I’ve had a lot of birthdays. Some I don’t really remember, others I do. I’ve had three surprise “parties” (they weren’t really parties, but they were surprises), a few with rather large parties, many with just family, some celebrated on my birthday and others celebrated on a different day. Quite a few of my earlier birthdays were celebrated with both my mom and aunt. I thought I’d share a few short memories of birthdays I’ve had.

Cupcake Birthday

There are a lot of birthdays in April on my mom’s side of the family, so one year her family decided to get together to celebrate. But unknown to most of us, Grandma had been busy baking cupcakes. One for each year of each birthday person’s life. (So someone turning 10 got 10 cupcakes.) She had to be careful because Grandpa has a birthday in April too. (We also celebrated the one birthday in March and one in May.) Image the laughter and surprise when Grandma started giving everyone their cupcakes! I think we had 10 birthdays that year and I don’t know how many cupcakes!

Day After Birthday

I had just turned 6. We used to go camping for my mom’s and my birthday and we’d just gotten back home. It was Sunday, the day after our birthday and we were at a friends house for a Bible study or something. I don’t remember what. But I do remember seeing a new family there. There was an older girl who sat with my sis on the porch swing (Sis had lost her big toenail when a rock fell on it while we were camping, so she wasn’t very mobile.) They had a young boy that I don’t remember seeing at all, and they had two other girls. Twins. I remember watching them and wondering why they were playing with the “babies” instead of running around and climbing fences and trees with the boys like I was. Little did I know that over thirty years later I would still be best friends with those two girls.

Too Many Guys!

On my 18th birthday my brother was home for a short visit with a team of guys he was a part of. (They ministered in churches and did service projects and such.) They’d sung and taught at church the day before and then they’d spent the day (along with about half a dozen guys from church) helping my dad on a roof. That evening they all came over for pizza at our house. And of course my brother or dad had told them all it was Mom’s and my birthday, so after prayer before we ate, they all sang to us. The singing was great! But the thought that I had about a dozen young men over for pizza on my 18th birthday was just funny!

Train Trip

A few years ago my grandparents invited my sis and I to go with them for a weekend visit to Chicago. We left on my birthday and rode the train from KC to Chicago. That was a very memorable trip and I’m glad I don’t live in such a large city. We got to visit the lake even though it was cold and windy, and took a boat tour, and my grandpa and I went up in–what is now–Willis Tower. It was just a memorable time spent with grandparents.

22

I won’t forget my 22nd birthday. My brother was in a relationship with my later to be sis-in-law, and her younger sisters were my sister’s and my heart-sisters. Since we were going to be up in KC for a homeschool conference on my birthday, I was hoping we could meet up with the C family at a park and just hang out. But they couldn’t do it. I was very sad. We set up for the conference on Thursday and then my brother hurried off to pick up his girl (who would be helping with the conference) and the rest of us drove to my grandparents’ house where we would all be staying. No sooner had we arrived and unloaded then my grandpa asked me if I wanted to go on a bike ride. (He and I enjoying riding bicycles together.) I said sure and off we went. Only my tire had a flat at the golf course. So, while I waited there, Grandpa rode back to the house (neither of us had cell phones). It was rather boring watching the golfers. At last my dad and grandpa returned in Dad’s truck with Grandma’s bike. So we set off again. This time we made it to the ice cream place and got ice cream. Then the ride back with clouds getting darker and occasional rumbles of thunder. The wind picked up and as we rode through some lovely neighborhoods I imagined what would happen and where we’d go if the tornado sirens went off. (They didn’t.) It had started to rain by the time we got back to the house. I barely stopped to say hi to my aunt and cousins and my brother’s girl before running upstairs to change. As I stepped into our room upstairs after quickly changing, the door to the back room opened and my three heart-sisters stepped out! My brother had planned it all along! They got to spend the night and Dad and I took them home in the morning!

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And now the list of 39 Giveaway Winners!

Kiera by Kate Willis (kindle) – Lori Smanski

The Land of Cotton by Ryana Lynn (kindle) – Kaitlyn S.

As Good as My Coach by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Margaret

Gift from the Storm by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Amy

Woodbreak the Prequel by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Cat Thompson

Something Sweet Someone Sweet by Hannah Foster (kindle) – Michelle D

Triple Creek Ranch – Unbroken #1 by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Alyssa

As the Heavens are Higher by Courtenay Burden (kindle) – Grace A. Johnson

Bridgers by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Libby Powell

The Unexpected Request by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Chelsea

Keeping Up Hope by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Lydia Coral

What the Cat Dragged In by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Cowgirlcari

Through the Tunnel by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Sarah R.

Fitting In by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Rhoda

Goodbye isn’t in the Dictionary by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Lauren C.

The Lower Lights & Other Stories by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Autumn

A Brother is Born by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Johanna

Beyond Comfort by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Kalya Linda

Winner’s Choice* by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Hannah Foster

A Desperate Experiment by Chelsea Burden (kindle) – Annalissa

Dylan’s Story by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Courtenay

By Paths Unknown by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Lydia Jupp

The Graham Quartet and the Mysterious Strangers #1 by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – SawyerMarie

Missing: One Junior Ranger by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Bree

Second Family by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Frog

Jayne’s Endeavour by Lauren Compton (kindle) – Edith

Jim Wood by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Sophia

Finding Joy by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Bethany

*Winner’s Choice* by Kate Willis (kindle) – Lacey

Wonderful Peace by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Natalie Claire

*Winner’s Choice* by Erika Mathews (kindle) – Katja

The Graham Quartet and the Mystery of the Day Maid #2 by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Hannah

Grandfather’s Mug by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – CutePolarBear

Bound by Victoria Lynn (kindle) – Olivia G.

Stories Through the Seasons by Rebekah A. Morris (audio) – Olivia Johnson

Ella Pursued by Hannah Foster (kindle) – Elise Jupp

Dancing with Fireflies by Rebekah A. Morris (kindle) – Rosy Marr

Off Course by Angie Thompson (kindle) – Lilly

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By the way, in case you were wondering, my last post has 575 comments. The most I’d had before then was 72. Thanks for helping set a crazy record that I’m not sure will be broken.

That was a rather long post! I hope you enjoyed it. Do have any special birthday memories? Have you had a surprise birthday? Would you like one?