Surprise! Surprise!

As most of you know yesterday, November 18th, was my birthday. This made me reflect back to this date twenty years ago.

I was in LDS hospital for the fifth month of my extended vacation, that I so unwillingly took there. My attentive family had done everything possible to make this birthday as normal as they could. They planned a surprise party, inviting all my friends and co-inhabitants, and waited until every family member would be off of work, so they all could make it.

I woke up that day as mischievous as ever and proceeded to give the staff a hard time. Not knowing of the impending event that was coming later that day, I managed to convey, slurred speech and all, that it was my birthday and jokingly wanted to know what each one had gotten me as a gift. They joked back, "We don't even like you! Why on earth would we get you anything?" I'd just giggle and roll on my merry way.

As the day progressed, I used all my energy to be the rollicking jokester I've always been. So by the time dinner rolled around I was exhausted and asked if I could skip the meal, to go straight to bed. They flat out said, "No!" I became furious and loudly started to let them know my opinion on that thought, when I was stunned to silence. There before me stood a large group of family and friends who had come just to see me, with my gorgeous children center stage.

Energy flowed through me like a socket to a plug and all my tiredness drifted away. The rest of my party was a blur of hugs, kisses, pizza and monstrous smiles. I was never so happy to be alive.

I praised God for saving my life, so I could enjoy this awesome display of His love for me.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

I am blessed
Merrym Dawn Mathis Bruce