Today is Grace's 28th birthday. This afternoon we had a surprise party at our house for her and it just so happened that her mom flew in today to help us out for a week so she got to celebrate with us as well. We got Grace an Ipod for her birthday so she can continue to sing and dance around the house without having to change CD's (if anybody wants to get her an I-tunes gift card or anything else I'm sure she would not be opposed)!
In addition to it being Grace's birthday this is a special day for us because 5 years ago I came and visited Grace here in Eden Prairie just after we had started dating. In April of 2003 Grace came back from her 6 month stay in the Phillipines and visited Los Angeles for 10 days before moving to Minnesota to live with her sister, Gayle, and family. Grace and I had known each other for about 1.5 years and I decided to ask her to date me during her 10 day stay in Los Angeles. About a month later I decided that I wanted to visit her for her birthday and flew to Minnesota for a few days and stayed in Bob and Gayle's basement. Grace and I had such a great time that weekend as always and we would take walks in the rain around Round Lake Park, which was down the street from the Bob and Gayle's house. I couldn't get enough of her dancing around the puddles on the wooded trail telling me everything about everything. I also remember one afternoon we sat on a small bench at the end of the trail that leads into the park right in front of the lake and it just seemed like everything was so perfect. Every time I walk by that bench I think of it as the "love bench". Those memories are still so vivid in my mind. It was that weekend that I knew I wanted to marry Grace.
So this year we have come full circle and we are back in Eden Prairie for Grace's birthday, but now we live 4 houses down from the entrance to Round Lake Park where we shared some of our first memories together.
Happy Birthday Grace! Love, The Smith Family
ReplyDeleteFeliz cumpleaños, Grace! Andrew, that's such a beautiful story. Thanks for taking us down memory lane with you. Qué romántico! :D
ReplyDeletethat is so sweet andrew - happy birthday grace, and happy mother's day too! we think of and pray for your family often. you have a special place in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteHi! I don't know you guys, but my name is Janea. I work at Grace to You and a friend of mine passed along your Blog to me because she thought it would be an encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI just want you to know that your transparency has been such a testimony to me and I thank the Lord for all He is doing in your lives and teaching you. You've impacted me more than you know just from the few times I've read your blog.
I am praying for you!
Happy Birthday Grace! I thought of you as I remembered your birthday this weekend, but wasn't around a computer or a phone with your number in it in order to send you a greeting in time. I hope you enjoyed your birthday though!
ReplyDelete~Georgia
Thank you Andrew for sharing your special day with us and the journey of how you and Grace began dating.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Grace! - so neat to hear how Andrew pulled off a surprise party for you even in the midst of experiencing this difficult trial together.
Our Love to you both in Christ,
John & Trudy Feyereisen
hello grace and andrew! i am just dropping by a little hello letting you guys know that i've been reading through your bloggings. i have been keeping you two in my prayers with all that has been happening! i pray the Lord would sustain your family each day and even that your sleeping time might be peaceful and uninterrupted. =)
ReplyDeletehappy belated birthday and mother's day grace! what a beautiful story, andrew, thank you so much for sharing. memories are always so wonderful, and it's great that you get to walk by the love bench and be reminded :)
ReplyDelete