Monday, July 18, 2016

Turning 49







My mom always told the story of how her and my Dad had decided to name me, their first born child.  If you were a boy, I was going to name you.  If you were a girl, your Dad would name you.  

I've never asked which day I was due to arrive.  I just know my mom was in labor with me for 36 hours, and I never lived that one down!

But Dad had already proclaimed, if I were a girl, I was Vicky Marie.  I often wonder why he chose Vicky?  But I knew why he chose Marie.  He had a very special cousin, Marie, and I would have been named after her... BUT...

July 16th, 1967 at 3:17 pm, I was born.  It just happened to be the same birthday as the young girl my mom used to babysit, named Nancy.  Nancy Kay.

Nancy and all of her brothers and sisters were so special to my mom, how could she not give me Nancy's middle name?  Plus she reasoned with my Dad, I could be called Vicky, but my full name should be Victoria.   

Hence my name- Victoria Kay.  

From the start,  Nancy brought me a gift every year for my birthday. I don't recall if we got something for her every year.  I just know, long into my teen years, Nancy would surprise me with a small, beautiful gift. 

Throughout the years we went to the same church as Nancy and had contact with her on various occasion.   

But then I moved, married, and had kids.  My mom would keep in touch with Nancy and give me updates every once in awhile.

After we moved back here, one year I finally found an address for Nancy, and sent her a card for her birthday.  I told her how much her presents in the past had meant to me and I wanted to thank her.  She called me, weeping over the phone, thankful for being remembered.  Lesson learned on my part.

More years passed.

It was just last week I was scanning the newspaper headlines, and saw on the obituary page that our Nancy had died a few days prior.

I had no idea Nancy was sick,  It would have been my mom in the past who would have known somehow and told me.  My mom's friend filled me in.

It seems Nancy had been sick and needed surgery on her heart.  She seemed to be recovering well, but then suffered a set back and despite the work of her medical team, she was 
simply called home to be with Jesus.

I have no doubt, Mary Ann (my mom) was there to usher our Nancy to her heavenly home.  

It was a bittersweet day, yesterday.  I was celebrating turning 49, while mourning the loss of a friend who would have turned 63. 

I'm reflective lately.  Having just attended the funeral of a young woman taken far too soon by colon cancer, time and again my own mortality stares me in the face.

I treasure seeing those pictures (above) of me from long ago.  Me- playing in the lake with a rusty pail and half a shovel.  Me on a pontoon at the lake,  sitting on my Daddy's lap- always the Daddy's girl.  Me- in my little pedal car off on an adventure- wind blowing in my hair.

The car may be gone, and the pontoon, as well as my beloved Dad- and Mom, now Nancy too.   But that girl is still here.  Somehow, for some reason, the gift of life is the very present I open every day- and I am one lucky girl.  

Thank you to all of you who show up, encourage me, hold me up, and fill me with so much love.  



Colton was helping me with the candles for the cake.  We had a Ziplock bag full of all kinds of candles.  But when we searched for the numbered candles?  We could only find two.  They are blending in on the cake.  Two numbers.  A 4.  And a 9.  Someone was clearly helping me celebrate... turning 49.    













  




29 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday my dear soul sis!
    Can you hear me singing to you at the top of my lungs, here in Spokane, Washington? I am so thrilled that the present you opened on Saturday was a
    miracle gift...the gift of LIFE!!! Praise God that you are here to see those handsome boys! Praise God that you are here to celebrate being 49 and hug and kiss Rick! Praise God that you are here to eat cake and gaze on those marvelous photos. You on your Daddy's lap. Darling you with the rusty bucket. YOU.ARE.STILL HERE...
    living your legacy, choosing joy, enjoying life and your precious family. And you get the life lesson that every day is a gift, it is all amazing and not to be taken for granted.

    And you know what, dear heart? YOU are a gift every day to all of us who love you so. YOU are a reminder that God answers prayers, and thousands and thousands are prayed for you each day. YOU are a reminder that all is well, no matter what challenges we face. Life is such a miracle isn't it? And you LIVE IT, sweet friend, this precious life. I am so, so thrilled that you were gifted another birthday. May God bless you with so many more!

    Happy Birthday my dear friend and soul sis!
    Love you to the moon and back, always!
    Linda

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    1. Ahhh- I always soak in you words. I read, then re-read and read yet again. You are so eloquent and I feel so very lucky to have you come here and share them with all of us. I know you speak to many through your beautiful comments left here! Thank you dear friend! Love you to the moon, and all the way back- always!!

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  2. Dear Vicky, what a milestone. And a big cake with the right numbers to go with it! I love how Nolan's hand is so lovingly placed. Your boys really love you. And so do we. I'm so sorry to hear about Nancy. God welcome her. I've faced a loss like that of a cousin that jolted me. It's hard. God's holding her now. I am glad to be among those holding you and being held by you at the same time. Happy birthday week! With love, Roxane

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    1. Thank you for your sweetest of words, Roxane, I treasure them, and you, so very much! Much love to you!

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  3. Happy birthday, dear Vicky. Special prayers for you today.

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    1. Thank you Katie- those special prayers mean so much to me!

