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Chapter Forty-seven
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Allie's Birthday Surprises

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Nathan had awakened early and began preparing Apple Pancakes and hot fruit compote, placing the bacon in the oven along with the pancakes to keep them warm. He cleaned the kitchen and set the dining table with Allie's good china and linens. When Bill arrived he would make the eggs. Nathan set Zachary's forgotten gift beside Allie's place, along with one of his gifts to her.

Sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee, Nathan opened his Bible and read a Psalm to begin his day. Bill knocked softly and let himself in.

"Is she up yet?" He whispered as he set down a couple of gifts and hung his coat.

"Good morning." Nathan shook his head, as he went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee for Bill. "I'm going to awaken her now."

Nathan knocked on Allie's door and opened it slowly as she responded. "I'm awake."

"Happy birthd… Allie! You are already up and dressed. You were so quiet! How is my birthday girl?" Nathan entered and crossed to hug Allie who was sitting at her desk. "How long have you been up?"

"About a half hour? Maybe more. I couldn't sleep so I thought I would write a couple things in my journal. You know…how it feels to be fifteen now and things like that."

"How does it feel?" Nathan played with her hair.

"It's a different number, but I don't feel any different." She looked up at her Dad. "Should I?"

"It's been a very long time since I was fifteen, Honey, so I can't really answer your question. Anyway, you just be yourself, however you are feeling! Would you like me to style your hair in a special way? We have time. Breakfast is staying warm in the oven and Uncle Bill will cook the scrambled eggs. He's in the front room now."

"Oh? Then, yes. Can you fix my hair in there? Maybe that braid on the sides, that you twist into a bun over my longer hair in back? We can tie a dark blue ribbon around it for school."

"Sure, you collect the brush and ribbon and I'll meet you in the dining room." Nathan kissed the top of her head. "Happy, happy day, Allie-girl!"

While Bill scrambled the eggs and set out the food, Nathan tackled Allie's hairstyle.

Bill brought the last of the food to the dining table and sat down, observing as Nathan completed the creation. He was impressed. "Somehow after all our times together, I never realized Allie's hairstyles are your doing, Nathan. That is another Dad-skill in which you have excelled!" He winked at Allie. "You are looking beautiful, Sweetheart! Happy Birthday!"

Allie blushed a sweet pink. "Thanks, Uncle Bill."

"Well," Nathan explained as he tied the ribbon around the braided bun. "Allie often does her own styles now, but I've had to learn my share over the years." He had Allie turn her head back and forth and pronounced, "You do look beautiful, Allie!"

As they ate their breakfast, Allie opened a couple gifts. Nathan pointed to the small, wrapped gift first. "That's from Uncle Zach. You forgot to open it on Saturday."

"I forgot on purpose, Dad. I wanted it to be Uncle Zach's day." Allie untied the string and unfolded the paper. "Oh, how nice! I can always use hair ribbons! Did you suggest these, Dad?"

"I did not. Apparently Zach discussed his need to get you something and a fellow Cadet with sisters had him take these and replace them when he can get to town. I think that is very thoughtful!"

"Oh it is. These will be my favorites for that reason. Can I write him a thank you note, Dad?"

"Of course!" Nathan motioned with his fork. "Open another present."

"Is this from you, Uncle Bill?"

"Well, from me and from Adeli. We went together on a couple things at your Dad's recommendation."

"Oh! These book are wonderful, Uncle Bill. I don't have them in my collection so this is very special." She stood and circled the table to hug Bill.

"Well, I agree with your Dad. As we get older it is good to begin a collection of favorite classics of our own. I confess, Jane Austen is not one of my favorites, but I understand she is yours."

"Oh, Uncle Bill! You and Aunt Adeline should read them together. There is a lot of humor and the cultural… what is that word that begins with 'm' Dad?"

"Mores?"

"That's the one! The cultural mores are such fun to read about. Dad and I have read them through, at least once, maybe twice for my favorites?"

"I will take that under advisement, Allie!" Bill chuckled. He so enjoyed Allie Grant! "Open another gift."

Allie chose a very small box tied with pink ribbon. She looked at her father. "Is this from you, Dad? Maybe I know what it is?"

"It is from me, Allie. But I doubt you could even guess what it is!" Nathan grinned as he set down his utensils and leaned his hands on the table.

