One Candle...

...on a brownie I baked tonight marks forty-ONE years and a sweet ending to a relaxing birthday.

I am truly blessed. All week long, I've received greetings from family and friends in various worldly corners. Dan had suggested dinner and movie – for the two of us on Saturday. But after I scanned the local theater ad, I opted for a twist to his plan.

I volunteered using my gift card from a local steakhouse for the five of us on Friday evening. After our meal, I dropped off Isaac, Aaron and Noah for their traditional First Weekend of Summer Vacation with Grammy and Paka.

On the way home, I used birthday money to buy a DVD that a friend recom-
mended to me months ago.

Back home, Dan joined me in our family room to watch "August Rush" – a modern-day fairy tale about an 11-year-old "orphan" boy who uses his musical talents to find his biological parents who are also musicians leading separate lives. For me, this was the perfect "happy-ending" birthday movie.

Before turning in for bed, I started a grueling but inspirational book that Grammy had sent home with me.

As the clock neared 1 a.m., I forced myself to set aside "90 Minutes in Heaven – A True Story of Death and Life" about a man crushed in his car by a semi that crossed into his lane.

I closed my eyes comforted by the words of Don Piper about his 90-minute heavenly encounter before he was prayed back into life by others here on earth.

This morning, I rose, put on my Nikes, grabbed my camera and walked to the mile-marker and home again taking in these marvelous Spring scenes.

Dan and I spent the day at home enjoying each others' company as we worked on projects. The cedar ceiling in the boys' bathroom now has a fresh poly-coat. And all the wood trim is cut and ready for primer and paint!

My flower bed is half weeded and thinned. Why – only half? A tornado warning this evening drew me away from completing the job. Fortunately, no harm hit. And, I've got two ice cream buckets of day lilies waiting to be transplanted into Grammy's new flower beds.

Following supper, I mixed up a batch of brownies from scratch. Last night, I turned down Dan's offer to buy a birthday cake. But tonight, something sweet seemed right.

While cocoa permeated from the kitchen oven, I laid out fabrics on the dining room table. A family friend and my sister are both expecting babies the end of August. Tonight's quietude seemed perfect to start stitching baby blankets together.


Now it's time for bed.


Thanks to all
who made
this birthday
THE best.


I'm closing my eyes,
making a wish
and blowing out

One Candle!