Cakes, cakes and more cakes

I had many thoughtful birthday wishes come to the Congo this year. Brent went way out of his way to invite Frere and Soeur Monga to surprise me at dinner in a restaurant. He even found a gift. In Africa that is not easy! Jenna did some wonderful pictures of Eva. Isaac and Trevor made birthday cards and scanned and emailed them and sent a birthday video. I got 42 birthday emails thanks to good friends and family (and Brent and Corinne and a little birthday advertising.)

But the most remarkable thing was done by a good friend, Alan Swensen. His exceptional kindness and service made this a birthday never to be forgotten. He wrote this note.

Then he took it, along with a birthday cake and candles to each of our 6 children's families. He even had a nephew in Utah take one to Ryan's family in Draper, UT.

Alan must have spent the whole day before my birthday driving from his house in Phoenix, in the pouring rain, to our children's homes all over the East Valley.

Here he is delivering the Webbs' cake to Jameson.

Early in the morning on my birthday the Webbs called and sang an adorable version of Happy Birthday and blew out the candles with me. Then they told me about "the cakes!"

Then the cake pictures started arriving by email.

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This was followed by wonderful versions of Happy Birthday and lots of candle blowing and cake eating done on Skype as most of our children's families "ate cake" with us throughout the day.

Then there were more pictures with cakes.

It was so much fun for us all!

This thoughtful act of service will be remembered forever in the Jameson family and will cause us to "pay it forward" and be more thoughtful and giving in the future. What an extraordinary gift from a good friend. Thank you, Bishop Swensen, for your cakes, notes, candles and especially for your great example!