Treats

July 12th marks the anniversary of my birth.  I love the anniversary of my birth.  I love it because it is a reminder to me to celebrate my life--the woman God made me, the blessings He continuously gives me, and the Purpose He has for me in His kingdom.  It is a reminder to give praise and thanks for the year behind, and to live well in the year to come.  And--in all honesty--it is a reminder to continue to live, when sometimes I don't quite see the point.

Now, included in those blessings mentioned above are the multitude of friends I have who catch my vision, and who want to help in the celebration--the reminding.  (If you don't have friends who want to get in on the vision of celebrating life--get some.)  And so, my birthday weekend began yesterday morning with this little scenario:

Lauren: laying in bed, contemplating life, being lazy, when the phone rings
Heather (via phone): "What are you doing right now?"
Lauren: "I'm laying in bed, contemplating life, being lazy"
Heather: "Well, come outside to your front porch--there's a surprise for you there!"
Lauren: "What?"
Heather: "Come outside to your front porch!"
Lauren: "Why?" (She is a little slow on the uptake, this Lauren)

Turns out, the "Why" was this green tea latte, delivered by Heather and another lovely friend, Tracy.  My "You are special" radar hit the roof, and thus my day began.

It was just the beginning of course--a promise sealing the deal that there was more to come.  Later that evening found me at Hi-Way Pizza with Heather and Tracy, indulging in yet another treat:

Heather: "Do you want to get an appetizer?"
Lauren: "Sure!"
[moment of silence and reflection]

Lauren (in a high-pitched squeal):
"I never get appetizers when I go out to eat!!"

Add to the list of treats, however, the additional facts that a) Going out to eat, in and of itself, is a treat and b) Going out to eat with these two friends in particular and having time and space for intellectual, deep, spiritual, graceful, and life affirming conversation is a rarity.  As in--it has never happened before.  As in--it was lovely.

But it didn't end with dinner! Next up? Over to the chocolate aisle in Wegmans, for a dark chocolate dream.  We perused the selections carefully, and chose what we felt to be most indicative of "celebrating the anniversary of a birth".  We took it to the car.  We looked at it lovingly.

We proceeded to take "chocolate communion"--a completely irreverent term that somehow seemed to fit the moment, as my friends broke off their square and prayed a small blessing over me for my year to come.  Heather prayed for Love.

Tracy prayed for Peace.

I prayed for Joy.

But guess what? Most apparent to me, as I dwelt in the love of these friends?  I've already got it all.

Barukh attah Adonai