The Power of Love

September 21, 1978

September 21, 1978

I shot up from my original lying down position in bed. I let out a slight yell of alarm, then placed my hand over my chest to try and calm my beating heart, and let out a heavy breath. I looked around anxiously and let out a breath of relief when I finally could see what- or more like who- had scared me awake.

KJ and Sky were both on their hands and knees on the surface of the bed, Keith sat on the edge of the bed, laughing hysterically at the entire scene that had just played out in front of him. I wondered if the whole "wake Rain up and scare the living daylights out of her" plan was all his plan at that point. I loosened up a bit, anyway, and let out my own laugh. KJ and Sky had large smiles on their faces, and I couldn't help but smile at their happy faces.

"Happy Birthday, Mama!" KJ grinned, exposing the empty space between two of his bottom teeth, where'd he'd recently lost his first tooth.

"Happy Birthday, Mama," Sky repeated happily, and held out a sunflower in front of her.

I gently took the flower with a smile, then opened my arms wide. "Come here, you two," I smiled. The two both rushed across the bed and against me into my arms, and I hugged them tight to my torso, making sure to make a mental note of how this felt for the future.

Keith stood up from his spot on the edge of the bed, then next to me. He leaned over and planted a small kiss on my right temple. I gave a small smile as he said, "Happy Birthday."

I personally never got excited about my birthday. It wasn't that I didn't like it or anything, I just never really saw the point in making a big deal about it. It just wasn't my thing. Sure, I cared a great deal about other people's birthdays, just not my own. Like I said, my own birthday was never a big concern to me. And ever since I got married and had kids, I didn't have time to care about my own birthday, but rather just focused on all of their birthdays.

But I'd be a liar if I said I didn't appreciate those little birthday things they'd do.

"Well," I yawned once my heart was beating normally again, "That's a way to wake up, huh?"

"I'd say so," Keith agreed with a laugh.

I looked over at the clock and my eyes widened for a moment when I saw that it said 6:50am. "Did you wake them up?"

"I was already awake," KJ cleared up, "And Sky woke up by herself."

"Alright," I breathed out, "Well, since it's early, and it's Thursday, two of us have work, one of you has school, and one of you has to go to Grandma till I leave work."

"The flower," Sky reminded me, pointing to the single sunflower that laid on my bedside table.

I looked over at the flower, then back at Sky as I picked it up. "We can all go down to the kitchen, and when we get there, we'll get some water for the flower. How's that sound?" She nodded happily at my idea, and I gave a small smile.

Both KJ and Sky got up off the bed, then me and Keith. KJ and Sky ran out of the bedroom together and in the direction of the kitchen, Sky doing her very best to keep up with her big brother. I took the flower gently in my left hand as they ran out and got up from the bed. I started toward the exit of the room after the kids but stopped and jumped up a bit when I felt a hand grab a hold of mine and pull me back. I let out a slightly alarmed yelp when I was spun around once, then collided against Keith's torso, his arms around my snugly.

"What in the world was that 'bout?" I chuckled.

"I didn't want KJ and Sky to see," Keith shrugged.