Lifting the lid, Allie gasped! "Oh! Oh! Does this mean…?"

"It does. I talked with Aunt Adeli and she thought you are old enough for pierced ears! So you didn't guess, did you?"

Allie flew around the table and into Nathan's awaiting arms. "I NEVER would have guessed, Dad. But these are perfect! Thank you…." She buried her face in Nathan's shoulder as they hugged. When she stepped away, she kissed his cheek. "When can we go?"

"Aunt Adeli promised to take you on Saturday morning while Uncle Bill and I get the groceries. Does that sound like a good plan?" Nathan chuckled. "Do you think you can wait that long?"

"It's wonderful and that will be worth the wait. I will feel so grown-up now!" She studied the gold studs in the box once again. "Thank you, Dad!"


"So you are taking the afternoon off, eh, Nathan?" Wes observed as Nathan cleared his desk.

"I am, Wes. My little girl is turning fifteen today and I have a couple errands to run, you know flowers and the like, before I go home and decorate at Peter's and Carol's house. We are having a special celebration and surprising her with a dinner party with some of her friends from St. Anne's." Nathan was overjoyed after Allie's response to her gift at breakfast and it had carried him through the morning.

"You look as excited as she may be!" Wes laughed.

"That's because I am. You should have seen her face when she opened her first pair of pierced earrings this morning! I hit a bullseye with that gift!" He looked very pleased with himself. "As a bachelor, it's not always easy to figure out what to give a girl, you know."

"As a bachelor I can imagine!" Wes laughed along with Nathan. "Tell her I wish her all the best and a very happy celebration, please?"

"Gladly." Nathan donned his overcoat as it was a windy day, collected the stack of mail from his inbox and headed to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Wes! Have a good afternoon."

"You too, my friend!"


Nathan knocked with his elbow and maneuvered the back door open. He called out as he entered. "Hello, Hello! Nathan here."

"Come in, Nathan. We are in the kitchen in the midst of a delicate cake decorating experiment!"

Nathan rounded the corner to see Carol and Bill hovering over a beautiful cake, each balancing a pink icing rose on knives in their hands as they carefully decided where to place them.

"Wow! This looks professionally done! Beautiful!" Nathan exclaimed as he set the decorations on the side table and went to place the flowers in a vase that Carol had set beside the sink. "Fortunately the florist had some pink roses and purple heather. I hope the ivy trailing down won't be in the way on the table, Carol?"

"One moment." Carol held her breath. "There. Perfect." She glanced over at the sink with approval. "That will be just fine, Nathan. You'll have to make sure to take them back for her to enjoy at the Cottage afterwards." Surveying the cake again, she looked up at Bill. "Are we finished or do we need to add anything else?"

"I think we should leave well enough alone! I don't want to ruin it by adding too much." Bill grinned. "You and I could go into business, Carol! Although we wouldn't make any profit if we spent this much time on every creation!"

Nathan came closer and hovered over the cake, admiringly. "I hope it tastes as great as it looks! She will be so thrilled! I mean pink roses and green leaves on a cake? That's a far cry from some of the cakes I've made in the past. They tasted good, but not prize-worthy in the looks department. Ask Allie! They were often slanted."

Carol patted Nathan's arm. "You did what you could, Son, and I am sure Allie loved every one."

"She did, but after this? I'll need to take professional baking lessons from you two!" Nathan laughed. "Thank you for all you are doing for Allie. This will be a special day!"

"We love Allie, Nathan. And she is a very deserving and special girl." Carol assured him. "Now you men need to work on the dining room decorations!"

Within an hour, Nathan and Bill had strung ribbons and crepe paper around the dining room, draped swags over the windows and doorways and trailed streamers from the chandelier. They helped add two leaves to the dining table, then carefully draped the tablecloth over the length of the table. While Nathan counted the silverware, Bill folded the napkins as he did for special meals at the Café.

Nathan reached for the dishes and glassware from the high shelves, while Carol collected from the lower ones. Bill set the plates, silverware and napkins just so and Nathan set up the tea cups, saucers and dessert plates on the sideboard.

Carol brought out small oil lamps to set down the center of the table, figuring they would be safer than tapers and open flames with the young people and all the paper decorations. She suggested trailing some of the pink ribbons from the floral arrangement and finally the table was declared beautiful, festive and finished.

