Abundance

Last night, several friends gathered on short notice to celebrate my milestone birthday with me. My husband and another one of my dearest friends insisted until they finally wore down my resistance and I conceded. I'm glad that I did because as much as I tried to avoid having this gathering and being forced into the spotlight, it blessed me. In fact, I will still be basking in the memory of the evening for years to come.

The two party planners did an amazing job! The hosts created a welcoming oasis in their park-like backyard that could easily have graced the cover of any home and garden magazine. My sweetheart also worked at this project with unmatched enthusiasm and delight; running errands, making phone calls, and relishing the opportunity. Together they pulled no punches. As we share a mutual admiration of all things cake (www.communitycake.wordpress.com ) they even asked each guest to bring one. It was a cake extravaganza!

Once everyone had arrived, I took a moment to make introductions telling how I had come to know each person there. But as I reflect on those words now, they are grossly inadequate descriptions of the amazing individuals that I am blessed to have in my life. I wish that I could have taken hours to describe who each one of them is to me:

the constant friends who I have now known for more years than I didn't know them, with whom I have shared adventures too numerous to count...

the ones who drove well over an hour to be there last night, and also drove 15 minutes in the middle of a September night in 1995 to care for our son, while I labored with, and delivered our daughter...

the ones who drove nearly as far, despite debilitating health issues...

the ones who remained in contact over the years and over the miles, as we followed my husband's career across the country, so that our friendship never missed a beat...

the ones who make it a pleasure to go to work each day...

the friends who have quickly established their place in my heart and become part of the fabric of my life...

my Daddy who has always been in my corner cheering for me....

my handsome, teenage, nephew who I am told is sometimes surly but has never shown me anything but love and respect and who took the time to come and wish me well...

my own two teens who I have seen surly on occasion and have the privilege of watching grow into amazing individuals that I am thankful to know...

my sweet husband, with whom I share this privilege, and who is the salt in my life enhancing every part of it, making the journey more flavorful...

and all who have shared my laughter and tears, prayed with me and for me, opened their hearts and homes to me and mine, countless times, as well as graced our home with their presence.

Though there was an array of cakes, I barely touched them. What I really craved was more time to sit down and fill up on that buffet of beautiful friends that feed my soul. I am honored to have such abundance in my life.