About a month ago, Daniel concluded that what Dad would like best for his birthday is money. So, not quite clear from this photo but daniel was hiding in a box and jumped up with play-paper money as a surprise.
Mary's contribution to Mark's birthday was the idea that Dad likes cookies so a chocolate chip cookie cake was the best plan for him, and vanilla ice cream was the best plan for her. You can't see it in this picture but Dorothy made a card for Mark, under the guise that it was from the girls illustrating it with an orange and blue American football. I was pretty impressed!
My mom sent a "maps" calendar, and Daniel is showing him a Kids sports book from his school catalog thinking that Mark might like to buy that for himself for his birthday.
Mark's dad is sending him the Broncos vs. Steelers game but not the Broncos vs. Patriots game. Anyone following football will know why. And I saved several M&M bags which had come with an Alabama friend-- pulled them out for birthday. Many who know Mark know that "consumable" items are a hit for celebrations.
Not pictured here, Mark's USP staff bought him a perfect (yes, Rachel!:) Tim Buk 2 bag that will hold his laptop and various other items he tends to carry on his person (I think one of my first blogs was what I carry in my purse; not sure that Mark would appreciate a similar exposure)
We've had a nice dinner out with long-term Uganda friends not at UCU; we'll have an outing with UCU friends this weekend. Basically a week of celebrating!
But gifts and celebrations aside, I'll take the date of his birth to publicly state that almost anyone who knows Mark well, in whatever role he has in their life would state his loyalty, his sense of duty, his secret softy side, his sense of humor, his logical rational mind, and his stability as defining marks of his character and compassion--in his relationships and in his worldview. I can't express enough my gratitude to God for getting to live this life with Mark! May God bless him in the year to come!
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