Tender Mercies

Has anything ever happened to you that made you think, "Heavenly Father did that just for me"?
Not because you somehow deserve it, but merely because He knows how happy it would make you and more than anything He wants to see you happy.
Just because He loves you.
Well, let me tell you, I feel He has given me my share of tender mercies and then some.

The best of all?
Hands down, KATHY!
Who is Kathy, you ask?
She is my latest tender mercy from my Father in Heaven, just for me.
(OK, Kent, you can share her with me!)

Kathy and my dad dated and were married in 2003.
Kathy was a ray of sunshine, her laughter was contagious.
We all immediately fell in love with her.
She loved my children (I only had Doodle and Beano back then) and was so good to them.
She would invite me over during the day to make cookies and bottle grape juice and watch Jane Austen movies and just play.
She was the most amazing cook.
She invited us over for dinner many times just because she knew how much Mr Bird loves steak, so she'd through a few on the BBQ just for him, along with all the mouth watering fixings!
About a year later, their marriage ended in divorce.
I was heart broken.
I could not understand what had happened (it's probably better that I don't).
In fact, my relationship (or lack thereof) with my father has dwindled to almost nothing.
I'm not saying that happened because of their divorce, but, well I don't really know what happened there. Suffice it to say things are not the same.

But then the tender mercy came.
Mr Birds' dad was ready to start dating again. He remembered Kathy and about a year earlier we had mentioned he should contact her.
So he did what any gallant available bachelor would do.
He looked her up on my facebook friends list and sent her a message.
And she responded!
Soon they could not stop chatting and talking on the phone and traveling hundreds of miles to see each other. It became apparent that the only thing left to do was marry her.

And marry her he did!
We are all the happier for it.
His house feels like home again for the first time since Mr Birds' mom passed away.
She has brought with her the warmth of her spirit and laughter rings in the house again.
She is back to her tasty tricks.
The kids love her already.
She lets them get up on the counter and make cookies.
Really, is there anything better than making cookies with grandma?
Ask my children, they consider her grandma already.
I really am thrilled that Kent found someone to love and to make his life full again, but let's be honest.
We all know Kathy is back because Heavenly Father knew I needed her!
(don't worry Kent, I'll share!)