Oct 26 2006
Happy 75th
Mom blows out the candles on her ice cream cake as Dad looks on.
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Mom turned 75 today.
It’s hard for me to believe that she’s 75. Mom and Dad have been blessed with health and a strength of spirit that I admire. As we celebrate these milestone birthdays, it scares me a little to see how the passage of time seems to pick up speed with every passing year. With the busyness that consumes my every waking moment, I often feel like life is passing me by. When I saw how truly happy and appreciative Mom was to have some of my undivided attention tonight, it made me realize that I need to refocus my priorities and spend more time with my family.
Working full-time and attending school has been a major burden for me and now that I have only 3 more days on my academic calendar before my last class officially ends, I feel like I can now have a good chunk of my life back to do the things that I never had time to do. I know it will be a challenge not to simply fill the void with even more busyness and activity. One of the things that I know I want to do is make time to take my parents out for shopping/lunch/dinner/movies on a regular basis. I don’t want to live with regrets, knowing that I didn’t give them the time that they always unselfishly gave me as I was growing up.
The older I get, the more I learn about what is truly important. Family is one of those things.
Happy birthday, Mom! I love you.
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to your Mom!
It is so true that we lose ourselves so much in the day-to-day, that if not careful, before we know it, years, maybe decades have passed us by.
It’s may seem so cliche to say we need to stop and smell the roses, but it is also so very true. As you said, most of us need to look at our lives and re-prioritize, putting that which is truly important at the head of life’s “to do list”.
This year, my dad suffered two heart attacks. Either one could well have been fatal. The first, in fact, his doc believed he would have no longer than 72 hours to live. Janice, at home with the kids, called our pastor who came down just after my dad went in for some “exploratory” procedure and prayed with my mom and me. three hours later, my dad was returned to his room with several new stents in place and his doctor saying, “It’s a miracle you dad is still alive.” (I like to call his cardiologist, “Dr. Sunshine”)
But, truly, a miracle it was given the doc was so sure that he would not live beyond the next three days. God does answer prayer.
But, this helped me refocus and push as much as possible to make time to spend with family and those dearest to me. We take for granted that there will always be a tomorrow and that we can “do it later”. But, you never know. And, as you said, you don’t want to live the rest of your life with such regrets.
Now that your classes are done, as you say, resist the temptation to fill it with more busyness and use the time to be with your husband, your parents, family and friends. These are the real treasures and wealth we have in our earthly lives. And, just as much, Donna, you are a precious treasure to all of them as well. Let’s appreciate our “treasures” well.
Happy Belated Birthday Mom!…
Ditto with the belateness…but Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Donna’s mom!
Hey Sis the cake looks good…where did you get the cake from?…don’t tell me costco? lol
happy birthday, mom!!
WG : you made me cry … well said/written!!
Happy Birthday to your Mom, Donna.