Another Orbit Around the Sun

The Eiffel Tower and other birthday mementos

The earth has completed another orbit around the sun, as one of Smitty's friends has often said of his birthday.  I have just celebrated another year of life.

This week I made birthday cupcakes to take to the girls in the dorm, as Thursday is our night to serve there.  I bought little bags of Haribo Gummy Bears for my students to eat while taking their chemistry test.  And I set out to spend my birthday teaching school, going to the dorm, and, pretty much, carrying on as usual.

When my second hour class arrived someone mentioned my birthday (how did they know??) and a spontaneous happy birthday song erupted.  I was touched.  The same thing occurred in fourth and sixth hour classes.  And to think I was giving a test and they still sang!  My heart was full.

During seventh hour I closed up my class and headed to the scantron machine to grade tests.  Two of my students tracked me down with candy, daffodils, and a sweet birthday note.  Joy overwhelmed me.

My next stop was German conversation class where a candle and small vase of wild flowers awaited me.  This time, the group sang "Viel Gluck und viel Segen",  many wishes and many blessings.

I arrived home in time to find a lovely poster of the Eiffel Tower on the wall (from my husband) and to Skype with our daughter and her girls singing happy birthday with visuals.

Arriving at the dorm, one of the girls had baked her famous brownies for me, and the girls put a sparkler in the cupcakes I had brought and sang again.

Relationships have been the focus of our 'minding the gap' at BFA.  We both desire to support and care for those who live in this community.  But, often, in spite of a keen desire to do so, I doubt my efforts to build relationships with these students.  Today, with songs, greetings, gifts, and hugs, God showed me that I have begun to mind the gap.   The best birthday gift ever!