valley and look for the blooming orange trees, then get a chocolate cupcake from Sprinkles. I’ve had such a hankering to sniff the aroma of those orange trees. A Sprinkles cupcake is deliciousness! Well, it seems we no sooner made the plans then I was told that my dad had to have a stent put in his heart. that.very.day….my bday. I realized that a stent was more important than orange blossoms and cupcakes and that I do love my dad enough to spend my Bday at the hospital. I had also become so very disgustingly human last Sunday when I lamented to a friend that all I wanted for my Bday was blah, blah, blah. She felt my pain, as she has sacrificed much of her life to care for aging parents, etc. She gives, gives, gives. I hugged her and we said good-bye with a few tears in our eyes. That is when I completely let go of my desire to have what ME wanted.
Peace filled my soul. Complete God love filled my spirit.
Morning of the 26th:
I was getting ready in the bedroom. Hubby came in with a festive gift bag saying that someone had just left it at the door. Like an excited child, I opened it to find a bunny, a bottle of orange essence oil, a fancy bottle of orange-honey liquid hand soap and a Newman dark chocolate-orange bar. The card had a wonderful message written in it. It was from my friend I hugged and cried with on Sunday. Can you believe it????
So, with my heart in the right place, we went to the hospital and I enjoyed the previously unexpected company of my sisters and one brother and our mom. And hubby, of course. God was totally there. I know “totally” is way overused. Like, “way” is, too. But, GOD was THERE. sorry about the caps.
Dad didn’t need the stent after all. But the procedure cleared whatever blockage was there and he’ll probably continue eating his every morning danish and donuts, (oy vey). I loved the results of the day.
Spending time with my family, hearing my little grandboy ask me “Gwammy, aw you having a nice bawthday?”, receiving surprise gifts, fabulous phone calls from my college kids, an orange birthday cake that hubby managed to bake in the midst of all the activity, the peace I felt…what a grateful girl I am. The entire day was a gift.
The orange grove can wait.
Comments (19)
I love how God goes out of His way to give us the desires of our heart. Happy Birthday!
Sometimes God gives us what we really need instead of what we think we want. Glad your dad is going to be OK, and didn’t need the stent.
What a blessing! Happy birthday and God bless your Easter too.
every once in a while i get to feeling like “hey! i’m always doing for others, i want to just think about me for a change!” but it doesn’t take long for me to come back around and realize that serving others is what truely makes me happy. i’m glad you had a nice birthday. love the picture!–karen p.s. so glad your dad is ok!
This is a wonderful testimony, Gail. I sure needed to read this today. I feel kind of put out lots of the time, but I should be grateful for all God has provided.
Nice to hear about your dad. We took care of my wife’s mother and aunt in our home for 5 years and it was not much fun. You and your friend could relate to the stress in caring for parents even if the are nice.
Have a blessed Easter.
frank
Oh, Gail — I’m so glad you had such a happy birthday! And you’ll still be able to see the blooming orange trees and have a sprinkles cupcake — just another day! Happy 39 again – lol !
@cerwindoris - He DOES, doesn’t He! He showed me that He really does care about me and my simple requests!
@ata_grandma - Exactly! And He ALWAYS does what is best for us. He made me feel delighted!
@mcbery - I hope you have a wonderful Easter!
@lifeontheWink - I’m right there with you! Serving others is a blessing and it’s made easier if we can have a break from the “constant” of it. God never fails to give me the energy and the changed hearttitude that I need! Have a wonderful Easter; hopefully with a chance to rest!
@HUMOR_ME_NOW - Thank you so much, Frank! I’d like to think that in some way, you are getting to enjoy relaxing and the occasional vacation as a blessing for helping to take care of the difficult relatives for 5 long years. You’re a blessing to me; you make me laugh and I always enjoy reading about you and your wife of 57 somethings and Rusty!
@slmret -Thank you, Janet! Hugs to you!!! Yes, 39 again! How’d you know? Ahahahaha! Rich did say he could take me down to the valley to find the orange trees and go to Sprinkles this week, probably Thursday. I bet you can feel my excitement! We’ll see if it really works out. One never knows, but I am hopeful.
@Richgem - Ooh — I hope you get to go to the valley!
Well how wonderful does God know our hearts right!? I am so glad it went the way it did, He does know what we need at all times…
BTW ~Happy belated Birthday Gail~
Hugs…oh and Happy Easter too!
i’m way fine with overused words. like totally.
and caps are good too. no apologies. sometimes they are what i need to express PASSIONATE INTENSITY!!!
your friend sounds awesome. listening to your hearts desires… and then sharing such a detailed perfect present. love that for you. and what HE did on your insides too… the best gift of all. you have encouraged me in this story, to keep on keeping on, relaxing my fingers from their tight grips so that HE can do HIS thing IN me and FOR me.
just gotta say, the happiest of birthday wishes gail! enjoy this new year! much love.
Sometimes you just gotta have that little pity party and give it all up so God can then surprise ya
I recently had one of my own I’ll blog about tomorrow 
Caps are good too! Glad God was there and it went well!
I still have not had a Sprinkles Cupcake.. ha
oh, why does it seem on our birthdays especially we can be just be set up for disappointment! i love how God was already preparing your heart to yield to a change of plans, and that you did it so beautifully. my response is usually kicking and screaming first, before i give in.
) what a great reminder that family matters way more than getting what we want. and what a sweet, awesome friend you have to first of all, listen and cry with you.. but then be so thoughtful as to show up with a gift. so special. ~
I think I wished you happy over on FB, but loved coming here and reading this, and all about your heart, and what God did. Love to you Gail! Someone who designed the ride at California Adventure understood that orange tree smell, you ride in a glider over the trees and they release some of that orange blossom in a midst and it is heavenly.