Happy birthday Zoe

Thanksgiving

It’s a happy day
I thank God for the weather
It’s a happy day
I’m living it for my Lord
It’s a happy day
Things are gonna get better
Living each day by the promises of God’s word…

This is a song I sometimes sing to Zoe in the morning. It was truly a happy day to thank God for the weather as 18 August 2007 in Belgium was a beautiful sunny day – not that frequent in Belgium!

Zoe was in a very joyful mood when she woke up, singing and clapping her hands… I am reminded of the verse that God spoke to me the week before her birth –

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with Hois Love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

This verse had encouraged me at a time when Zoe was in a breech position and seemed to be headed towards a caesarian birth. I believed that God was watching over both of us and was rejoicing over her birth. Now, one year on, we rejoice at God’s faithfulness for watching over her first year and granting her good health and spirits!

Morning Walk

Seeing the fine weather, we decided to bring Zoe to a nearby park to have a walk and visit the animals there.

Since our trip to Prague and Germany, Zoe has been practicing walking by making us hold one of her hands and walking with her to wherever she wants to go.

Today, Jan decided to let her try walking on her own a little… Zoe was too excited to notice herself taking her first steps on clover… (see clip)

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get too close to the deer and rabbit – they were very shy and ran away from her.

Zoe’s encounter with ducks and geese was enhanced by a boy coming to feed them bread. The ducks and geese rushed towards the pieces of bread and gobbled them up greedily.

Zoe has learned that a cat is called “Poes” or “Pu” as she calls them … She was thrilled to meet a friendly cat in the park.

There were lots of things to explore in the park, but not enough time. Zoe picked up a pebble and also a thorny chestnut xxx and then we headed home for lunch and her afternoon nap.


Birthday Party

We organized a very small tea party for Zoe in the afternoon, followed by a dinner with Jan’s family.

Zoe had a fantastic time at her tea party, playing with balloons, opening presents and eating a selection of fruit, cereals and snacks. She was soon playing happily with her new toys and walking around with her guests…

She also took some steps on her own towards Papa! (see clip)

Later in the evening, we presented Zoe with her first birthday cake garnished with mixed fruits, cream and chocolate sprinkles. Zoe was entranced by her cake and reached out enthusiastically for the fruit… Strawberry, red berries, kiwi, passionfruit, peach, nectarine… She ate almost everything on the cake!

After enjoying her cake, it was bedtime for Zoe. I prayed for her that her next year will be a time of growth in experiencing God and that she will grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Praise God for a blessed day!

(Jan is putting together a slide show and some VDO clips...so see a few days later!!)