My piggy bank of gratitude is overflowing today, as are two jars that were in a box last night waiting to be retrieved from the mailbox.

Yesterday started out pretty melancholy, and I allowed myself the sadness to miss my daughter on our birthday. But in the middle of the day, Sam’s plan to shower love began to unfold, and he and his daughter set up the kitchen in preparation for a room full of noise and laughter and love from small group friends and co-worker friends and friend friends and family friends. My dreary happy day exploded into a joyful, lively happy day. This ½ century old woman felt such love…

To top it off, we were still able to meet with our small group friends for dinner and discuss our chapters. But before that happened, 50 bucks was able to speak to my two girls on the phone, and when Karissa asked me if I had received my box in the mail, we hadn’t checked the mail in a couple of days, and she insisted that I get my mail NOW.

When Sam brought the box inside and I opened it, the tears began to flow.

There was no way I could open those jars before small group dinner, so I left them on the counter for the ending to my day…

We came back home, and I brought the jars to the table. In the quiet of the night, Sam sat next to me and read each slip of paper in each of the jars from my girls. Both had taken the time to each list 50 memories and reasons that they love their Mom. As he read, I cried. I laughed. I reflected. I shared the story that went behind that one. And that one. And that one. I was so touched that my daughters would put so much into a gift for me. My bursting heart hurts with love for these two girls who have been the source of strength for over a quarter century of my life, who have been life and reason to sing and the source of my pride and my joy.

I am grateful for beautiful roses.

I am grateful for the prettiest cake ever.

I am grateful for a noisy kitchen with love.

I am grateful for birthday wishes from my brothers, all three.

I am grateful for a birthday hug from my Dad.

I am grateful for a ringing phone that shows “Katrina” and “Karissa.”

I am grateful for a voicemail after church from four grandchildren singing to me.

I am grateful for my sister and niece who took the time to get 50 silly gifts – it’s fun to give a silly gift, but it’s just as fun to receive one, too.

I am grateful for my stepdaughter who spent the afternoon with us.

I am grateful for co-worker friends, small group friends, friend friends and family friends who took two hours out of their weekend to celebrate my oldness and do love.

I am grateful that it didn’t matter the chips and cereal boxes on top of the cabinet, didn’t matter the ugly plants in the window in dire need of trimming, didn’t matter the dust on the end tables, didn’t matter the stack of papers and books not put away, didn’t matter the water spots on the faucet.

I am grateful for my husband who planned a surprise for me and spent his whole day making sure I felt special and loved.

I am grateful for my daughters and the love they shared in little slips of paper that will be the source of much happiness, laughter, tears, and reflection in the coming years. A forever gift.

Piggy bank of gratitude is overflowing, and 50 is rich.