Today, 19 October 2019, I have been left speechless and overwhelmed. I have learnt so much, rested so well and taken in so many moments that will remain as memories for a lifetime.
Today our blessing and gift from the Lord, Cianna Hope, turned 9.
Firstly, birthdays are a huge celebration in our home. They are the day God ordained and planned for us to come into the world. They are the day the miracle of life is birthed. They are the day that annually the Lord is glorified for His goodness, graciousness and awesome-ness. Birthdays are to be celebrated and in our case they are celebrated well, because 9 years ago, Cianna almost didn’t have a birth day and I had almost had my last. I whispered to my husband today, “I’m so glad it’s not 9 years ago” because 9 years ago I was lying on the theater table having an emergency c-section at 33 weeks pregnant, due to my unborn baby experiencing distress and my body dying of heart disease (infective endocarditis for those of you who like the proper terms) and 5 days later lying on another theater table, in another hospital, having emergency open heart surgery.
As you’ve realized, we are BOTH around today. Both results of a miracle. Both trophies of a miracle working God. We LOVE being alive and LOVE celebrating life.
I have also always been a “party girl”. I have loved having a party and making my birthdays an event. Planning and making and organizing and doing in order for a memorable party to take place. My daughter enjoys a party, but this year caught me off guard. When discussing what she would like to do to celebrate her 9th birthday, she asked if she could please NOT have a party ON her birthday day. Today is her birthday and it’s a Saturday, so we could have easily planned and prepped and hosted some of her friends to celebrate. But that’s not what she wanted. Cianna requested to please spend the entire day at HOME with just her DAD and MOM. “What? You want to stay home? And not invite anybody over?” Were my first responses. I double checked with her that she really wanted that, and so it was set. The day of her birthday would be a home day, with just us. And let me tell you….it has been the most wonderful day!
Today is a day that will be be etched into my heart and mind forever. It started with a treasure hunt for presents. Then the elation she felt when she got many items on her wish list. LEGO was one of her gifts, so she spent the next hour or so building and playing with her new set. We chatted and played and ate and chilled. The day continued and she joyously took out another gift to play or look at, enjoy or appreciate. One thing our Cianna does well is say thank you and demonstrate a grateful attitude. It melts my heart so often when she unexpectedly expresses her appreciation for something….even something “small”.
We got her a water science kit and so we had the time to go through one of the experiments- what fun it was to build a water filter system, make some fake grey water, and experience the filter cleaning the water before our eyes. The delight on her face was priceless.
We got take-aways for lunch and enjoyed a meal together outside in the glorious sunshine. We chatted and laughed and soaked up family time. Precious family time.
She also got a beginners scrap booking set full of papers and stickers and pens and washi tape. This was time for just the girls and her and I laid it all out on the table and took a few moments to decide what we should begin with. Creative energy started to flow and guess what, we had time for it.
For birthday dinner, Cianna could choose what she wanted and her favourite chicken pie was the order of the day. Mom cooked while dad and daughter had round two of un-hurried lego time. The imagination and laughter I heard boiling up from the dining room was memorable. And oh so special!
The evening rolled in after dinner and a whilst donning toothpaste to her toothbrush a bit later she yelled, “Mommy, thank you SOOOO much for all my presents.” my heart burst. (and dad commented, “what about me?” :))
WHAT A MEMORABLE DAY! I will never forget it. Taking in, appreciating my new 9 year old, being present the WHOLE day with her on her last single digit birthday, thinking of nothing and nobody else. Doing whatever she wanted, when she wanted it. It was a busy-less day, a priceless day, a never-to-be-forgotten day.
And I can’t wait to celebrate her 9th birthday with some friends for her party next weekend too!
hope of heart 
Beautifully expressed once again Lol.What beautiful downtime to enjoy priceless moments together and with the Lord.💕🎂