When it's my 70th Birthday Party!!!

I can only hope and pray (and yes, diet and exercise!!) that I look as good as Pam Collier did tonight!! She was radiant! I couldn't believe we were actually greeted by the birthday girl herself!!! What a fun night it was!!! The best part...besides being hugged by Pam....was getting to see all sorts of old and dear friends! The people that have shaped my life and enabled me to be the wife, mother, daughter, friend, etc...that I am today.

Jim and I  walked in to Mountain Brook Country Club only to be greeted by Pam herself in a very loving embrace...that made my day!! then, a multitude of friends stood before me...it was almost overwhelming! It's always like the best reunion ever when I go to an event like this because it is so truly special!! I was blessed to be standing by Mary Jo Kynerd...and we talked...and I mean really talked...not superficial stuff..but really, really talked. For the first time, I didn't feel like a student...or the mom of a student...but I felt like her friend! How special was that? I've known her for most of my life and now I can talk to her as a friend! I've noticed that about life lately...I'm finally able to realize that the people that were in "authority" over me...are now my friends..and really always have been! Just like Jane Harris...who is now my new best friend!! ( I do mean that Jane!! or Mrs. Harris!! ) anyway...to see Jane Harris when you walk in a room and she is smiling at you like she WANTS to talk to you and truly cares...well...it makes me want to cry!! that's what it does!! but then it let's me know that God is listening...and He knew all along that I wanted to be loved by these special people that I am surrounded by all of the time and yet somehow...I took them for granted!!! Well...NOT ANYMORE!!!

Then I was able to spend time with my dear  friend, Robin, that I can remember being my friend for the longest time!! ( I won't say OLD friend!!! because she isn't!! She's my age...actually she's 2 months younger!!! )
To hear Robin ask about Holly and Brad and Mitch and Britney and Miller....to know that she really cares even when we never see each other...an occasional text or phone call is all that happens!! meant the world to me all over again!!! To hear her bear her soul over a dear friend of hers  that is truly ill and may lose the use of her hand and to be asked to pray for this friend was again....truly a blessing and an encouragement to me beyond anything I could have asked for!!! I love the way my friends...are truly like my family! The people that I have been blessed to know over the past 35 years at Briarwood Church and School...the ones that I've kept in contact with...the ones that know me...for the good and the bad...can never, ever be replaced!! I am so blessed and thankful that God has granted me with people that continue to hold me accountable...and continue to love me!!!
On the other hand...it has also been a Tremendous blessing to get to know alot of my friends again over facebook!!! With our 30 year class reunion "Looming" in the near future...we are all talking quite a bit now and I love every minute of it!! Gosh I wish we had all been this mature way back when!! But, as they say...."Hindsight is 20/20!" Today I asked God for hindsight as I floated on a raft, staring at the clouds overhead and realized that I might not want to see the future like I think I do! You know...alot of people I know say it's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. What I've never heard anyone say is..."I'm so glad I knew what was ahead....I would've avoided it!!! or I would've been nicer...or I would'nt have said that...." I can go on and on about the what if's in our life...the only way I know to avoid wishing you had seen the future is to know WHO hold's your future and WHO has your future completing planned out!!! WOW! we don't need 20/20 vision!!! We don't need hindsight!!! We simply need Him and the promises He gives..

When it's my 70th Birthday Party...I hope and pray that there is someone, unbeknownst to me that will think all of these thoughts...and I hope and pray that there will be a Mary Jo Kynerd in her life....a Jane Harris in her life.... a Susan Deason in her life.... a Pam Collier in her life...a Robin Trammell especially in her life!!!! and of course....my mom and Mary Anne....I hope I am both of them to this person!!! I hope I get to experience a 70th Birthday Party!!!