"We would make a great catering team, my friends! Thanks for all you have done." Nathan glanced at the clock. "Anything you need me to do before I collect Allie?"

"Nathan!" Carol exclaimed suddenly. "Did you eat anything?"

Laughing Nathan explained, "If you could have seen the size of our breakfast this morning, you wouldn't ask that!"

Carol looked at Bill. "Ah… Bill? Anything you want to tell me?" She waved Nathan into the kitchen and opened the icebox. "Take this sandwich that is left from what I served Bill here for lunch!"

Found out, Bill blushed, but grinned. "What's the phrase? 'Don't' muzzle the ox while he's treading the grain?' (*19) Maybe Nathan wasn't, but I was hungry."

"Yeah. 'The laborer is worthy of his reward.' (*20) Thanks, Carol, for feeding us both." Nathan held up the sandwich as he took another bite. "This will tide me over just fine!"

"Men!" She laughed as she said the word. "Got to love them!"


Nathan stopped into the Cottage to bring Allie's gifts from his closet to the coffee table and deposited the stack of letters beside them. He gulped a glass of water, re-dressed in his belt and strap and headed to St. Anne's to get the birthday girl.

"Allie! What's this?" Nathan asked as she lifted a covered platter from the steps of the school.

"Hi, Dad! Miss Bell and Miss Ross surprised us with cupcakes in chorus this afternoon. Wasn't that sweet?" Allie giggled as she realized what she had said. She looked at her father.

"Very sweet, Honey. Just like you!" Nathan gave her his half-smile. "Here. Let me carry that."

"I don't know how they knew it was my birthday because I didn't say anything to them."

"Well. The school has your records so it wouldn't have been difficult to figure out. I guess to have made cupcakes though, they had to plan ahead!" Nathan closed Allie's door and went around the car to get in. "So, how's the birthday young lady? Ready for more surprises?"

"Oh?" Allie asked suspiciously.

"Yessss. There are some items with your name on them at home! The celebration continues!"

"Fun!" Allie looked over at her father. "Much as I love the navy serge, Dad, will you change into a suit for dinner? I'm going to wear one of my Sunday dresses."

"That is my plan. Do you have a preference?"

"The gray, with the blue shirt. You know that's my favorite."

"Okay. Consider it done. Do I get to choose your dress though?"

"Ummm… No. Not anymore!"

"ohhh…" Nathan acted hurt.

"Daaaaddd…"

Upon opening the front door, Allie saw the stack of gifts and mail and was completely surprised.

"Shall we change first or open presents first?" Nathan asked as he removed his belt and strap and unbuttoned the top buttons on the serge.

"Let's change first, Dad!" Allie giggled. "Then I can concentrate on my gifts!"

"Sure thing. See you in a few minutes." Nathan chuckled at Allie's excitement knowing the celebration had only just begun.

Seated on the sofa with a cup of apple cider nearby, Allie chose the first package and opening it found a beautiful white, ruffled blouse and a forest green skirt. The skirt was a slim style with a couple pleats at the bottom front, adorned with matching buttons. "Oh! Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Lee sent these! Wasn't that sweet? Aunt Rosie has such good taste! Do you like these?" Allie stood, held the skirt to her waist and the blouse to her neck. Slightly sashaying she smiled with delight.

"I do like them and Aunt Rosemary is quite the fashionable woman!"

Taking up the next large box, Allie read the note wishing her a happy birthday from Dr. Faith and Miss Fiona. Together they had coordinated with Rosemary because the pearl-buttoned, fine-knit sweater exactly matched the green skirt. "Oh! Perfect outfit now. But they didn't need to get me anything. That is so kind."

Allie's next gift was from her grandparents. She opened a box of pretty pink stationery and inside was an envelope containing money for a new winter coat. "Oh! This is wonderful. The sleeves on my brown one are getting too short! Do you think Grandmom could go coat shopping with me when she is here?" Rethinking her request, Allie added, "That is if you don't want to go? Or maybe you can come too?"

"So diplomatic, Allie!" Nathan smirked. "Let's see what happens. But I do think asking Grandmom to help you with clothing purchases is a wonderful idea since Aunt Rosemary is so far away now." He nodded to another wrapped box. "What's that one?"

