Early Birthday Surprise

Birthdays are an exciting event.  Uh when you're 7 years old.  I had one birthday party as a kid.  I turned 13.  I had several of my friends over.  I remember  playing games, laughing, and talking for hours in the front yard.

Many birthdays have come and gone since that birthday party.  This year I will be.....drum roll please.......50.  It's amazing to think I am 50 years old.  LOL 

I've lived long enough to have experienced love, joy, sadness, and pain.  I have a wonderful husband, 5 beautiful children, and 1 precious grand daughter.  Something else I have and cherish are friends.

God has blessed me with many friends.  I consider myself to have many friends.  My Facebook says I have 1,027 friends. When in reality I only have 10.  LOL  I truly believe I can call dozens of ladies and guys my friend. 

Vickie and I surprise Beth for her 50th with a pedicure.

I have been blessed to have a handful of ladies that know me well.  They've seen my good side and my bad.  And, amazingly enough, we are still friends.  These friends even know via a text message if my "OK" answer is for real or is there more to it.  Those friends text or call back for details.  Out of my handful of lady friends there are 2, who the three of us know one another in great detail.  

Their names are Beth and Vickie. Vickie and her husband live in another state.  We've been mutual friends for 25 years. We've cried. laughed, prayed, rejoiced when our children succeeded, wept when they've struggled, sang, worshiped, ate, traveled. attended graduation, weddings, and funerals together. 

Several weeks ago I was struggling with some depression.  I was discouraged with my physical limitations.  My heart was broken with some treatment and test results of my youngest child.  My heart was burdened for a wayward child.  Doctor bills are long and money is short.  My husband is stressed.  And I just wanted to stay in my bed.

My church planned a ladies conference the first week end of April.  It wasn't going to be very long, just Friday evening and Saturday morning.  Priscilla Shirer was to speak on "Life's Interruptions".  I really wanted to go.  I asked my husband if we had the money to go.  He told me there were a couple of doctor offices that over charged us.  If I call and get them to refund us I would then have the money. 

Praise the Lord not only did we get refunded but it was enough that I invited another friend and could pay for her ticket.  God is so good. 

I wasn't well and able to attend a Sunday service to get the tickets in advance.  The Sunday before the conference I brought my money and was going to buy two tickets.  That morning Beth stopped me.  She said, "Donna, here's you a ticket." I replied, "Why, I'm buying my ticket this morning?" "Well, here I bought yours.  Now, don't loose it."  "Ok? Thanks." 

I told my husband about the unexpected blessing.  Now I know the Lord wanted me at that conference.  My ticket was paid for and the money I was going to use to buy my ticket will buy gas.  God is just good like that.

I was like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.  I was so excited to see and hear what God had for me.  I told the friend, who I was buying her ticket, that I wonder if I set my clock up would Friday night come any faster.  LOL She clearly reminded me that it would not.  Bummer. 

Praise God Friday came.  By Friday night I was ready to be fed from His Word.  I was ready to be refueled with His Spirit.  I wanted to get out of my bed.

My friend came to my house and rode with me to the meeting.  It was going to be exciting.  I could already feel the Lord's presence.  We arrived at the church.  Beth called, "Donna when you come in BE SURE you come to the LAST door.  That's where I have seats saved." Alright....that is what I will do. 

Beth and Vickie surprise me for my 50th.

We sign in, got our books, Beth was there directing us to the last door. AND AROUND THE CORNER...OH MY GOODNESS.... Vickie jumps out and says, "SURPRISE!"  Beth and Vickie both say, "Happy early Birthday!"  I almost cried.  I wanted to cry.  I got shakey.  I covered my face.  I turned towards the wall.  I turned back around. I was speechless.  (I know that was a first) Vickie, Beth and I hugged as if no one else was in the building.  What an amazing blessing.  God is so amazingly good.  Isn't He? 

God knew exactly what I needed.  Between His Word, Spirit, the Study of "Life's Interruptions", church, a friend going with me, and 2 crazy friends who knew that this week end was the medicine I needed.  I just LOVE how good God is.

Maybe I should of named this post "God is Good".  LOL  God always gives you what you need and when you need it. 

Thank God for good friends.  Thanks for all the dozens of friends I have.  Thank you Beth and Vickie for my "month early birthday surprise".  I loved EVERY minute.  I love you. 

Vickie is the baby.  She has 3 more years for her surprise 50th event.  What will Beth and I do for Vickie's big day?