my December birthday

Yup, that's me!

Do you have a December birthday?

Aww, I'm so sorry.

I've actually thought about starting a support group for those born in December.

Ok, I'm being funny... but sort of serious too.

Because as you know, it's a crazy, busy time to fit in a birthday celebration.

But I am so grateful that my family takes the time to lavish me with such loving, thoughtful gestures.

Thank you!

My brother Gary & me.

December 13th was always the last week of school before Christmas break while growing up.

And I always brought decorated cut-out Christmas cookies for my birthday treat.

And they were always enthusiastically received. Everyone loved that I had a December birthday!

I remember opening either a dress, or a sweater, tights, or shoes... 

to wear to the various Christmas programs coming up. And I remember them all fondly.

But do you know that I have never given my kids clothes for birthday or Christmas.

Too practical. (and that coming from a very practical me!)

But one Christmas, in 1990, our 8 year old Shawn asked for Air Jordan V's.

They had come out earlier that year and Shawn was crazy about them.

He wanted them in the worst way...

and I remember trying my darnedest to talk him out of asking for those shoes.

"You don't want shoes for Christmas!"

But to Shawn that gift was the most impractical, luxuriously decadent gift 

he could have ever imagined getting.

And when he opened that box of shoes that year...

well, it still makes me cry, after all these years.

And also makes me kinda sad that I would impose my past onto my kids.

But thankfully, by the grace of God, they're great kids.

And really and truly our best teachers.

In which I again say, Thank you!