Ryan and the birthday mixing bowl

I have had many many birthdays...but I want to tell about one of my favorites:

I remember the year that Ryan bought me a great big mixing bowl...it was the most perfect gift because every Thanksgiving I would have a terrible time making the mashed potatoes. My birthday is in September...that is a big part of the story to me...

Thanksgiving I said to my son Ryan...I hate that I dont have a bowl big enough to make these potatoes and then I went on with my prep work for the big meal...10 months later I was opening my gifts and I opened a big box from Ryan..in it was a shiny metal mixing bowl...very large and capable of managing the potato job for the upcoming Thanksgiving meal...

Everytime i look at that bowl...I am awed and emotional...every time...because my son remembered what I needed and provided it for me...it was a touching and meaningful gift, the physical gift was very nice...but the real gift was that he thought of me, and got me what he knew I needed he remembered me and loved me...

Thank you Ryan...


Lauren, the year of my 39th birthday, gave me a wonderful present too. Well...of course Branden and Jamie gave me an adorable baby boy that day, and Lauren knowing that I was spending my birthday at the hospital...made me my most favorite birthday cake I have ever had...I came home from that long day and there on the counter was a lovely birthday cake...she wanted me to have a special day the way that she felt special when I made her a cake...that was a very special day too.