an eighth birthday in Mongolia

The eighth birthday to be celebrated in Mongolia was mine! I'm somewhat hesitant to write about the day I had yesterday because I don't really know if there's any way to fully express how loved and cared for I felt as I crawled into bed last night. I woke up this morning still feeling happy!

My mom asked me a couple days ago what I was doing for my birthday and I told her I didn't know. For those of you who know me well, you'll know how happy I was to be able to give that answer. I love surprises! I love the anticipation!

We started celebrating my birthday the night before -- partly because Mike's parents were leaving to go back to the States the morning of my birthday and partly because they knew that the traditional family breakfast probably would not work out very well with me. :) Heather gave me the first of her presents that night -- a funky pair of earrings. It was fun to wear my first gift all day yesterday. It felt like Heather was there celebrating with me everywhere I went.

CB told me to come down for breakfast whenever I got up the next morning and -- though some of the kids were doing school when I walked in -- the red "you are special" plate and some cards were waiting for me on the table. I had a yummy breakfast of crepes and yogurt and Heather made some coffee for me. Mmm-mmm-mmmm... Good way to start the day.

I had to go into work, but Joel surprised me by refusing to let me pay for the fabulous chicken salad I had for lunch. Thanks, Joel!

And now the real fun begins...

My only instructions from the family were to come down ready for dinner at 5:30. So come down I did and this is what I found waiting for me:

A beautiful table laden with candles and color and surrounded by this family that has become my own. And who should come to usher me to the table, but Joel! Knowing my love for (and obsession with) good food, they had asked Joel to prepare a fancy meal for my birthday dinner.

The Menu

Greek Salad
red leaf lettuce tossed with goat cheese, thinly-sliced grape tomatoes,
cucumbers, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and vinaigrette

Shrimp in a Garlic-Butter Sauce
with sweet Thai red chili jam

Strawberry-Lemon Sorbet
(to cleanse the palate)

Beef Wellington
with red wine au jus

Roasted Potatoes

Julienne Carrots

Green Beans with slivered almonds

An assortment of crackers and cheeses

Dessert Crepes
with ginger sauce

Pellegrino

And as if I weren't already completely overwhelmed by the family's thoughtfulness, CB and Laurel had asked my friend Kelly for the recipe of my favorite birthday cake (ever!) and made it for me that afternoon.

Kelly's Birthday Cake
chocolate layer cake with chocolate ganache filling
and homemade butter cream frosting

Wow. Wow. Wow.

The Suchy and Park families (our teammates and friends from the co-op, respectively, who need to be properly introduced in another post) came over to join us for cake and coffee and I spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing with people who have taken such good care of me here in Mongolia and who have come to be dear friends of mine. I couldn't have planned the day better myself.

Heather took charge of my camera for the whole of the night and it is thanks to her that I was able to sit back and enjoy my birthday and yet still have some pictures to share with all of you back home:

Here's the thing that I really loved about my birthday ... it wasn't so much that the fam gave me surprises and fancy food and visiting friends and wonderful gifts ... it was that they did those things because they wanted me to feel cared for and appreciated. They planned the day and the food and the gifts with me in mind. When I finally made my way back to bed last night, I felt warm and flushed from all the attention and love they lavished on me. I also felt a deep sense of gratitude for Mike and CB and the kids. From my very first day here, they have welcomed me into their lives and made me a part of their family. They have sought to know me in the same way they know each other. In some ways, yesterday felt very much like a celebration of our year together -- and really, isn't that what birthdays are supposed to be -- gathering together with friends and family and celebrating another year of being blessed and loved by one another?

I've realized a number of times this year that I could not be doing what I'm doing without this family. I couldn't do it. And I wouldn't want to. Throughout the past seven months they have encouraged me and comforted me. Mike and CB have been my advocates. They have given me counsel and guidance. I have had some really great discussions with Mike and he has challenged me to think twice about some of the things I argue so fiercely about. I am grateful for him! CB is my haven when I need to share the emotional struggles I have over here. She has let me vent my frustrations and my worries and has been with me in some of my ugliest meltdown moments. I am grateful for her! (You'll have to revisit the other birthday posts for more gushing about the rest of the family and how each of the kids brings a spark of joy to my life.)

Thank you to Mike and CB and Heather (who I suspect was as much part of the planning process as her parents) and the rest of fam: Kyle, Caleb, Cameron, Laurel (for the cake!), Holly, Casey, and Linden. Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful day!