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  4. Happy Birthday and may God grant you many more. Handsome young men in your photo.

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    1. Thank you Francis- I feel so fortunate for those two young men as well as for the kindness you always bestow upon me. Blessings to you!

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  5. I hope that you had a most wonderful birthday! I pray that this coming year is filled with blessings for you and your family. I am blessed by your willingness to share your journey. Sometimes I feel as if I know you and that we are friends. You are in my prayers always.

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    1. Hi Julie, how fun to see you show up here! Thank you for your kind words. It truly seems as though whenever I do meet blogging friends, or readers, we talk almost right away as friends- like we've known each other for years. I'm so thankful for your prayers- oh how they nourish and sustain me! Blessings to you!

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  6. The gift of life... It's so precious! So very precious even if we believe what we believe 'That were we go is is beyond our wordily imaginations, beyond our wordily expression... there is no greater love, no greater peace' It doesn't matter...because we love the here and now. We love this earthly journey...the hard, the good, the laughter the tears..those moments that make our hearts sore and those moments that bring us to our knee's.... but mostly we love the people and souls we know here..right here on this earthly journey." God was smart to give us a rope to tie us to the here and now...." or we may all want to run home!!? Vicky, I am so sorry for the loss of your Nancy. She must of been a remarkable women...because you were gifted with her middle name! I loved the pictures of 'lil Vicky' ..OH MY! were does ...time go? VICKY YOU ARE TIMELESS! YES YOU HEARD ME TIMELESS! I never shared but I felt since my mom passed away after just turning 71...and my real dad at only 58...well since my mom passed..I had time limits on me... my 'mortality' was starring me strait in the face. I didnt realize what a burden i carried around with me. Not until I released it a few weeks ago... Yes, I dont carry with me what you heard on your breast cancer journey...The utter awareness as you were given numbers and dates and years.... and you have passed those first dates numbers and years..so YES your mortality looks right back at you every day. Vicky you are 'TIMELESS' there is no set date...NONE! your gift to all of us, to all who meet you, to so many lives you touch is needed right here! may I say....YOU DONT LOOK 49!!! That is your real hair growing back..??? isnt it? and were is the grey???? and were are all the wrinkles? but its even more then the physical...you radiate even when you dont feel well. Next year I plan to send you some black balloons.....I am gonna help do your 50th up!!! do you realize that today as I write, you are already 2 days into your 50th year???! You are beautiful at 49! and you dont look your age, even though you have gone thru so much....WOW! Vicky, you are timeless..forever timeless... ' Mortality?' pffft.... you are here because you are needed right were you are....and because, well... your OUR Vicky! loved and cherished because you have helped us all..by just being you! Happy 49th beautiful!.... watch out 50.... I plan to do it up... ( and I am quiet the practical joker...lol) so much love to you, and prayers for a year ahead that blesses you! xoxoxox

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    1. Sweet Peggy- that hair has been cut and colored, twice already but my hair stylist- otherwise it would be grey and white- all the way through! Thank you for your kind words- I sure feel almost 50- but I'll take it!! Love to you!

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  7. Happy birthday, Vicky! You are such a beautiful source of joy, trust, hope, and faith. Watching from afar as you walk through this, trusting in the One who loves us all the most, and listening to your words has been such a gift. I hope your day is filled with good gifts coming right back to you.

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    1. Thank you Inkling- so fun to see you here! Your sweet words are pure gift to me- thank you for taking the time to come here and leave them!

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  8. Happy birthday Vicky. I hope you had a great day. I must say, you have two very handsome sons.

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    1. Thank you Kristi- I had a wonderful day and feel very blessed by those two special boys! Thank you for your sweet words!

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  9. Happy Birthday, my beautiful friend. I love looking at the pictures--and I even love the font you used. Reminds me of my childhood and my mother's old typewriter.

    xoxoxoxox

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    1. Julie- thank you dear friend. I love that font too! It does look like a typewriter- so cool that it takes you back to your childhood. xoxo

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  10. Happy Birthday to you.. again and again and then some.

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    1. Thank you, Karen! I return those wishes to you as well!

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  11. I hope you had a wonderful day with your family.
    Happy Birthday!

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    1. I had a great day- thank you so much for stopping by!

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  12. You are a gift to all who know you.
    I wish you a beautiful birthday, my friend.
    Love you....
    Jackie

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    1. Makes my day to have you drop in here, Jackie. Your precious words touch me so- love you dearly!

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  13. Happy Belated Birthday Vicky. You share the same birthday as my niece! Love your photo with the boys.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa- I've discovered many I share that day with- how cool to share it with your niece too!

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  14. What Linda said so perfectly. And I'm so sorry to be so late checking on the blog. I know we connected on Facebook for your birthday but somehow I have missed your blog update postings.

    So grateful for each year you celebrate and looking forward to the big 5-oh! So incredibly wonderful to see those tall boys behind you lighting up brighter than those candles. And I just realized you and I share the same middle name. Grateful for your birthdays, Vicky. Praying for many, many more and the treatment/cure we all pray for for you and others we love so much.

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I welcome what you have to say. Thanks for taking the time to grace me with your thoughts and words!

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