Mother's Day Surprise

Earlier in the week I got a call from my daughter, Romay, "Are you busy Friday afternoon?"
I replied, "I don't think so , why?"
"Its a surprise, I'll pick you up at 3:00 pm. Dress casual!"
Friday afternoon at exactly 3:00 pm my daughter and granddaughter came to pick me up.
Romay handed me a stem of orchids and a 'fitting' card, considering our new cook book!

Buckled in and on our way,  I tried to coax out some hints as to where we were going but all I got was tight lipped smiles.
We drove for a good half hour or more and finally my daughter checked some directions on a piece of paper on her lap.
She said... "This is going to be a weird Mother's Day..."  
I said , "OHH !   I'm going to hold a lamb?"
I saw by her expression that I had guessed correctly !
Sure enough a  minute later we pull into the driveway of a beautiful  farm.
She asked, "What made you guess ?"
"Well, " I said with a smile, " you said weird, that made me think of 'bucket list' and I recently told you on my bucket list was that I wanted to hold and pet a lamb!"
It seems strange that I grew up on a farm, have been around farms all my life but for some reason never held a lamb.  And yes, an unusual bucket list desire ...   but one that has been tucked into my heart since childhood.
But the surprises were not yet over.
We drove up to a lovely colonial farm house.   I asked, "Do you know these people?"
She answered vaguely... "Oh, she's someone I know on Facebook... I bribed her with a copy of the cookbook.  The copy you gave me today wasn't for whom I said it was, its actually for this lady."
"Hmm..." I thought,... "why would Romay give a cookbook to someone who she didn't really know.."
Romay went to the front door, then. following instructions, we drove up the driveway connecting the house and the barn.  We stepped out of the car, and a minute later,  a lady rode up on a bicycle.
I politely said, "Hi" then looked harder as she dismounted the bike! It couldn't be .. but it was !  It was Romay's best friend through high school, Deanna, whom I had not seen in many years !
It was her  delightful daughter who the sheep belonged to.  She came and told us about each ewe and ram, their personalities and their names.  Then, she brought  me the lambs.  There was a little black one born premature that had a very nervous mother , so we did not disturb that one.    There was another black one that was a little older that I held and then the adorable twins pictured in the photos.

 



Later, we enjoyed a visit and delicious gluten-free muffins in Deanna's amazing kitchen, designed and built by her husband.

In our chatting, Deanna, mentioned one of my favourite books, "A Shepherd looks at the 23rd Psalm". 

 If you haven't read it, do!  It is a very beautiful book that reveals the heart of God and why He calls us His sheep. The author is Phillip Keller - I recommend all the books he wrote, they are all on my fav list !

The little twin named Marble was my favourite (lowest right photo).  He was the last one I held and as soon as I took him into my arms I could feel something different about him from the others.   He cuddled down into my arms. He did not  just tolerate being held.  He loved it!
My heart melted, and I thought , "Oh Lord, I want to be this kind of lamb in Your arms."

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want! 

Psalm 23:1

Mother's Day, 2013 --  one I will remember  --   Thank you so much, Romay  for planning it and   Deanna  for making it possible !

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Happy Mother's Day to you !  

 I pray that the love of God, so evident in Mothers' love, 

 fills your hearts, 

not just on Mother's Day but every day ! 

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