We certainly didn’t imagine the change that God had in store for us over 8 years ago when Rebecca came into our lives.  How God brought her is a story for a different time.  This is a story about Becca’s 9^th birthday. 

This year it started on May 15^th, as we drove up to Bellingham to celebrate Abby’s and Becca’s birthdays.  Once Andy’s birthday was over, she would see something and say, “This is what I want for my birthday.  And we’ll have a party and we’ll invite _____ and ______ and on and on.”  Then something else would happen and she would see something else and say the same thing only this new thing was what she wanted.  And the party seemed to move from our home to Disneyland, to a swimming pool, to a water slide, to a park, to a _____.  So, the planning has been over a month, and the celebration itself was 11 days long. 

It began with a trip to Bellingham where we all spent the weekend with her sister, Abby and her brother-in-law, Dustin.  Saturday morning, Becca opened her first present, a bag of carrots.  CARROTS??  What am I going to do with carrots?  Becca then found out that they were to feed the horse she was going to ride later that morning.  She was excited.  She got to ride the horse around for half an hour.  Not only did she get to ride, but she controlled the horse with the reigns while the owner walked around in front of or beside the horse.  Then Becca got to feed the carrots to the horse. 

Then we went to a beach and played lasso golf and had a great picnic lunch.  The weather was super and the wind was blowing enough so we were able to get the kites up in the air.  Then off to a playground in Blaine while we visited with Taylor and Mindy Swedberg, friends of Dustin and Abby. 

Then back to the Terpenings, where we had cake and enjoyed the evening.  Sunday we went to church and then had a great dinner and more cake, then to watch Dustin play soccer.  On the way home, we stopped by Deception Pass Park to visit with Ed and Karen Purkey, friends of ours from Seminary, 40 years ago.  Ed retired from the ministry and they now live in an RV year round.  They make arrangements with parks around the west and volunteer as park hosts in exchange for a place to park their motor home.  They will be 15 miles from our place starting July 1^st. 

The following Friday, May 22^nd, Nathan, a friend of Becca’s from preschool, invited her over for a party at his house.  There she had a special cake, balloons, gifts and a good time with Nathan.

On Saturday, the 23^rd, her actual birthday, after breakfast, we went to Pet’s Smart and bought 5 gold fish.  That was the present she finally decided she wanted for her 9^th birthday.  Before we went, we got out the fish tank, cleaned it up and got it ready for the fish.  They are now swimming around very happily in the tank in her room.  Of course there was more cake and singing “Happy Birthday.”  Later that day, one fish already went the way of all fishes, and we had to flush her down.  But not to worry, we replaced her with another one on Monday. 

But Becca is not done celebrating, on Sunday after church, Auntie Margaret came over for dinner and there were more presents and more cake. 

Becca’s 9^th birthday, lasted for 10 days, and 4 candles and cakes and singing.  What more could a 9 year old ask for?