This day has been full of such delightful surprises. I can't wait for Steve to get home from work tonight, so I can tell him all about it. In the meantime, I'll share it with all of you.
I got to the community pool early this morning and had it all to myself for 45 minutes of aqua-jogging and water aerobics. The pool was a perfect temperature, and the radio station that is piped in had music that kept me moving. Good for me.
When I got back home, I was stepping out of the shower and getting dressed when my phone rang. It was Matt. He had a lot of thoughts swirling around in his head, and Katie was at a meeting, his Dad was at work, so I was the next best thing. :) That part didn't matter. What mattered to me was the fact that my son wanted to share his heart with his Momma for a few minutes. I treasure times like that.
Five minutes after we hung up, Laura called. I knew that she and her family were in the area (at the other grandparents/in-laws) on their way to Florida and that the plan was to spend the night with us this weekend on their way back. But what she said was, "Mom, are you home? David and I about to pass the turn-off that leads to your house, and I sure would like to come by for a quick hug." What a thrill!!!! A few minutes later, there she was, and we hugged and hugged and hugged. I treasure times like that.
When they left, I hurriedly finished getting ready so I could meet my first cousin Dixie for lunch. Our birthdays are a week apart, and we thought some co-celebrating might be in order. This was the Big 6-0 for her and the Big Social Security One for me. We'd better grab chances like this before we get too old to party, right? While I was driving, Matt called back to tell me a funny incident that had just happened to him in Wal-Mart, and again I felt so grateful to be on the receiving end of his call.
Dixie and I met in the restaurant, hugged, and started chattering and laughing like a couple of school kids out for summer break without a care in the world, not paying any attention to the other diners around us. We joked with the waitress about hoping there would be no big hats to wear but wondering if birthday people got free dessert. Silly stuff like that. About 30 minutes into our meal, our waitress and the hostess came over to our table and said, "We have some good news for you. Did you happen to notice the gentleman in the corner behind you?" (We hadn't.) "Well, he was enjoying watching you and overheard you both mention birthdays. He has paid for your meal today AND wants you both to order dessert!!!" We were stunned! We gave each other high-fives and felt a psychological lift that I'm sure Dixie is still feeling as much as I am. What a nice thing for someone to do! We asked if there was anyway for us to tell this person "Thank You," and they said that he is one of the regulars, so we left him a note for them to give him the next time he's in. (Dixie wondered if he was single, but that's another story -- Ha!) And, by the way, the desserts were amazing.
Dixie headed off to teach voice lessons (she sings like an angel), and I went to the grocery store. There in the produce section was a dear lady from my church. As a matter of fact, she was in the class where I had been the substitute teacher just last Sunday. I told Sarah how much I had appreciated the deep insights she had contributed to the class when I asked questions and invited participation. I told her that SHE was the one who should have been teaching. She told me that she has problems with her eyesight now and can't study or read as long as she would need to in order to do justice to the lessons. She shared with me that she has spent the last 25 years of her life devoted to studying the Bible in depth. Now that she can't see as well, she still listens to Bible teachers on her radio. She said, "The study of God's Word satisfies me like nothing else ever has." What a testimony and an inspiration to my heart.
I'm back home now. The groceries are put away, and I've had a couple of fun texts from both of my daughters. I have a little time to be quiet and reflect before I need to start cooking supper. I love it when God fills my day with such sweet blessings. I treasure times like that.
Ezekiel 34:26b (God said) "I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing."
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