Peeling back the paper, Allie squealed. She had been asking her Dad for a grown-up jewelry box and he had remembered. She immediately recognized the handiwork as being her father's. "Dad! This is gorgeous." Allie ran her fingers over the carved pattern of ivy that formed a heart on the cover. Nathan had carved an ivy border that entwined with the inner heart as well as around the sides of the box. Lifting a tiny latch, Allie discovered a gold charm of ivy circled in a wreath, laying in a lush black-velvet-lined and sectioned interior. "Dad! When did you make this? Have you been working on this in the nighttime? I haven't heard you or seen any evidence!"

"I completed that over the summer! You like it?"

"I love it, Dad! It's beauteous!" Allie stood to lean over her father and give him a hug. "But what is the symbolism of the ivy?"

"Have you looked at your school? St. Anne's is covered with ivy growing on the red brick. I thought it would be a sweet charm to commemorate our move and your new school. What do you think?"

"That's perfect, Dad! Did you know the yearbook is called "The Bricks and Ivy?"

Laughing, Nathan exclaimed. "No! I had no idea. This is perfect then! Shall I add it so you can wear your bracelet for dinner tonight? I'm sure everyone would love to know what each charm represents."

"Yes, please, but I still have a couple gifts left to open." Allie reached for two flat, square boxes and opened a lovely embroidered handkerchief from Emily and one from Opal. "They made these for me, Dad! Remember Mrs. Montgomery taught us to embroider last spring?"

"Very thoughtful, Sweetheart, and very pretty too." Nathan motioned to the stack of letters. "Why don't you start working your way through those, while I get my pliers?"

Nathan returned to the front room to find Allie had tears running down her cheeks. "What is it, Allie? What's wrong?"

Holding up two pages of messages from her Hope Valley schoolmates, Allie couldn't speak. She pointed to the Birthday wishes written by her friends and fellow students. Even Miss Yost had written a greeting and someone had drawn flowers around the border of each page. "Oh, Dad! They must feel bad for me having moved. They don't know I now have some wonderful new friends here and most days I'm not even homesick for Hope Valley. I feel awful…"

"Honey? Just because you have new friends here in Regina doesn't mean you don't still love your old friends. They are probably missing you and want to make sure you know they still love you!"

"But I feel guilty, like I replaced them…"

Nathan handed Allie the handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and sat next to her on the sofa. "I've found that there are different seasons in our lives, Honey. Those different seasons include different people. Some we will remain close to for a very long time, others not. You know Uncle Gabe and I have been friends for many years even though we haven't lived in the same town. I know I will always have his friendship and whenever we are together we just pick-up as though we haven't been apart. There are others, like Uncle Bill and the Coulters that I'll probably always be friends with. But Mr. Mike? Probably not. I still appreciate him, I just don't think we will keep in touch now that I've moved." Nathan placed his arm around her shoulders. "I think that Jon Samuels might be a new, but lifetime friend for me and maybe Sally for you? We just cannot keep everyone as close forever. Do you understand, Honey?"

Allie nodded. "I guess so. I still feel a little guilty that I don't think about our Hope Valley friends every day though."

"Allie? There is something else. Remember when we talked on the train? We mentioned that for those left behind there is an empty spot where you once were. But for you, you've had the excitement of new opportunities, experiences, places and people. It is understandable that your old friends will feel differently than you do now." Nathan glanced at the mantel clock. "Would you like to open one more card or shall we keep them for later or for tomorrow?"

"Maybe one more? But this is from Regina!" Allie turned it over in her hands. "Who would send me a card from here?"

"Oh my! Dad! It's from Jared!" Allie opened the flowery card to find a leather bookmark, embossed with a pattern of lily of the valley. Inside the card Allie read. "A very sweet birthday to a very sweet person! Happy reading, Jared." Allie's cheeks turned a sweet, rosy pink and she held the bookmark to her heart, as she reread the sentiment.

"That is a very nice thing to do, Allie. You like that Jared thinks you are sweet, eh?" Nathan nudged her arm. "I have to agree with him! Here." Nathan held out the charm bracelet and fastened the clasp around Allie's extended wrist.

"Dad? Don't tell anyone, please? I like Jared a lot, but I don't want everyone to know."

"Sure, Allie. Your secret is safe with me." Nathan stood and straightened his waistcoat, making sure his shirt was tucked in and his necktie straight. "You may want to wipe your face with a cool cloth after crying? Then whenever you are ready I will gladly escort my fifteen-year-old daughter to her birthday dinner!"


