Thursday, March 19, 2015

Celebrating


The last two years I celebrated my birthday on the beach, sand between my toes, the ocean singing me a sweet song, as the waves crashed against the beach. It was wonderful, and I thought this year I would be celebrating the same way, but a few things changed, and this year, I am home to celebrate my birthday.

But, and there is a huge but, there is something quite special about this birthday. Today I will be taking a short drive to meet up with a friend. A friend who lives in the UK, but is here visiting her family for the week. Yes, the week of my birthday! Can you believe it?

I met Renee through this space about three years ago. At first it was the usual blog friendship, reading and commenting on each others posts, sharing a few emails, and slowly learning a little more about each other. All of that changed on New Year's Eve 2012 when Renee emailed me asking if I would like to be her gratitude buddy for 2013. Basically, it was a pretty simple concept, hook up with a friend and each night send each other a list of the things you are grateful for from your day. Of course I said yes.

Our first emails were pretty simple, a list of our gratitude, and a short little note. As you can imagine, it only grew from there, and before I knew it Renee had become a friend, a true friend. Over the last two and half years Renee and I have continued our gratitude lists, missing only a handful here and there when one of us is without computer access when on vacation. I have cried many times writing to her, and reading her emails, both of us sharing parts of our days that challenge us, stretch us, and force us to grow and change. And sometimes the tears are happy tears, as we succeed in some small way in our lives, and we celebrate it with each other.

I had the pleasure of meeting Renee in person two years ago. She was here visiting family, and we met for lunch with our kiddos, and Renee's hubby. As you can imagine it was wonderful, finally sitting down in person, enjoying a meal together, and a cup of tea, just like "real" friends. When she emailed me a few months ago with her plans for a spring visit I couldn't wait, but then to find out she would be here for my birthday, well, it made my day!

And so today, Justin and Reece will give me the most amazing gift, a day with Renee. While they stay home, enjoying some father and son time, I will hop in the car and make the short 90 minute drive to meet up with Renee. We have plans to enjoy many cups of tea, while chatting away, most likely completely oblivious to the world around us, there will be a stop at Whole Foods to grab some lunch, and then I am guessing, more tea and chatting, soaking up every minute we have together.

As I celebrate 43 trips around the sun, I also celebrate a wonderful friendship that has grown because I took a big step and hit publish in this space four years ago. This space has given me so much over the years, but one of the most wonderful things has been my relationship with Renee. Here's to a day of celebrating, not only my birthday, but our friendship.

61 comments:

  1. What a wonderful way to spend your birthday. I hope you have a lovely day.

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  2. P.S. If today is your birthday you are a day younger than my 'oldest' friend we have known each other since we were 4/5! Her birth date was 18 March 1972 :)

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    1. It is today :) So wonderful to have a friendship like that...a very happy birthday to her.

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  3. What a wonderful heart-warming. First of all : Happy Birthday sweet Kim. May the year to come bring you peace, joy and fulfillment. And second, what a wonderful opportunity. I hope you have a beautiful day with your dear friend. Enjoy it mama... xox

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    1. Thank you so much Yanic! It was a really lovely day. xo

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  4. Ahhh, how lovely. Have a wonderful time, and happy birthday to you too XXX

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  5. Happy Birthday Kim, hope that you are staying warm even if not at the beach. Hope that you have a blessed day!

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    1. Thanks Jason! Definitely stayed warm, although not nearly as warm as the beach :)

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  6. The Happiest of Birthdays to you Kim! What joy to be able to see each other again....a true birthday blessing :0) enjoy yourself fully my friend. You are joy to all that read your lovely words and leaves your space filled with peace. mari

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    1. Thank you Mari. Awe, you are much to sweet, thank you. xo

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  7. Happy, happy Birthday Kim!! I hope your day is wonderful and special and you can soak up and enjoy every minute of it!

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    1. Thanks Anke, it was truly wonderful, and Renee and I soaked up each and every moment together.

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  8. Happy Birthday Kim. Whata sweet and kindred story about friendship. Love reading this post- have a wonderful day with your girlfriend and wishing you endless more trips around the sun.
    xo

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  9. Happy Birthday Kim!!! what a wonderful and beautiful story... can't wait for the day we get to meet over tea. Have a great visit with Renee! xoxo

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    1. Thanks Erica. I can't wait for that day either :) xo

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  10. Happy Birthday Kim!!! What a wonderful way to spend the day.

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    1. Thanks Taryn, it truly was a special day.

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  11. Lovely post! Happy Happy Birthday to you! Thank you for sharing and everything you do. Abundant Blessings to you :)

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  12. Have a wonderful day visiting a dear friend and Have a Very Happy Birthday! Wishing you many more!

