An "Oh My Word" and "LOL" Birthday!

I cannot express how incredibly strange this, my first birthday in China, my 35th birthday, by the way, has been!

First, my birthday was on March 12, a Monday, which is one of Jerry's nights to teach, so I was already trying to grip the fact that we would celebrate during the day sometime and be crunched for time so he could be back for class prep and to teach. . . add to that the fact that it was Friday of birthday weekend and as of yet we had not received either of the anticipated birthday boxes from our parents, this "Love language of Gifts" girl was more than a bit sad (especially since we don't receive packages on the weekend)!

So, on Saturday I was pretty much whiny all day because I didn't get a box from America, Rachel was whiny all day because she had a cold . . . and poor Jerry? Well, he was our hero! He made us breakfast and then he took Rachel out for a few hours so I could have some quiet time. The rest of the day we kind of bummed around the house because it was so stinking cold!

Sunday was the birthday of two other ladies in our company, so we all went out to eat after our Sunday morning meeting to celebrate the three birthday girls at a place called "Happy Tom's" . . . a pizza buffet! For those of you who don't know, the great thing about this is that pizza is one of my least favorite foods . . . and BUFFET?!?! Seriously?

Then Monday . . . the big day! I woke up sick with a head cold (read: miserable and cranky) Jerry, my hero to the end, made breakfast which I was served in bed with a card sweetly crafted by both he and Rachel. . . and then with a crinkled up face he says " do you want me to tell you what the plans are or do you just want to be surprised?" Oh, like that was a question he needed to ask . . . YES! tell me the plans!! (I'm not big on surprises and I needed some good news to counter the stuffy nose and headache) So he told me that he had rescheduled his class and talked to my friend Lena who is the new president of a very nice hotel here in the city and she wanted to treat me for my birthday. She gave us (for free!) one of the three presidential suites on the 27th floor of the hotel, a foot massage for both of us in the spa, and dinner served in our room. YAY!!! Things were looking up after all . . . and they just got better from there!

The hotel room was beautifully decorated in traditional Chinese style and had the hugest (is that a word?) bed we've seen in China! And the best part?! There was a bathtub!!! Oh, I nearly wept for joy! While Jerry took Rachel to play with a friend for a few hours, I enjoyed that magnificent piece of porcelain! When he returned, we went down to the spa and had our foot massage . . . which ended up being a foot washing/leg/neck/shoulder/arm massage and did wonders for my achy stuffed up head. We had a lovely evening at the hotel, even though I was really sick and couldn't touch the wonderful food they served, and when Rachel came back we lit the birthday candles on the beautiful cake and she sang happy birthday to me . . .

What had seemed to begin as a miserable . . . "I can't believe this is how my birthday is going to happen" experience, turned out to be one of the best (and most timely) celebrations ever!

AND THEN . . .

when we returned home Jerry "ran to the office" for a minute . . . when he returned he carried with him a 25 pound box!!! I couldn't believe it! And he was smiling like a Cheshire Cat! Only then did I learn of the email he had sent out to everyone . . .

in the box was FOUR (4) FIVE (5) pound bags of Hot Tamales (and a few extra boxes)!!!! I never laughed so much in my life! (which we came to find out later all came from TCC! You guys are hilariously awesome!! We so love you!) I thought he was crazy . . . and I was quite proud of him! He is never able to keep ANYTHING a secret! ( i knew we would be going to Lena's hotel . . . it was just pretty obvious, although all the extras were a surprise!) But this he kept completely secret....

AND THEN . . .

long story "short" (oh, wait, too late for that!) There was another 50 pound box that got returned to FL and when our Field Advisor came just last week she brought most of its contents with her. . . and we got the full story!

There were cards from SO MANY people . . . some that I have met only briefly and know from email, which was SO sweet and caused me to cry to think how great our papa is to love on me that way . . . you will have a extra shiny jewel in your crowns for that!!! And I think I got the most joy out of the broken grocery store card RK because I would SO do the scotch tape thing! Gifts from my parents and some from my dearest friends which really were great because of the accuracy with which each of them depicted our friendships (clearance valentines candy . . . sweet magnets that make my heart "aww" each time i see them . . . a great book on a subject you know I love . . . my favorite chocolates that only one of you would remember and the funniest? an opened (and half empty) bag of mint kisses because as everyone found, they are only sold at Christmas time . . . I would totally do the same for you, JG!!) and oh, yeah MORE hot tamales . . . seriously, in all? in excess of 60 pounds of hot tamales!!!

Words cannot express the tenderness I feel towards you all . . . when you are this far away from those you love so dearly and have celebrated so many birthdays with . . . well, the thoughtful acts of kindness and love you lavished on me made the miles seem fewer and the memories definitely sweeter than any before!

May he bless you with his lavish love as you did me!

PS . . . we have found that hot tamales would go over quite well here in our city . . . as we have shared them with almost EVERYONE we know . . . students, teammates, taxi drivers, strangers on the street . . . LOL