So, other than celebrating my birthday, here are some fun things we do as a family to commemorate the day. “Wearin’ o’the green” is not optional in this house. Every March 17, my husband dones a green shirt, and my kids all have green of some sort on. Since this year St. Patrick’s Day is on a Sunday, I found some lovely green ruffle material to make skirts for my girls, the boys will be wearing green polo’s, and my hubs and I will be in our Sunday green best.
We do the traditional corned beef and cabbage for dinner. Since St. Patrick’s Day is on a Sunday I am going to try this crock pot recipe http://www.food.com/recipe/corned-beef-and-cabbage-dinner-for-the-slow-cooker-162853. Actually, did you know that corned beef is NOT Irish. A traditional Irish meal would have had cabbage and Irish bacon. However, since that was hard for Irish immigrants to find in the New Land, they switched to corned beef. (Did I mention I used to teach history…). No birthday meal is complete without some form of yumminess. Cupcakes from a local cupcake shop (you know the kind with mile high frosting) will be carefully handpicked with the recipients in mind to enjoy.
Of course, no St.Patrick’s Day is complete without watching two of my favorite movies. Darby O’Gill and the Little People is watched with my kiddos next to the fire and some hot cocoa. My sweet hubs endures watching with me the Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hare.
Last year, my eldest daughter and husband ran a local Shamrock Run with me. This year I will be running a 10k Shamrock Run with my honey the day before St. Patrick’s Day. Why? Refer back to the cupcakes with “the mile high frosting”.
I also discovered a birthday buddy in my church. So, since this little three old shares my birthday (lucky him), I am going to make sure he gets a present from me. Plus, if time allows, I may bring in birthday treats for my Sunday school ladies. Who wouldn’t enjoy a little sweet treat in the morning.
The sweetest memory I have was a tradition that my dad actually started for me. Every year I would get a green carnation from my him on my birthday and a sweet birthday card. My dad was very sentimental and took the time to pick out just the right card. This tradition will not be fulfilled this year because my dad passed away almost 6 months ago.
Do I believe that every mom should have her birthday celebrated as if it were a national holiday? Absolutely! Sure, you may not have a parade in town on your birthday, the town canal may not be dyed green, and it may seem like a blip on the radar of time to you and to other’s. But that’s just it. We don’t know how much time we have.
- James 4:14
whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
In preparing for teaching Sunday School this past week, the following quote from Warren Wiersbe came flying out at me and stopped me dead in my tracks, “What good is it for me to add years to my life if I don’t add life to my years?”. Ponder that for a few moments.
I guess to others, celebrating my birthday this way may seem a little extreme or even a little selfish. Honestly, I do this to create memories with my family. Maybe one day, when they are grown, we will all sit around the kitchen table and they will say, “Mom, do you remember how you used to make us eat corned beef and cabbage on your birthday?”
So, how are you making today and each day memorable?
Until next Monday, dear ladies.
Rebekah
