Last Tuesday was my birthday.

On my birthday, I make a special effort to thank my parents for the gift of life. My mother is away in another state (I usually take her out for lunch – I will when she gets back) but I made sure I visited my dad’s grave and clean up the little garden we have at his plot. I cleaned up the summer flowers we have growing there and then I planted mums. Planting those mums was quite a challenge. They needed deep holes for the roots and the lower layer of soil wasn’t really soil but extremely hard clay. It was so hard, I had to go back home and get a spade but I dug and dug and worked at it. While I worked away, I spent a peaceful and quiet time talking to my dad. If the ground wasn’t so hard, I probably wouldn’t have stayed there as long as I did. So I am thankful for hard dirt.

My family is not officially celebrating my birthday until the weekend but of course it was still my birthday and it was filled with many birthday surprises and gifts.

I received a beautiful card from my 92 year old father-in-law. My mother-in-law passed away a year and half ago and she used to send birthday cards to everyone in my husband’s family . My husband’s family consists of around 55 people (children, spouses, grandchildren, their spouses, and great grandchildren). I was amazed to receive a birthday card. I was deeply touched by his thoughtfulness and love.

One fun thing about Facebook is that all your friends know it’s your birthday .

Two wonderful surprises – home-made chicken pot pie made by my daughter and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my husband.

I am so thankful for the gift of life.

If you would like to share your version of “Thankful Thursday” (photos or text or both) today or in the future, you can link your post to my post on Thursdays in the comments section with the title “Thankful Thursday”.

Sorry for the late post! I am preparing for a very busy weekend (not just birthday related).

Birthday card from my 92 year old father-in-law
My father-in-law’s signature
Visiting my own dad’s grave and planting mums. I thanked him for giving me the gift of life.
My garden is full of flowers but I am always thrilled beyond words when my husband brings flowers home for me.
By the end of the day, over 100 people wished me happy birthday on Facebook
A bouquet I made for a coworker of mine who is leaving our office
A surprise dinner made for me by my daughter. We usually do take-out but nothing beats home-made. Chicken pot pie is my favorite!
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