It was unusually quiet when Allie and Nathan entered the Collins' home. Nathan took her coat and hung it with his on top, then turned and offered her his arm. "Shall we? They must be in the…"

"S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALLIE!" A chorus of excited voices, interspersed with some giggles, resounded through the dining room. "SURPRISE!"

Allie stood in the doorway in shock, eyes wide and mouth open. She gripped Nathan's arm as if she needed support to stand!

The room burst into excited questions and comments. "Are you surprised?" "You really didn't guess?" "It was so hard to keep it a secret!" "Sally almost gave it away at lunch…" "Sally? I almost gave it away in Homeroom!" "Isn't this fun?"

Allie looked at her dad. "You knew about this all along didn't you?"

Adeli slipped her arm around Allie's waist. "Knew about it? He's been planning this for weeks and he and Uncle Bill decorated this afternoon after Gramma Carol and Bill made the cake!"

Whipping her head around, Allie exclaimed. "You…? You planned this?" Tears threatened her eyes, she felt so loved.

Nathan blushed slightly, but nodded. "Well, you only turn fifteen once, Allie-girl."

"That's so cute!" Katie commented. "Your Dad calls you Allie-girl!"

Nathan nudged Allie. "Would you please make the introductions, Honey?"

Finding her voice, Allie slipped into hostess mode and introduced her school mates to her father, Uncle, Aunt and Gramma and Grampa Collins.

"Everyone, this is Naomi. And this is Katie and this is Sally and her sister, Rachel and this is Ellie! This is so amazing… You all look pretty too!" Allie observed her friends' party dresses and swished her skirt. "It's fun to dress up in something other than our uniforms, isn't it?" With that the six girls were fully involved in conversing and laughing, admiring each other's dresses and wanting to know all about Allie's charm bracelet.

Looking like the proud father he was, Nathan took it all in. He then kissed Adeli and Carol on their cheeks, then shook hands with Bill and Peter. "This is great! Thank you all for all you have done to make this day special for Allie!"

"We love Allie, so it was our pleasure, Son." Bill exuded some family pride as well. "Remember I said she was half the reason I wanted to visit!"

Adeli leaned against Bill sideways. "And what was the other half? Hmmm?"

Nathan laughed to see Bill at a loss for words. "You are on your own with that one, my friend!" Nathan winked at Adeli.

"Help a fella out here, Nathan. Come on…" Bill pleaded.

"Oh, I don't think so. You have two choices as I see it, insult me or insult this beautiful woman. You are on your own!"

"Just as I thought." Bill smirked. "No lifeline from a friend. In that case I chose you, my dear." He kissed the top of Adeli's head.

"Good answer, Bill." Adeli kissed his cheek.

"Well for now it is, but was that the original intent? Would changing your plea mid-stream hold up in court?" Nathan smirked and shrugged.

"I will neither confirm nor deny." Bill snapped back with a grin.

Peter chuckled loudly at this exchange. He had never seen this witty banter from Nathan and it was amusing.

"I think we need to help Carol in the kitchen." Nathan nodded and added with a stern expression and sparkling eyes. "Bill…."


Once everyone was seated, with the younger ladies holding court at one end of the table, Nathan stood. "Let us pray." He extended his hands to Peter on one side and Adeli on the other. "Heavenly Father, Thank you for this special day. Thank you for Allie, this special young lady who means so much to each one of us. I pray for your blessing on her. Guide, provide and protect her. May she continue to honor you and be a blessing too.

Thank you for this home, for our cooks, for this meal and for each one gathered around this table. We give you the praise, Lord God, and together we say,"

In unison everyone said, "Amen."

The adults were amazed at how engaging the young women were, participating in conversations with the adults, asking questions and enjoying the company of the entire table. Nathan had thought they would want to talk amongst themselves but was so grateful they were all so polite.

"Sergeant Grant? Please tell us a funny story about Allie!" Sally requested.

"Oh dear. I can't really do that, but Allie,if you want to start a story you don't mind sharing, I will contribute." Nathan winked at Allie.

Peter and Carol grinned at each other, taking note of Nathan's thoughtful parenting. It was their turn to be proud!

"Ummm… It's okay to tell about my first day of school in Hope Valley. Just let me tell them what I said about my teacher!"

"If you are sure…" Nathan raised his eyebrows as Allie nodded.

