19? 91? Happy Birthday Mom!

Thursday - March 17, 2011

It has only been a few days since my last posting, but I am still way behind. Mom celebrated her 91st year of life on February 28. Last year, when she turned 90, we gave her a surprise party at church! She was completely surprised and had such a great time with all who were able to attend. It was one of those weekends that "mother nature" opened up the sky with a large snowfall. Sadly, this kept many from attending. There was a lot of planning, sneaking around, and preparations that had to be done without her knowing what was taking place. It was all worth the hard work . . . she was overwhelmed and when thanking all in attendance for coming and their generosity of giving her gifts, she said she would give all of us a surprise party when we turned 90! :)

As her birthday was approaching, I got to thinking what could we do to top last year! NOTHING!!! . . or so I thought. I have a FB account with over 300 friends, many of whom are my former students. I thought , what if I set up a social event; one that was simply to have as many of my friends that could send Mom a birthday card. My goal was to see if I could get at least 20 - 30 of my friends to send a card. Mom loves getting mail . . . even the bills. She will make a dozen trips a day to check the mailbox. Her mail is never delivered at the same time each day. Some days she will get in before noon; other days it is around 5:00 before it makes its way into her mailbox. This gives her something to look forward to . . even if it is junk or bills! :)

Never in my wildest dream did I think so many people would respond. She would have normally gotten cards from close friends and family, which she was looking forward to receiving. However, when she got that first card (one from a dear friend and former colleague), she was puzzled. She knew who Sherry was, and wondered how she knew it was her birthday. The next day she received two cards from Florida . . . friends of my SIL, Rhonda (who had also posted the event on her FB account). This really made her wonder what was going on, and why they were sending her a card. She loved them all and even said "Bless their hearts for sending me a card, a person they don't even know!"

As the days got closer to her birthday, the number of cards she received in the mail increased . . . she received one, then three, then five . . .all a week before her actual birthday. Then the numbers increased drastically . . . . eight, eleven, twelve, fourteen, and then the largest number of sixteen! When the week and a half of getting cards in the mail was over, she had gotten a grand total of 98 birthday cards. She was so thrilled. She was just like a child in the candy store when she went to the mailbox . . . anxious to see how many cards were waiting to be opened by her. Many wrote sweet notes wishing her a Happy Birthday as well as telling her how they had a connection to her. Some told her that I was their former teacher, and that they wanted to make her day special by wishing her a Happy Birthday! She was just overwhelmed at the the kindness these "strangers" were showing by sending HER a card, and they didn't even know her! She also received 65 birthday wishes on FB . . . more birthday wishes than she has ever received . . . 163!!! She felt blessed and loved.

I would like to thank everyone who really made this a very special birthday for a "very special lady" . . . my mother!!!!!! Following are some pictures from this very time in Mom's life!

I couldn't pass up these beautiful flowers for her . . . purple representing her birthstone . . . amethyst . . .

The joy on her face when opening her cards . . . .

We stacked them into four categories . . . family, friends she knew, former students, and friends of ours . . . .

Here she is opening up some of her cards . . . .

. . . and SURPRISE . . .she had a gift . . . which she loved . . . and in a couple she found gift certificates and even money . . . . those brought a BIG smile to her face . . . . :):)

She even got a birthday cake . . . .but wait something is wrong . . :):):)

:):) ahhhhh . . .that's is what it is suppose to look like . . . 91 rather than 19!

She may have turned 91, but she has the heart of one who is 19. She loves her Father Above, her family and friends, and is thankful for all the Good Lord has blessed her with . . . .she knows that one day He will call her home, and she will be with Dad, John, and all her loved ones and friends who have gone before her. But for now, she is thankful for each new day and gives all the glory and thanks to God!