Saturday 27 July 2013

Happiness

Today is my birthday and I quite often go out for the day but this year I am at home as DH had a cataract operation yesterday so we are keeping things relaxed for a change.  I am pleased to report that the op went well and DH reports some improvement so all is good so far.

Yesterday after the op






This morning




I keep nagging him not to overwork the eye but it's falling on deaf ears!  Actually he has the ability to only use one eye at a time as his left eye is lazy so he is actually resting it while he looks at the screen with the other eye (hope that doesn't sound too gross!).  We have had fun in the past when with friends as he can be apparently looking at one person and actually talking to another.  Bless!

I have never been particulalry religious, especially in more recent years but today the postman brought a letter that may have converted me in an instant.  When my Mum lived in Essex she was a regular churchgoer and supported her church in all their fundraising efforts over the years.  She was part of a great community of friends there.  Last year the church had decided to replace part of an outside wall with a magnificent stained glass window and invited the congregation to make donations to have their names included on the glass.  Sadly I found out way to late about this and Mum was very disappointed that she could not be included alongside all her friends.  Fast forward to today and I received this photograph from the Minister:


My Mum's name is on the purple shard.  The minister had included Mum right at the start and promptly forgotten all about it!  (In the meantime we had sent a donation for the organ restoration instead).  I cannot tell you  how moved I have been by the arrival of this amazing letter and photograph!  My mum always told me it was unlucky to cry on your birthday but there have been happy tears here today.  God or the Cosmos does indeed move in mysterious ways and I can't wait to show Mum the photograph!  Happy Birthday to me :-)







18 comments:

Wendy said...

Happy birthday, I hope you get to do good stuff xx

Gill said...

Happy Birthday!! Have a great day!

mrsnesbitt said...

Fantastic stuff Julie xxxxxx Have a great day xx

Timaree said...

That's wonderful about the stained glass, your hubby's eye surgery and your birthday. And I don't believe for minute that happy tears will bring bad luck : )

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Julie, what a wonderful story about Mum and the glass in the window. Best wishes....xox

The Crafty Mugwump said...

A great big Happy Birthday Julie!!

Jackie said...

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to youuuuu!
Happy birrrrrth-day, dear Julie!
Happy birthday to you!
(I just sang it to you. Did you hear it!!)
What a beautiful story about the stained glass window, Julie. I'm so touched that the minister included your sweet Mom. God bless him!!
God bless you, your dear husband, Stewart...and all your family.
Sending you love and hugs!
Jackie

sharon young said...

Happy birthday for yesterday, Julie, and what a lovely surprise re the stained glass window.
Glad to see your DH recovering well.

Unknown said...

Happy birthday! What a lovely birthday present/s! Your hubby seeing better and your mom being in lauded in the stained glass window!! Enjoy your day!

Becky Mairi Farrell said...

Happy Birthday!

What an amazing window. I'm so glad your Mum!s name was included.

Glad the eye surgery seems to have gone well for your DH. I also can only look through one eye at a time - and tbh there's not much point looking through the right one! - so can relate and the game of looking at unsuspecting people made me giggle :-)

Unknown said...

Have a lovely birthday and I'm sure your dh's eyesight will continue to improve. Love the stained glass and how lovely of them to include your mum's name. Luv Annette

Peneller said...

So glad you had a good day for your birthday. what a treat to get the news about the stained glass window. Now you will have yet another reminder of your lovely Mum!

Emma said...

Happy Birthday, 2 lovely resents, really ;) The stained glass is beautiful & what an honor to be included. Love the finished quilt. I'll be back to read more about your trip x

Maggi said...

Bit late for birthday wishes on here but I did send them on FB. I'm glad Stewart's op went well, but I ddi have a giggle when you mentioned that he was resting his eye - images of it on the side of his plate of sandwiches :)

Such a beautiful stained glass window and what a lovely way for people to be commemorated.

quilthexle said...

Sorry I'm late !! Happy birthday - glad to hear it was a fine day for you! Loved the story about the stained glass ;-))

Anonymous said...

Glad the birthday was a good one after all that. The window is beautiful and a wonderful memorial to the people who gave towards it.

Heather said...

Happy Birthday - what a lovely surprise to find your Mum's name included in the church window - a lovely idea. I've had cataracts removed from both eyes and it's amazing how painless the whole experience is. Glad it all went well for your husband.

imac said...

Wonderful post my darling, from the one eyed elf