A heartfelt thank you for all your good wishes, they meant a lot to me!
(The photo below was taken by Jeremy, while I was on the phone: I found it as I downloaded my camera, among several photos of Nicholas practicing tennis serves in the kitchen using my precious Portuguese hand-fan as a racket....)
It was a happy and cozy celebration, and I really felt like the birthday girl as I received even more unexpected presents: sweet drawings, stories, and a glue & toothpick composition from my children, and a surprise present from Tom. Surprise, because it was on top of a very much "expected" present. One I'd been coveting admiring for months:
Inside an amazing little handmade macramé pouch from Bangladesh was a handmade silver ring from Uruguay. They came from our local FairTrade shop.
As the night came on, I thought about all the nice thoughts I'd received from afar, and about all the love (and fun!) that was right here in our home. Celebrations are good.
