The Blessing of Our Three Year Old

Well, you can see from the pictures below, PJ is three! Can it really be? I am continually amazed at the huge responsibility we have been given to not only raise one child but now two! I thank God for PJ. There are plenty of times when I lose sight of what a blessing he is but by God's grace I am realizing it more and more.
For PJ's birthday, we decided we would celebrate with just the four of us. Paul has been gone a lot the past five weeks so we thought the best thing to do was just to have a family day. Before church, I prepared BBQ chicken in the crockpot and made mashed potatoes when we got home from church.
I was on my way into the house from the car after church and my cell phone began ringing. It was Khun Aree. So, I answered it. She asked if she could come over to visit today. (At this point, in my head, I am thinking "no...our day as a family will be ruined" but Paul and I agreed to invite her over and welcome her and her daughter, Eye.) When they arrived PJ was sleeping and Calvin was about to be laid down. They were here until 5:30ish and which time they wanted to return home... so we took them home. They played, talked, and ate supper with us. It wasn't easy to sacrifice this afternoon to the Lord, but you know what? I am thankful we obeyed and were hospitable and didn't allow this "intrusion" into our "family day" to ruin our day at all, if anything it just made it that much more special. I am so filled with wonder that the Lord allowed us to minister to this family. Khun Aree's husband just left for three months to Vietnam (for his job) and she is really lonely right now. I am glad that she feels comfortable enough to call us up and desire to hang out. Please pray for this family and pray for us as we minister and love them. [Anyone remember my post about the "open door policy"? Well, I got my first lesson today!]
So, we did some more celebrating once we returned home. That is when we gave PJ his gifts. He was thrilled with all of them and really enjoyed playing with everything. Of course tomorrow there will be much more bike riding going on since it was about to rain and dark outside when he finally got his new bicycle.
PJ's birthday became an all day long celebration in which at least for me, I thought of the blessing he is and I feel so thankful to God for PJ and the gift he is to us. I wonder if when he's 20, I will still remember his actual birth day like I do now? Now that I am older and have children, I think birthdays are more for the parents than they are for the children! It helps us remember what a treasure we have been given and reminds of the pain we had to go thru to get that treasure! Thank you Lord for our children, may we be faithful to raise them to love and obey You and Your Word.