Day 1357. The day had finally come that we'd been talking about for weeks - my birthday. Randy sang a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY, when he got up, but nothing from the kids at first. Only when I brought it up did they sing for me, and then they gave me all the drawings they had made for me. Randy had laid out my birthday present on the dining room table - candy and flowers - and so the kids wanted me to get up really bad. I finally got up to look at my presents and took a picture. And they all sang for me together again.
After breakfast I cleaned them up and dressed them in their special birthday shirts that say "My Mommy is 50". I failed to take a picture of them with their shirts today, and will still have to do so. Randy also wore a special shirt that said, "My wife is 50", and my shirt said, "This is how good you can look at 50". I blew up one of the balloons with the number 50 and HAPPY BIRTHDAY for them to play with. Just after 9:30 we left the house to take the 9:50 train.
It was cold and raining, when we walked to the train station. After we got off, we had to wait 10 minutes for our tram that we rode for two stops, then we walked the rest of the way to the swimming pool. At 10:30 our swim class started, and it lasts half an hour. The kids got to swim on their bellies and on their backs, and they also got to jump in from the side of the pool and slide into the pool on a slide. They were doing a good job. Emmy is really good at swimming on his back and likes it, while Tammy did not want to swim on her back at all. Sammy was saying he was cold a lot again, as the water is rather cold. In the end there was a good-bye song, just like there is a greeting song in the beginning, and the class was over.
Today we did not stay at the pool like we usually do. And we did not go to McDonald's which is what we usually do. Because of my birthday I had placed an order for a food delivery, and that's why we had to leave right away. It takes us a while to get everybody dressed and ready to leave. Then we walked back to the tram stop in the rain and rode it back to the train station. We still had some time to wait until our train's departure, and so we stayed downstairs in the hall, where it was warmer. The kids used the time to climb and have fun with each other. Then we got on the train and rode it home.
By 12:15 we were back home, and at 12:30 our food was delivered. We had spare ribs, potatoes, fries, chicken nuggets and a pizza to share, and everyone enjoyed their food. Then we had birthday cake for dessert. There were still a few minutes left until nap time, so I let them finish their kids' movie that they had started days ago. And so it was after 1:15 by the time I put them to bed.
And it was a special nap time, the first of the new kind. For weeks I had been preparing the kids that my special birthday gift from them to me was going to be their pacifiers. It's high time for them to quit them, and it was the perfect opportunity for it. But it was clear that it was not gonna be easy. The boys both use pacifiers, while Tammy puts her left thumb into her mouth. I had bought something to put on her nail weeks ago; it's bitter so that she does not want to put the finger into her mouth any more. She asked me to put it on this morning, and I did. After I had put the boys to bed, both asked for pacifiers. Sammy was whining for it, but Emmy was crying and pleading, and crying hard. I told him that we had put them all into a box to send them to Mali, to the babies there that don't have any. That didn't seem to help at all. I finally had to take him into my arms and let him fall asleep on my chest. Then I put him back into his bed. It had all taken longer, so that it was just after 2 pm, when I left them.
Instead of going to bed myself I started making their dinner-to-go boxes. I thought I'd get that out of the way and then go to sleep. I lay down at 2:45, set a timer for an hour, and just after 3 pm the doorbell rang - twice. It woke both boys up, and minutes later I had them both in bed with me. I was really tired and needed to sleep, so I wasn't too happy. Finally Randy took them outside, and I did get to fall asleep. But 3:45 came around way too soon. I got up, got everyone and everything ready, and just after 4 pm we left the house.
It was barely raining this time, as we walked to the train station to get on the 4:20 train. After we got off, we got on the tram that we had to ride for quite a few stops to church. Then we walked up the hill to church. We got there just after 5 pm, and it seemed that the service had not started yet. We went to our usual spot to the side and the front and then walked over to say hello to Sonja before returning to our spot. Then worship started. I had thought there were announcements at first, and we had come early so that I would get prayed for for my birthday, as they always ask whose birthday it is and pray for them. But that was not happening. It seems that that had happened just before we'd arrived.
The kids were having fun during worship, with the fabric and bands, and then there was Anna. Sammy had asked about her all day, and he was really happy to see her. So were the others. We then all danced in worship and had fun. At 5:45 we took the elevator up to the kids' rooms. Our kids were not the first ones there. I then left them there with Randy and returned to the sanctuary.
I was really enjoying the worship, all alone in my chair, communing with God in an uninterrupted way, which rarely happens. Then that ended and the preaching started. At 6:45 I left the sanctuary and returned upstairs. When I walked into the room, I was surprised to only find our kids there. I found out that everyone had gone to the other room, where the older kids were, for a time of worship with the worship team. Our kids had not been interested. But that was not acceptable to me. I took Emmy with me to the other room, and Randy and the other two followed.
We got there just as they were getting started. They did a few action songs, and I actually got Tammy to participate. I put Emmy on my shoulders and then moved his hands with mine to do the actions. When I tried to put him on the floor, he immediately turned to the toys, so he went back up. After some time Randy put Sammy on his shoulders, which may have been the first time ever (he's been on my shoulders before). And eventually I did put Emmy down and put Tammy on my shoulders, just to be fair. The program didn't last very long, maybe 15 minutes. Once it was over, we got their shoes to put them on and went back downstairs to the sanctuary.
Anna was there, as usual, walking towards us, and the kids started having fun with her out in the lobby. I took Emmy and Tammy to the bathroom, and when we got back, the service was over. They were not that interested in seeing Sonja again, and so I went into the sanctuary by myself. I had wanted prayer for my birthday and was hoping for a chance to get some. I saw my friend Renate, and then the pastor's wife came by and prayed for me. Then I talked to Sonja, and she and another lady ended up praying for me, and it was encouraging. I was really thankful. I never get prayer any more and miss it. I said my good-byes and walked back out into the lobby, where the kids were playing. We put their coats on and left together with Anna to walk to the tram stop.
It was raining harder again, so we all needed our umbrellas. Unfortunately Sammy hates having anything on his head, so he kept pulling his protective hoodie off. Once we reached the tram stop, I got the kids' food out and started feeding them, while they were watching videos, and they continued on the tram. After we had gotten off, we took the elevator up to the train platform and saw the 7:56 train sitting their. We quickly got on, which was a blessing. By 8:15 we were back home.
Sammy had hardly eaten anything yet, while the other two had finished their food. I warmed up some leftovers that all three ate, then they all had birthday cake. Then we started getting them ready for bed. Once again it was too late for a bedtime story, much to their dismay. I prayed for them and flew them into bed. It was after 8:45 pm. Sammy was whining for a pacifier, while Emmy was crying hard for one. And Tammy wanted to hold my hand, as he could not put her thumb into her mouth. Emmy had my left hand and Sammy my right, so I could only put my food through the bars of her bed, which was not satisfying for her. I finally had to let Emmy lie down on my chest again, so he could calm down. Then he returnes to his bed on his own accord, only to cry again and come back to my chest. After a few minute he went back to bed, still asking for a pacifier. I finally gave Tammy my hand, which made her happy. And it finally started getting quiet. It was 9:30, when I walked away, and I could still hear Tammy complaining that I did, but it was okay. I was able to get myself something to eat without having to sit back down with them. After having eaten, I went to work on today's pictures. Now it's after 1 am and time to clean up the kitchen and go to bed.