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  13. What a wonderful story, Kim!! Have fun and happy birthday :)

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  14. What a great story. I hope you have a wonderful birthday! ( As a sidenote, it looks like in addition to our kids having birthdays one day apart , we also have birthdays only 2 days apart .) Have a great day. :)

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    1. Thanks Carlin. Ha, that is too funny. So, Saturday is the big day for you then? Happy birthday my friend. Enjoy your day, and all the best for a wonderful year ahead. xo

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  15. What a marvellous story! Enjoy the day with your precious friend, you embody the saying,
    "Friendship is never limited by distance or by time, it can reach around the world, and last forever" :0)

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    1. Oh Karin-Ida you just brought a tears to my eyes, thank you for those very sweet words. xo

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  16. Joyeux Anniversaire Kim, hope you had a wonderful day with Renee.

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    1. Thank you Emma! Received your letter this week, will write back again soon :)

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  17. Happy birthday dear Kim! Today was my father in laws birthday and tomorrow is my son Peter's.
    I hope you had the best day and have a fabulous year!

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    1. Thank you Tracey. Happiest of days to your father in law and to Peter. xo

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  18. What a nice present for you to meet up with your friend :)
    Happy birthday Kim, my best wishes for today and everyday.

    Love&Light

    Lluisa xoxo

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    1. Thank you, it was a special day, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. xo

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  19. happy birthday dear sweet Kim!!! So happy you met up with Renee :D

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  20. Happy birthday, a bit late. Hope your little trip was great!

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    1. Thank you, as they say, better late then never :) It was wonderful!

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  21. Such a lovely post and beautiful tribute to your friend. I hope you had a wonderful time. Here's to many many more trips around the sun and the new blessings and friendships you will make as you journey.

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    1. Thank you my friend. I kinda hope one day we might share some time together too. It would be wonderful to drink tea and chat with you :)

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  22. Happy Birthday, Dear Friend! I had all intentions of getting here yesterday to wish you the happiest of days and sadly things kept preventing me from doing so! I hope you had the most wonderful of days and that all your birthday wishes come true! May this next trip around the sun be your best one yet! xo

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  23. It's belated I know but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! and many more to come :)

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  24. I seem to be a bit late on many things at the moment! So it's a happy belated birthday wishes from me...I hope you had an amazing day of tea and catching up - what a great gift you were given! Big hugs Em x

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    1. Awe Em, no worries at all. I received your birthday wishes in the mail this week, and that my friend, made me smile.

      We had the most amazing day, it was so nice to chat in person, over tea, and have no worries at all about the time. The most wonderful gift.

      My hope is that one day, you and I get to do the same thing. :)

      xo

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    2. I'm so glad it arrived in time! I wish that too, I'll keep my fingers crossed :)

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    3. We will make it happen, it just might take some time :)

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  25. Happy Birthday! I'll be writing this date down on my calendar for sure ;)

    You know how I feel about blogger friendships being a bright spot in a world that continues to be darkened with our unconscious relationship to technology. And so it makes me so happy that you have found this friendship, both for you and Renee, and as a reminder to all of us that the intention of the human heart has the power to warm and transform all that it touches. (Even this blasted cyberspace! ;) ) These are truly the friendships that ripple out all around us, strengthening communities by strengthening individuals. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Coco!! And if you are going to do that, you need to share you birthday with me :)

      Yes, I do know how you feel about that, and I feel much the same way. While our relationship with technology can sometimes be over the top, I feel like it has given me a gift, a gift of friendship with so many wonderful people, you included.

      Thank you for your lovely words my friend. Maybe one day it will be you and me meeting up for tea....

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  26. Oh happy brithday Kim! many whishes to you... we were away at the beach for a long week-end, I just come back to see that it was your birthday ...

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    1. Thank you Sandra!!! Hope you guys enjoyed your time away, and celebrating your little man :)

      xo

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  27. I hope this day was really wonderful and that you got to drink all those cups of tea! :) I so many happy birthday wishes my dear friend. I'm really glad you got to spend time with someone who means so much to you!

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    1. Thanks KC, it really was wonderful. Believe it or not, Renee and I chatted for six hours, and it went by in a blink of an eye. So blessed to have such a wonderful person in my life.

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  28. Happy Belated Birthday!! Sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate! Hope you had a great day! I've been thinking of you, but haven't had much computer time. :) <3

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    1. Thank you my friend!!! It was absolutely wonderful, and thoroughly enjoyed.

      You were on my mind this morning, on our very chilly nature walk. We need to set up another telephone chat soon. I will be in touch. xo

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  29. this is so beautiful kim! what a wonderful idea. i am amazed at the friendships i have made in the wonderful online world... i can't even imagine how close you would begin to feel through every night emailing... how special! i am glad you get such a special treat on your birthday :)

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    1. Thank you Jenny. This online world is pretty darn amazing, and meeting Renee through it has been so very special. We are very close, so close in fact I share things with her that I don't share with anyone else.

      It was the perfect way to spend my birthday.

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  30. Happy birthday Kim. I hope it was a wonderful day. xo

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    1. It was the most wonderful day Julie. Thank you! xo

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