Being on the Receiving End

Today was
awesome
fun
weird
uncomfortable
new
special
blessed.

My dear friends
family
support system
from the elementary school I taught at for nine years
gathered at a local restaurant
for me.

For me.

That was the weird part.

They all came for me.

That was the uncomfortable part.
And the awesome part
special part
blessed part
and new part.

I'm 36 and single.
I've attended many
baby showers
wedding showers
bridal showers
engagement parties
wedding receptions
kid birthday parties
for friends
for family
for people I love.

But
today was new.
It was for me.

(So my mom doesn't get mad....I did have a few birthday parties when I was a kid.  They were great.  Thanks, mom!  Especially seeing that my birthday is three days after Christmas.)

Thankfully my friends also know that I don't
REALLY don't
like surprises
(I read the last pages first and research the movie secrets before hand).
So they asked me.
(Well, they told me.)
They wanted to celebrate me.
"Yay, you are a foster mom."
Speechless.
Humbled.
Uncomfortable.
Blessed.

The big pink wrapped basket full of mother survival goodies was a surprise.
Hand sanitzer
Band aids
Recipe ingredients
6-pack of a special mommy drink with Margarita in the title
Shopping list paper
E-mergen packet
Nail polish
M&M's
A prayer book
Words of wisdom
A card from my former school family - those who could and couldn't come

8 tickets to any AZ Child's Play
(Miss M and I are already picking out the 4 shows we want to go see.)
And a Target gift card that was way too generous.
(But appreciated.)

Once we sat
Talked
Ate
Caught up
Laughed
Shared stories
There was no weirdness
or uncomfortableness.
How could there be with friends?
Just blessings
Upon blessings
Upon blessings.

It was just new and different
But special and fun.
So much fun.

Praise Reports:
-Being blessed beyond words from friends.  It doesn't get better than that. 
-Teaching the kids at children's church tonight about Matthew 6 - Not to worry. If God takes care of the lilies and the sparrows, surely there is nothing to worry about.  I needed to hear that more than any of the 80 kids in that room, that was for sure.
-Miss M's mom wrote a note back in the journal I send with Miss M to every visit!

Prayer Requests:
 -Miss M's mom is working on getting minutes on her cell phone and if that happens then Miss M will be able to start making calls on some days...if CPS approves it.  Pray as I contact CPS this week and that they will have wisdom in the situation and that I, and Miss M, will be able to accept whatever their decision is.