So Blessed

Today is my birthday. No big deal, really. Turning one year older doesn't quite feel the same as it used to. Richard and I both got up early to teach our 7:00 AM violin lessons. He took off to the music store and I taught mine in the living room as usual. No breakfast in bed. No taking the day off. Nothing special, I thought. 

The kids usually stay in bed until I am done teaching, then I hurry and get them breakfast and get them out the door. I was sure this morning would be no different, and that was just fine with me. I wasn't expecting more.

But, this morning when I finished teaching my lesson, I went into the kitchen and discovered this:

Marianne got everyone up, had Sarah all ready for school (since she rides the bus and needs to leave earlier than the others) and had this meal all ready for me.

There's nothing like five children to make you feel like a million bucks on your birthday. Last night, while Richard and I were at orchestra rehearsal, Marianne had all the kids make me a card. (Except Thomas, who tagged along with us to the rehearsal. But, he made me the scrambled eggs, so that totally counts.)

I opened them while I ate. This one is from Sarah:

The inside: (I love how James is running off with one of my presents.)

From Marianne. Tell me it wouldn't make your day to get a note like this.

This one is from James, and according to Marianne, he had no help whatsoever.

William's specialty is pop-out cards. 

  

After I finished opening the cards, Sarah said, "I wish I had enough money to go to the store and buy you a million-dollar bill!" But at that moment no amount of money, even a million dollars, could have made me any happier. Today I realized that I can't ask for anything. I don't need anything. I already have it all!