birthday sweetness

last night i came home to this! bobby had decked the place out!! he had dinner a vegan specialty with mushrooms, beef, and noodles and a chocolate peanut butter banana pie for dessert! INCREDIBLE!! The sweetest part was how he did it all as a surprise and actually kept it! he spent so much time writing a long, sweet card for me, preparing specialties, grocery shopping, getting little gifts, and even decorating!!! i felt so loved and overwhelmed by all the affections.
this year, all those hand written notes mean so much. after coming home from some disrespectful comments at work to receive beautiful hand written love notes seriously warms me up like nothing else. it is sheer delight and i am so thankful to have dear loved ones who take the time to sit down, write, create cuteness, and spend time thinking of me and putting energy into me all just to wish me a happy birthday. it means so very much! thank you Lord for all the dear sweet tenderness.
the day before, mom, ryan, grandma, and hailey came over to meet duma and planted about a 100 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and other spring flowers around the house so that when spring comes bobby and i will have a charming colorful surprise outside. i watched hailey while they planted. hailey loved duma and running around outside trying to "pick" things i tried to explain were still growing. she is such a magically little angel and it was so special to get to share time with her, hearing her talking telling me how she missed me, and even dreamed of me, and how she would call me seashell because i had so many, and how she ran around taking duma's toys trying to play with him but then deciding maybe they should be for her and ducky instead! ha! how she wanted to sleep in my bed for nap and not go home. ah! i love the bunny.

ryan was so patient through the kiddie and cat chaos and was so helpful. he purchased a "cat tree" for duma which i put next to the window so duma can climb it and look outside. he likes it a lot!

grandma wanted to take me out to lunch so we went to a thai restaurant that was my choice. grandma really wanted to order a appetizer for all of us to share. something special. a finger food because she knew that is a favorite of mine inherited from goosie. grandma asked specifically for a special finger food that could be specially prepared without any meat for me. and she got it! thanks grandma!! when eating she said, "part of the fun is trying something new." so true! until grandma sampled the food we all ordered on a plate and it burned her mouth with testy hotness and even with tears down her cheeks
she would not stop eating until every piece on her plate was eaten, garnishes and all. that is a trooper! evidence of the strong stubborn will we all possess, we will carry on! we came back to the house for games and played rummikub because grandma knew that was one of my favorites. (i can't find my connect four!) then grandma surprised me with money for tickets to see the phantom of the opera which i have never seen live and is here in d.c. grandma has always taken me to plays growing up, to cats in london, joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat in chicago, and don quiote in michigan, etc. one of those special outings grandma would do like when she took me to chicago to see the monet exhibit because she knows how much i love and appreciate the arts and wants me to be cultivated.

mom got a special vegan dinner together for me full java green take out: korean bulgogi, spicy chicken, squash noodles, rice, mushparagus, etc. yum! she even made me a vegan cake. mom never stops with one thing so of course she had prior brought me treats of cute outfits, michigan apples-my favorite-, pillows she made me for the girls at my school, and art supplies. the best was personal kisses from my mommy. jeff had the house decked out with birthday signs, a queen's chair and a birthday tiara. so sweet! he got everyone together and organized games with grandma following and took pictures and video's. such a good big brother. i also received adorable funny cards from school, friends, and family. dad and geal sent a beautiful pink box with glitter all over just the way i love it and a dress, card, and the plant earth dvd's we have been renting on netflix. very good. ma g a box of vegan cookies yum! etc. i know i am so spoiled. but this is how overwhelming the love flows! and to think all love is from God, so beautiful to be loved so much. how can i doubt it so?