A little over a week ago I mentioned that Alex surprised me with a perfect birthday date, and I promised a more detailed account. I consider fulfilling that promise within the same month as my birthday to be quite the accomplishment indeed. So here it is, along with some reflections on some other amazing birthday presents I've received over the years (because when I'm feeling discontent, like, say, about not being able to move forward in the house hunting process, I know I need to step back and reflect on all the things for which I'm thankful!).
I've received some great birthday presents over the years. Some of the highlights are: my favoritest pair of earrings from my sister several years ago; Tales of the Kingdom from my parents for my 6th birthday (which we recently finished reading to Michael for bedtime stories; unfortunately it's out of print, but well worth the effort if you can find a copy somehow!); The Silmarillion from my aunt Nancy for my 15th birthday; and my uncle Ken making me watch the Star Wars original trilogy and then taking me to see The Phantom Menace for my 14th birthday (no, I hadn't seen the OT before then, and yes, I'm willing to admit that it changed my life); and my parents' wonderful new tradition of sending us date-night money for our birthdays.
Not that Alex's previous birthday gifts left anything to be desired, but this year's deserves special mention. I thought I was getting new glasses for my birthday (because even though I'd had my current pair for so long, it just seemed like that kind of expense should coincide with a special occasion) and I was looking forward to a date night sometime in the general proximity of my birthday.
But the Wednesday before my birthday Alex woke me up and told me he had arranged for his Mom to watch Michael while we went to Mass and breakfast afterwards. I'm pretty sure it was the first time the two of us went to Mass together without Michael since he was born, and a quiet meal alone (whether in or out) is always a treat. After breakfast at LePeep's--our favorite--we headed over to Barnes & Noble for our annual tradition of picking out birthday/Father's Day books together. I've been wanting to experiment with some new breads, and much to my delight I found a cookbook filled with bread recipes from around the world: The Best-Ever Book of Bread. I haven't had a chance to try any yet (baking bread in 100 degree weather isn't all that appealing) but I'll be sure to report back on both successes and failures. I love this tradition of ours because we nearly always enjoy each other's books as well--Alex's motives in buying me a bread cookbook were hardly (purely) altruistic, and I'm looking forward to reading his gifts as well: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophey, Spy by Eric Metaxas and Angels (and Demons) by Peter Kreeft.
After taking our time browsing and picking out books, we stopped by DSW to get me a new pair of sandals and Alex some much-needed new dress shoes. Again, it was such a luxury to not need to entertain a toddler while shopping (and a huge thank you, again, to Cici for making this surprise date possible!). We had a lovely morning together, made even sweeter by the fact that it was completely unexpected.
Needless to say, Alex has set the bar incredibly high and I look forward to next year ;)
Alex's gifts are so special in part because he knows me so well. In this way (like many others, including almost never taking the closest spot in a parking lot) he is a lot like my dad. There are two presents my dad has given me which are without a question at the top of the list of highlights of Presents Past: a Moody Blue's compilation CD set and a tool kit. I first started playing the Radio Game with my parents largely because I just like knowing the answer to things. Much to my surprise, I discovered that I actually enjoyed a lot of the music. And even more, I enjoyed enjoying something that my parents enjoyed so much (I'm sure there's a clearer way of saying that). I loved listening to the Moody Blues and other groups, knowing that my parents had listened to the same songs in high school and college. Five(ish) years ago my dad surprised me with my very own Moody Blues CDs for my birthday.
Dad may or may not have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to take away any incentive for me to steal more of his CDs (a valid concern; I'm hoping my parents have forgotten about that Little River Band CD they used to own but which has been in my possession for the last several years) but that simple gift was (and is) profoundly special to me because it demonstrates how well Dad knows me, and our shared love of the Moody Blues serves as a reminder of all the other (more important) things we have in common. In fact, our father-daughter dance at my wedding was to their "Voices in the Sky" (which the other guests probably found to be an incredibly strange choice).
The tool kit was such a special gift for somewhat different reasons. While I do enjoy fixing things upon occasion, thus far I have shown nowhere near the aptitude for that pursuit that I have for identifying songs by artists who were famous before I was born. I saw the gift of the tool kit shortly before I moved to Denver as a sign of my dad's deeper desire to equip me for the road ahead (and not long after he gave it to me I needed the screwdriver in it to replace my stolen license plates... let me clarify, put new plates on after mine were stolen, not replace stolen plates which were on my vehicle).
Now, of course, Michael gets all the presents (and attention, until he goes to bed and we get to play the Radio Game), but that's okay :) Dad's gifts are such small tokens of his love for me, but so incredibly precious. And, as always, they point me to my Heavenly Father's love and his many gifts. In a similar way, Alex's gift of that relaxed morning together and the joy of his company reminds me to make time to place myself in God's presence and enjoy his company.
As I was reflecting to my friend Nicole the other day, Alex is so good at pointing me to God. Whenever I try to compliment Alex on what an amazing father and husband he is, his response is always, "It's not me." I, on the other hand, usually just take the compliment and forget to pass on the credit. As with so many other things I'm sure Alex will help me work on that :)
I'd love to know--what are some of the best birthday gifts you've ever received?
Dad may or may not have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to take away any incentive for me to steal more of his CDs (a valid concern; I'm hoping my parents have forgotten about that Little River Band CD they used to own but which has been in my possession for the last several years) but that simple gift was (and is) profoundly special to me because it demonstrates how well Dad knows me, and our shared love of the Moody Blues serves as a reminder of all the other (more important) things we have in common. In fact, our father-daughter dance at my wedding was to their "Voices in the Sky" (which the other guests probably found to be an incredibly strange choice).
The tool kit was such a special gift for somewhat different reasons. While I do enjoy fixing things upon occasion, thus far I have shown nowhere near the aptitude for that pursuit that I have for identifying songs by artists who were famous before I was born. I saw the gift of the tool kit shortly before I moved to Denver as a sign of my dad's deeper desire to equip me for the road ahead (and not long after he gave it to me I needed the screwdriver in it to replace my stolen license plates... let me clarify, put new plates on after mine were stolen, not replace stolen plates which were on my vehicle).
Now, of course, Michael gets all the presents (and attention, until he goes to bed and we get to play the Radio Game), but that's okay :) Dad's gifts are such small tokens of his love for me, but so incredibly precious. And, as always, they point me to my Heavenly Father's love and his many gifts. In a similar way, Alex's gift of that relaxed morning together and the joy of his company reminds me to make time to place myself in God's presence and enjoy his company.
As I was reflecting to my friend Nicole the other day, Alex is so good at pointing me to God. Whenever I try to compliment Alex on what an amazing father and husband he is, his response is always, "It's not me." I, on the other hand, usually just take the compliment and forget to pass on the credit. As with so many other things I'm sure Alex will help me work on that :)
I'd love to know--what are some of the best birthday gifts you've ever received?
Was I one of your best birthday gifts ever? Love you Ash!
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