To be honest with you, I've been dreading my birthday this year. Not because I'm getting older. That really doesn't bother me one bit. I've earned each one of these years! But my birthday fell on Easter this year. It has before, of course, but this time Chris is a senior pastor. It makes a difference.
For a pastor, the week leading up to Easter is crazy busy. He preached on Palm Sunday, taught that evening, was a guest preacher Tuesday night at a community-wide service, taught Wednesday night, attended the community services Thursday and Good Friday, and then got up Easter Sunday to do a sunrise service followed by the normal Easter service. In between all of that, he was planning each sermon/lesson plus he's still taking classes at seminary. The man is busy! I knew he didn't have time to think about my birthday.
I know it sounds terribly selfish, but I'm a stay-at-home mom, who lives every single day for everybody else. My ministry right now is to support Chris' ministry and take care of our family. And I know that's incredibly important, but there are days where I just want to be noticed. Doesn't everyone really? No matter what their jobs are! I really just wanted one day that was about me. Gosh, that sounds bad, really bad. I know. But, it's honest and real. I just wanted to feel special in a world where sometimes I feel a bit invisible. So I knew this birthday was going to be a little bit of a bummer.
But then I woke up --- at 5:30am (yikes) to get everyone ready and out the door for our sunrise service. It's an amazing, awesome service that I really can't describe well. We hike up this trail to the top of an arch and watch the sun rise over the mountain tops. And this isn't just a simple hike. It's easy - as in the path is well maintained so it's a nice walk. But it's hard. As in, I can't really talk most of the way up because my heart is beating out of my chest and I can't seem to catch enough oxygen as the trail goes straight up. And what blows me away is that 50 people are there heading up the mountain at 6:30am for this simple service. We worship together with a sweet girl playing her guitar and leading us all in song and then Chris gives a short message and prayer as the sun rises. It is something special to experience for sure! An awesome way to start a day, especially a birthday!
We then headed home for breakfast and the kids' portion of our day! They had made such big plans to "go all out" as Sophia kept telling me to make it a special day for me. Anna and Isabella sang me songs. The girls gave me a box of sweet messages and notes that I can open daily, and they had ME do an Easter egg hunt. All the eggs were filled with sweet messages like, "We love you," "Daddy is so lucky," and "You're a rock star mom." So, so sweet! The kids had even made a homemade cake the day before!
We headed off to church for a service where God was truly moving and ended it with two baptisms. Then we went to "the big city" as I like to call it -- driving 45 minutes to eat at Old Chicago. We came home, took a nap (well Chris and I did) and then headed out for a short hike to try to watch the sun set.
It was a good day. A day where they all made me feel incredibly special despite how busy we were! And it pulled me out of my grumpy, selfish attitude I had been having. I was reminded what a great little family I have and how loved I really am. Here are some pictures from the day!
Natural Bridge before the sunrise - and Sam photo bombing!
Kids on top of the arch.
Isabella's song.
Anna's song.
The dresses (and tie) I made for the kids this year.
A little too sunny to smile with their eyes open!
At Old Chicago. Chris and his crazy eyes.
Sunset hike to end the day. Yes, I told Sam to change his clothes to something more casual to wear on a hike, and this is what he chose.
Cross shaped tree.
