Seriously... Amazing Grace

I was totally blown away by my daughter's response to seeing my husband and me, as we walked in and surprised her at her birthday dinner for her father's side of the family. Her tears of joy were priceless. It meant so much to her to have both of her parents there to help her celebrate her 30th birthday... at the same time. I will never forget the raw emotion. After dinner she told all of us that as she thought about all of the ways to celebrate this big birthday, all she wanted was to be with her family.

I had to thank my kids' stepmother for making it possible. I was so touched that she and my ex-husband hosted the beautiful occasion. They called us a month prior to invite us to join them. We were going to be the surprise. They thanked us for agreeing to join them.

Believe it or not, I had been waiting over 20 years to hear the words... "I'm so sorry." I heard those words in action the other night as we sat around a table and laughed and told stories. I hadn't had a meal with those people in many years, so it was especially nice.

As I reflected on the evening, the thing that hit me most was that for all of the years where we've celebrated holidays separately, it bothered them just as much as it bothered me. I had no idea; I thought they were okay. It doesn't matter how adult-like my kids are, they still wish they had an intact family. It makes me so happy that we were able to make a memory together for this one.

All of Us

Ali, Granny & Meghan

Meghan, Tim, Gail & John

Granny & Meghan

Lincoln, Meghan, John and Me.

Granny & Me

As we drove out of the parking lot of the restaurant we saw the most gorgeous sunset! I believe it was a God-wink.

"My chains are gone. I've been set free..."
Thank you, God!