Thursday, March 27, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY.....
Baby girl: Rebecca Jo Strain
Arrived: 1:15 AM
Date: March 27, 1954
Weight: 8 lbs. 2 oz.
Length: 18 inches
Loved at once by her mother and father and big brother, George. That lasted for about a day or two and then brother George decided it wasn’t a good idea to have a little sister. Life had been really good when he was the only kid and he didn’t want to share with a blue-eyed blonde little cry-baby. However, his wish of returning the baby to the hospital never happened.
Becky was a quick learner and results-oriented at an early age. I found her so much different than baby number one I often wondered if they sent the wrong baby home with me. Surely two babies in the same family would resemble a closer proximity than George and Becky. I had a lot to learn about children and I thank all three of mine for the wonderful education they gave me.
Today we celebrated Becky’s birthday a little different. The Vietnamese couple who do our nails drove 25 miles on their lunch hour to bring a pizza and decorated cake to Becky. Tony, the husband, insisted we light a candle…..any candle would do, so after the pizza, I lit a Wood Wicks candle and the four of us stood around the table, holding hands and singing Happy Birthday to Becky. Kim, the wife, speaks very little English and sang with us in her native language.
Life is funny. The older one grows the more it is realized how we affect people around us. The desire to wish Becky a happy birthday was so great in Tony and Kim they made time to make it happen. Years ago I could never imagine singing the birthday song with two Vietnamese people for any of my children.
That’s one of the benefits of life. The kindness and regard shown to others will always come back at some future time……God will decide where and when…and even the “who.” In the interim, we have the pleasure of giving back some of our blessings to others. It’s such a good idea, only God could figure it out.
So here is to life….and surprises….and birthdays…..
Essentially Esther
Arrived: 1:15 AM
Date: March 27, 1954
Weight: 8 lbs. 2 oz.
Length: 18 inches
Loved at once by her mother and father and big brother, George. That lasted for about a day or two and then brother George decided it wasn’t a good idea to have a little sister. Life had been really good when he was the only kid and he didn’t want to share with a blue-eyed blonde little cry-baby. However, his wish of returning the baby to the hospital never happened.
Becky was a quick learner and results-oriented at an early age. I found her so much different than baby number one I often wondered if they sent the wrong baby home with me. Surely two babies in the same family would resemble a closer proximity than George and Becky. I had a lot to learn about children and I thank all three of mine for the wonderful education they gave me.
Today we celebrated Becky’s birthday a little different. The Vietnamese couple who do our nails drove 25 miles on their lunch hour to bring a pizza and decorated cake to Becky. Tony, the husband, insisted we light a candle…..any candle would do, so after the pizza, I lit a Wood Wicks candle and the four of us stood around the table, holding hands and singing Happy Birthday to Becky. Kim, the wife, speaks very little English and sang with us in her native language.
Life is funny. The older one grows the more it is realized how we affect people around us. The desire to wish Becky a happy birthday was so great in Tony and Kim they made time to make it happen. Years ago I could never imagine singing the birthday song with two Vietnamese people for any of my children.
That’s one of the benefits of life. The kindness and regard shown to others will always come back at some future time……God will decide where and when…and even the “who.” In the interim, we have the pleasure of giving back some of our blessings to others. It’s such a good idea, only God could figure it out.
So here is to life….and surprises….and birthdays…..
Essentially Esther
