Coffee and Chatting

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year: my birthday.

I wish all of you could come over for a big party. We could have cake. And Ryan could grill burgers, because we still have some left from our Mommapalooza on Sunday. We could drink coffee and sit in the pirogi and enjoy the day.

That sounds like a splendid birthday to me.

And I'm excited about this birthday week, because Ryan apparently has little surprises up his sleeve all week long. Yesterday morning was the first one, and it's kind of funny. Wanna hear? After an incredibly hard-work-filled weekend, we had crazy thunderstorms here Sunday evening, meaning I got minimal sleep. Woke up Monday morning...exhausted.

Ryan always makes my coffee before I leave for work, so I asked if he could be sure to use a Starbucks K-Cup, so I could have maximum caffeine in my Monday drink. He agreed. When it was time to pack up and leave, he said to me, "Hey which travel mug do you want to use today?"

He opened the cabinet of mugs and I perused. I spied the big brown one in the second row, right behind a smaller, white cup and said to him, "OOOH! The brown one!" I stepped forward to move the white cup to hand him the brown one...and noticed...the white cup was full.

Yep.

He'd sneaked out to Starbucks while I was getting ready, and surprised me with my favorite grande nonfat white chocolate mocha with two shots of raspberry.

And I was so busy hunting the biggest cup, I completely MISSED Starbucks in the front row.

And that was my Monday surprise of a birthday treat. Starbucks before work.

My heart filled with joy for obvious reasons {the aforementioned Starbucks before work on a Monday} and also other reasons.

It's still not lost to me that after years of praying...and asking...and crying...and wondering...and hurting...and more praying...God has given me the gift of a husband. And not just a husband, but a husband who understands just how important my birthday is to me...and he celebrates me in ways he knows I'll love.

Last week, I met with a friend who is hurting, and as I listened to her hurt, I was so thankful to be able to say - without hesitation - that the good men are still out there. They're not lost. They're not extinct. Waiting for them may seem to take an eternity, but when found....what a treasure.

To my single friends reading today...if you're celebrating birthdays alone and aching for someone to celebrate you on that day, don't give up. Even on the days when you not only want to throw in the towel, but you want to throw it in, stomp on it and burn the thing...don't give up. If this is the deep desire of your heart, keep praying for the God who knows the desires of your heart to sustain you in the waiting, to prepare you for the one He has made for you, and to prepare the one He is molding for you even now.

To my married girls reading today...if you once prayed for love and God sent love to you...don't take that man for granted. Don't forget the days of waiting and hurting and longing. Love that man with the intensity you want to be loved and pray for him to continue to be made into the man God knows he can be.

To my married guys reading today...love that woman God has given you as Christ loved the church. Learn her, love her and cherish her in ways that protect and grow her heart. Spoil the daylights out of her. Give her cause to assure her waiting friends that good men exist. Find single guys and teach them to love well.

Thank you, God, for the privilege of completing one full year of my life bearing the title of wife. Thank you for this man who served me one year ago tomorrow by bringing me breakfast in bed, complete with a rose, and made my birthday evening delightful by taking me for a walk and photo shoot in the park because he knew how I'd love it.

Thank you for the ways he spoils me every day of the year by fixing my coffee and breakfast before work...by filling my gas tank multiple times a week...by encouraging me as we go for runs, even though he knows I struggle with them...by putting an arm around me in church...by praying over me when I'm anxious...by believing in my writing and ministry dreams...and by laughing with me every single day.

35 has been a great year. I'm excited to celebrate the start of year 36 tomorrow...with a thankful heart.