My Amazing Birthday Celebrations

Knowing that I had had a TOUGH week ... month ... 6 months ... my sweet husband planned the most AMAZING birthday party for me yesterday.  Only problem ... his birthday is just 6 weeks away, and there is no way I can come close to pulling off what he did for me.  Oh dear.


Last Tuesday (as I wrote about) I was able to celebrate my birthday, along with the birthdays of 3 of my children, as I went out to dinner at Red Robin with 9 of my kids, Big Kids, and Adopted Big Kids.  Very fun!


Then ... Jeremiah came out to the island on Saturday, and Papa took the both of us out to dinner.  (Jeremiah turned 23 on Wednesday.)


Then ... Josh & Hannah surprised me with an early morning arrival, so that they could spend the day with me.  We worshipped together yesterday morning, and played a great game of Hand & Foot after lunch.


So ... I was happy as a clam.  No need for anything more.  Life was good.


But ... then the SURPRISE took place ...


At 1:30, Papa told me we would be going some place to eat at 5:30.  Okay.


At 5:30, we went over to the P.'s house.  There were 7 of our dear, new Island Friends there.  I thought, "Well ... we must be having dinner here."  Several of the friends were busy in the kitchen, so I moved in to the living room to visit with the others.  But, I noticed that the dining table didn't have the leaves in it; and it wasn't set for dinner.  Odd.  Soon, the hostess brought out a platter of meatballs and a plate of batter fried zucchini.  Okay.  That looks like an interesting dinner.  Before picking up a plate to serve myself, I was told not to eat very much ... there was more to come.  Hmmm.  This was just the appetizers.


At about 7:00, we all went out, got in our cars, and drove across the island to Mr. & Mrs. S.'s house.  And ... there I found the most beautifully decorated "Greek Restaurant".  Oh my.  It was amazing!  We were served Greek Salad.  Yummm ... And then came the Greek Potatoes, along with the Lamb Kabobs, Pork Kabobs, and Chicken Kabobs (all of which had been marinated for 24 hours before being grilled with onions, green peppers, red peppers).  It was, seriously, the best lamb I had ever tasted.  (And my sweet husbands favorite type of restaurant is Greek, so we've had lamb a few times.)  We sipped sparkling cider from delicate wine glasses, and my dear friends gave "toasts" for my birthday.  


Then ... nope, we're not done yet ... at 8:45 we headed back across the island to T & S's house for dessert.  My favorite dessert awaited me:  cheesecake w/ raspberries, along with a beautiful tray of 3 kinds of Baklava (for the Greek side of things).  


Then ... the presents were brought out.  What?!  I don't need presents.  I'm overwhelmed.  This is too much.  Bosko (the craziest 65 y.o. character I've ever known ... w/ a heart of gold) carries in a big box.  The ladies all sigh.  They know what is going to come out of that box.  Bosko places on my head a crown of light purple roses, as they all begin to sing "Happy Birthday".  Absolutely Beautiful!  I'll take a picture of this wreath of roses tomorrow.  Truly a work of art!!!  Bosko is the "rose guy".  Nearly every week he brings to church a bucket of roses; and, after church he goes throughout the building offering a rose to each and every lady and young girl.  Our church is BLESSED to have such a man amongst us.


More presents ... 


...  a Lopez Island Cookbook.  (I'm told you can't be a true islander until you have one of these.)  


...  a box filled with scrapbooking supplies.  (These sweet friends phoned Jim when they were shopping off-island to ask for his suggestions.)


...  a gift card to a book store on one of the other islands, with a note telling me that I will need to set aside a day so that this dear friend can take me shopping on the other island, and out to lunch at the Orcas Island Hotel.  Oh my!




Can I cry yet?  Seriously.  It has been a very long time since I have felt such love from a group of friends.


Oh ... yea ... while these dear friends each hosted (and cooked) a segment of this amazing Greek Dinner in their homes ... it was my amazing husband who planned, researched the menu, bought all of the food, and put together this most incredible Birthday Surprise.  Wow!