Last Saturday was Robert’s birthday ~ his 42nd.  It’s hard to believe that it was two years ago that we celebrated his 40th by wearing jellies, big teased bangs, rolled jeans, and dancing to Michael Jackson!  Such a fun memory and SUCH a contrast to this birthday. (Ha!)

At least two months prior, I had been asked to come to a Celiac Event at a local grocery store on the 23rd of October ~ Robert’s birthday.  The store asked if I would do a “book-signing” which always makes me laugh.  I can understand someone wanting to buy the book for their child, but to put my signature on it is just funny to me.  This is my second “book-signing” event in 2 years, and people are always so gracious to go ahead and ask me to sign their book.  Honestly, I would rather have their signature and address so that I can write them a thank-you note for buying my book!  Anyway, I got Robert’s approval to go and do this thing on his birthday.  It would only be for a few hours midday, and there would still be plenty of time to celebrate his special day that morning and even later that evening.

The other “headliner” for the event was Bruce H. ~ a registered dietitian who also leads our local Celiac Support Group chapter.  It was Bruce who passed my name along to the sweet ladies at the store who hosted this event. And I don’t even go to the meetings anymore, since they moved to Wednesday evenings and conflict with our weekly Bible study.  Bruce has always been a huge encouragement to me in the area of my book, and as he struggles with the disease himself, is a wealth of information on Celiac Disease as well as  many other related issues.  He did a great job of giving an introductory lecture on Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance.

The store, which is a natural variation of a local chain store, purchased 20 books from me, and I also did a drawing for a free book.  Surprisingly, the birthday boy decided to join me for the afternoon which made it especially fun for me.  I’m fairly certain that this would not have been his birthday activity of choice, though!  He was, of course, a trooper ~ carrying boxes of books, chatting with table visitors (and there were some VERY chatty ones!), and getting us coffee and lunch from right there in the store.

We returned home around 3:30 in the afternoon and had a short amount of time to get ready for our dinner guests.  I wanted to grill out for the occasion, but since I don’t really know how, the birthday boy was “on” again being chef for his own party!  I think it worked out okay.  All of the men ended up joining him around the grill, as it was a beautiful fall afternoon and evening. I stayed inside working on the potatoes part of the “meat and potatoes” meal ~ that cheesy hashbrown casserole that I have only ever eaten in Oklahoma.  I think it may be the most fattening, full-of-butter, cheesy thing I have ever eaten, but it is very good.  I even had to purchase gluten free cream of chicken soup to make it.  I have not purchased any cans of that stuff in at least 8 years.  And not only because it’s not gluten free! There was green food to eat as well, but strangely, not much of it disappeared at this party.

Then there was the Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake which makes an appearance EVERY October 23rd.  And wasn’t it delivered by the most adorable 10 year old you ever did see?  The ice cream came out soon after, as well as the gifts and coffee.

And then it was 8 o’clock and time to get our guests home to their respective college football games.  We had Nebraska fans, Oklahoma fans, and Texas fans around the table and somehow, in Christ, they were all able to have a civil birthday celebration for their wonderful friend, pastor, dad, and husband!

Happy Birthday Robert….So thankful for you….So blessed by being your wife.