Gefelicitaart!

A simple collage of our early morning bike ride to the bake shop, before I brought K to school, and after doing the grocery shopping.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
― Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

Summer holidays flew by, and as every year after the Summer, our girls countdown the days to their respective birthdays.  Middle born in August,  oldest in October, youngest (and mijn liefste P) in November. 

So, today K is celebrating her 11th birthday!

Mona Lisa smile from my "baby"

We planned to get her ears finally pierced after school but Littlest had a fever last night, and I had to stay home with her while we waited for K to come home.

She agreed, that we will do it Saturday before we go bowling with the family.

Luckily, I could at least bring K this morning to school because J could stay with Littlest, since she did not have to go to her school very early.


This was both lovely and practical. I was able to make her choose the cake dessert we will eat after dinner.  K also chose a chocolate muffin for herself to eat for school break, and a cream bun to eat for tea-time. Well, I could not resist buying chocolate donuts for liefste P, J, and me, and a pink donut for Littlest.

As much as I miss the bake shops in Germany being just around the corner where we used to live, I am glad that our bakery is 5 kilometer away from where we now live! hahaha

Fruit cake!

For me it is a simple relished joy, whenever I could share - even for short moments! - exclusive time with one child. And it's sad that Littlest had to stay back home but it was nice to share a bike ride with K to school on her birthday.

Birthday spread without flowers is unthinkable! :)

I'm happy that the first blog after our Summer holidays is about what we did in the morning of K's birthday.

It was not something spectacular. But it was special; we had a few precious moments for ourselves: mother & daughter, 11 years together. :)

Most of all, it was a normal start to a day, devoid of anxiety (on my part) or hectic.  Simple, normal. Blissful birthday. 

H - Happy Birthday!

How apt that today's letter is H!  My brother in Ireland is celebrating his birthday, and so I dedicate today's blog to him:

please click for a bigger version

I thank you, my beloved bunsoy,  for being such a positive influence in my life.  The thoughtful visits you made while I was still living in Germany made such a huge impact in keeping my spirits strong.  Specially in 2001; remember you were the first to know that middle daughter K was on the way? ☺

You are always there, I know I can count on you.  I might not have reached out when I should in the past but the simple knowledge that you believed in me, made a lot of difference.

I wish you continued happiness with your beautiful loving family.  May your life continue to be blessed because you are not only a generous soul but a truly wonderful person!

Sending our greetings and love to you!

Ate

Happiness

please click on image for better view :) ♡

A quote to positively affirm my new year in life, also the conviction behind it will be my mantra as I approach my 40th birthday (!!!):

We learn in our guts, not just in our brain, that a life of joy is not in seeking happiness, but in experiencing and simply being the circumstances of our life as they are; not in fulfilling personal wants, but in fulfilling the needs of life…
Charlotte Joko Beck

Welcome to the 39th year of my life! :)

Tonight, I chose a quote to make me remember this day vividly:

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I thank my beloved P for making this day simple as I lovingly requested, but nonetheless he still made it special. Ik hou van je, liefste.

Truly looking forward to experiencing the first week of Spring with my beloved at home. This is the best birthday present I could have. :)