Nathan began to weave the tale of Allie wanting to enter the class on her own. He proceeded to explain how he went to meet her after school and the teacher said no new student was present that day. "She offered to help me and we searched inside and outside of every business in town until Mrs. Thornton asked me about the things Allie liked to do and asked, 'Fishing?' She nodded over my shoulder and as I turned here comes Allie, proud as can be that she had caught our dinner. When I asked her how school was today, Allie said…"

"Take boring and multiply it by ten, or something like that." Allie grinned while her girlfriends looked shocked.

"Yes! I then asked Allie how she liked Mrs. Thornton and she didn't know who I was talking about so I explained she was her teacher. Allie's response was…"

"She smelled like chalk!"

"Allie, you didn't!" Naomi exclaimed.

"Oh, she sure did. I then said, 'You do know this is your teacher, Mrs. Thornton?!' She was standing right beside me."

"What did she say?" Ellie gasped.

"Allie?" Nathan grinned.

"That she would see me in class the next day, right?"

"And that was Allie's first day of school in Hope Valley."

"Didn't you get in trouble?" Rachel asked.

"Well, of course. I had to help skin the fish and wash the dishes by myself. But the worst part was, Uncle Nathan was really disappointed in me. I had to apologize to him and to my teacher the next day."

"Wow. You were lucky, Allie. I think I would have been grounded for a week!" Naomi commented.

"Now that is exactly what Allie would have wanted, right? Staying home, out of school for a week?" Nathan laughed.

"You were full of spunk, Allie!" Bill reminisced. "But eventually you became your teacher's favorite student and won the hearts of all your fellow students and the townspeople as well."

"Wow!" Sally looked at her friend with new admiration.

"Is anyone ready for a second helping ladies?" Carol handed a serving dish towards the ladies' end of the table, while motioning for Nathan and Bill to help themselves to the platter and bowl in front of them. "Just save a little room for dessert, please?"


While the men gathered the dishes and put them to soak in the kitchen sink, Adeli stirred the hot chocolate and Carol made tea. On one of the trips out of the dining room Nathan overheard a couple comments.

"Did your teacher smell like chalk?" "Was she old?" "Your dad is funny." "He's really nice!" "He's really handsome too!"

Nathan blushed and smiled. The girls and their comments reminded him of his sister and a memory surfaced of a tea party Colleen had hosted with her friends when they were young.

Carol had to repeat her question twice as Nathan had been distracted. "Nathan, do you want to carry in the cake?'

"Uh? Oh! Sorry. Sure!"

Adeli was just finished lighting the fifteenth candle so she and Carol slipped into the dining room as Nathan lifted the cake. In his beautiful tenor he began to sing and was joined by the rest of those gathered.

"Ohhs" and "Ahhs" accompanied the arrival of the cake and Allie was thrilled.

She didn't tell anyone until many months later what she wished for as she blew out those birthday candles, but it was a most unselfish, loving wish and prayer that surprisingly came true.

After enjoying pieces of Allie's favorite carrot cake and many compliments to the baker and decorating duo, everyone retired to the living room to share gifts. Allie felt somewhat overwhelmed knowing what she had already opened in the Cottage, but she asked Grampa Peter to write a list so she didn't forget anything.

From Gramma Carol and Grampa Peter, Allie received a table easel and some small canvases. This would be a working easel so the easel that belonged to her mother could continue to display her mother's paintings in Allie's bedroom. From Aunt Adeli and Uncle Bill she received new paints and brushes.

Allie opened gifts of fancy carved-shell hair-combs from Naomi, a fabric case with a miniature hairbrush, a mirrored compact and pale pink lipstick from Katie, a music box from Sally and a cross necklace from Rachel, and from Ellie Blake, a desk set with matching pencil holder, letter holder, notepad and a box with a compass and small ruler inside.

While Nathan and Peter washed the dishes and Carol put them in their proper places, Adeli and Bill led some party games.

Knowing it was a school night, when it was time to finish the celebrations, Nathan had all the girls collect their clothing and school bags and they piled into the car to be taxied home. Allie came along for the ride and as Nathan and Allie returned home, Allie spoke up. "Thank you, Dad, for the most wonderful birthday."

"You are very welcome, Honey. I am so glad it was a success."


(*19) Paraphrase of I Timothy 5:18a

(*20) I Timothy 5:18b, King James Version, Public Domain