A Special Gift

Today is my birthday! My sweetheart gave me a very special gift - a trip to the Oregon Coast for a few days.  He knew this birthday would be hard. It's the first one without my mom so he chose to take me to a place I love - a place that always makes me relax. And make my heart sing.

I'd like to tell you a bit about what my dear, little mother endured to bring me into this world.  She was in her eighth month of pregnancy. I was supposed to arrive in September but apparently God had other plans.  My dear mother had been dealing with bouts of appendicitis on and off for a few months. The doctors told her and my father that they could do surgery but it would mean that my life would end. Since things were not at a critical point my parents chose to wait and give me a chance to live.  I'm sure glad they did!  On the morning of August second my mother had an appendicitis attack that took her to the hospital. There was no waiting!  My parents were assured that, at that point, surgery could proceed and that I would be fine. The doctors said I would stay right where I was for the next month.  Surgery went well - and then labor began.  Then, thirty-two hours after her surgery, I was born!  Healthy and strong. When I tell my story I like to say that the doctors were wrong because they didn't know me. My story is (and I'm sticking to it!) that during the appendectomy I heard voices and wondered what was going on out there so I decided to come find out for myself!

My mom had a great sense of humor.  Over the years it seemed I couldn't get sympathy from her.  After I had a baby she chuckled and said she couldn't sympathize because I hadn't just had an appendectomy.  Then, after I had an appendectomy she told me, 'no sympathy' because I wasn't eight months pregnant!  Honesty, she was very sympathetic and compassionate but she loved to tease.

Over the years I have given my mother roses on my birthday. She always laughed and said I wasn't supposed to do that - I was the one who should get roses.  And I always said, 'these are for you because you worked so hard to bring me into the world and you worked hard to make sure I grew up to a good, strong lady'.  She never refused the roses. In fact, she showed them off with pride to anyone who came by.

I really miss my mom, especially today, but I wouldn't ask her to come back from the joys of Heaven to celebrate with me today.  Instead, I will cherish the memories through the years and continue to be thankful for her every day.