Birthday Week is Over....

Birthdays are a big deal in my house. It's not enough to have just a birthday, but there's "Birthday Week" as part of "Birthday Month". My son Philip turned 7 on Wednesday. It's a great age and there is a part of me that wishes I was 7 again.

Not only did my son get a new bicycle, and a party from his parents, but his grandparents came in for the week and his uncle also came in for the weekend. They weren't just bestowing my son with love and affection, but more importantly, they came with gifts.

I'm very lucky that I am able to provide for my family, but I also wonder if we spoil my son too much. He's only 7, what does he know about how fortunate his life is. How lucky he is to have a home and food and toys and all that good stuff while many people do without. I try to talk about it with him, as part of my fatherly duties. I hope some of it sticks. I hope he realizes his good fortune and, in turn, tries to help those less fortunate.

I was reminded once again this mornig how lucky I am in my own life. We're doing these "MOTHER's DAY MAKEOVERS" on 9 NEWS NOW at 5 AM and 6 AM. We received almost 200 submissions(nominations) of moms who deserve a treat. Many moving stories of women who have fought all types of adversity to keep their families together. It was very nice to see the reaction on Sabrina Walker's face after all of the pampering she recived this morning. She has 2 kids of her own, but ended up taking in 5 more after the passing of her mom and then suster in the last few years. The oldest of the 7 children is now in college while the youngest is in kindergarten. This wonderful woman felt that she couldn't let these kids end up in the "system", so she had to take them in.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day crap and forget the bigger picture. I'm trying to remember that. I need to look at the BIG picture more than I do. After all, life is pretty good, especially around your birthday...