Flip-flopping into Seventy

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Since I was born in 1945, this was the year I was scheduled to turn 70. For many weeks leading up to August 8, though, I was dreading it.

Seventy! Threescore and ten. According to the Bible, once you reach that age even your best days are full of sorrow. “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow.” (Psalm 90:10)

None of that sounded good, and I didn’t feel like celebrating. But with daughter Linnea and her family of six staying with me, how could I disappoint the children? “You know how important birthdays are to kids,” she said. So I decided to swallow my worries and go with the flow.

Bday party number oneLinnea and Louisa put together a lively family celebration that included streamers, glitter, balloons, spaghetti with all the trimmings, made-from-scratch cakes, gifts, and 29 relatives. The house was rockin’ with joy and gladness, and the 15 kids on hand weren’t the only ones who had fun. I did, too.

The next morning my three daughters had a much smaller celebration in mind – brunch for just the four of us. But before we left, Klaus came by and gave me a gift I’d been hoping for: a birthday motorcycle ride. A birthday wish“I’ll take you to the restaurant, Mom,” he said, and off we went.

The girls followed by car, but that was the end of what I thought was planned.

 

 

When we walked into the restaurant, 20-plus friends came out of hiding singing “Happy Birthday” in three part harmony!

Dumbfounded...Sister Mary (who is still feeling great, by the way) and friend Mary Jo had put together this beautiful event, robbing their own yards of hydrangeas and also giving each guest a flower to wear.

 

 

Bday......Knowing of my love for summertime, Mary had instructed each person to bring a pair of flip-flops, which even included flip-flop earrings and flip-flop cookies!

But there was more….

Linnea shared memories of being raised in our family, touching my heartstrings in deeply emotional ways. Bday,,,,,Her loving words warm me still. I know it wasn’t easy for her, especially when talking about her father, but she did a wonderful job and blessed us all in the process.

 

And then, dear blog readers, came the grand finale. YOUR gift!

Mary had collaborated with several others to notify you of my birthday. And the giant box in my living room today is overflowing with your greeting cards, some I haven’t even opened yet! Feeling overwhelmed with your kindness, all I can do is express a huge “THANK YOU” to each of you in these words, hoping you feel my intense gratitude!

THE BOXThese cards will re-gift themselves as I go through them slowly for the second time during this year-of-70. And in trying to bless-you-back, I plan to use the words you wrote to me, to pray blessing back over you.

Now, as I look back at turning 70, I can see God in a fresh way. Isn’t it just like him to take an event I was dreading and flip-flop it, transforming it into a day of joy?

IMG_5729And I hope my “happy feet” will help me remember that for next time!

“God, who is enthroned from of old, does not change.” (Psalm 55:19)

15 thoughts on “Flip-flopping into Seventy”

  1. What a wonderful celebration, Margaret. You look great for 70!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET MARGARET! I never met you in person just through your book. Your widowhood has connected you to me. So thankful Mary is feeling good!

  2. HAPPY WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!!! You are a fabulous role model for all of us and I hope to be as beautiful as you at 70.

  3. So happy to receive your blog again – I have missed it! It is great that you had such a great birthday celebration with your family and friends.

  5. Margaret a very joyous Happy Birthday to you. This will be my 70th too,in October. So delighted to hear about God’s sustaining grace for Mary. Your blog has been a source of laughter, glimpses of God at work, and wisdom from above as it shows up in His people here on earth. Thank you. Praying that the “sister duo” are moving along as they write together. there is nothing more beautiful than God’s people employing the gifts he has given them to steward…as one of His Family, I so enjoy your gifts in observation and walking by faith put into print. Write on!.

  7. Remember when I saw you at Leigh Anne’s shower? I almost blew the card surprise by saying, “I just wrote in my card to you that I wish I could see you.” I would have loved to talk with you….someday soon?

  8. Loved loved loved all these pictures–I just know how your smiles were reflected right back from your family and special friends. Happiest birthday and welcome to the 70’s! God’s blessings to you

  9. Some days have God’s fingerprint all over them. It sounds like your birthday with all the celebrations was a gift from God. Isn’t it just like God to take something we have been dreading and turning it around to bless you. I am just one of the many widows who read your blog and was happy to see another blog post from you today in my e-mail. You have blessed us, your blog readers so often with your posts. Happy to hear Mary is doing well and thankful to her for including us your blog readers in your birthday celebration.

  10. How delightful! Thank you for sharing your birthday with us!
    Love to you and Mary.

  11. So pleased you had a good few days. Well done to your friends and family. Lovely to read your blog again. I have missed it.

  12. I just finished your book, Hope for an Aching Heart and subsequently found your website.
    I am a new widow; 3 months. My husband courageously fought cancer for 16 months – all signs pointing to a cure. Then we received the news that it had spread to his spinal fluid. 46 days later he was taken home to his Heavenly Father.
    Before this, I never fully comprehended what 24 hours truly felt like, particularly when living alone.
    Thank you for your book and for my dear sister’s gift of it.

  14. So happy to receive your blog again! Will you continue M-F?
    How wonderful that Mary is still with us-great!
    Much love to you.