Joe had a birthday too!

 Joseph turned 40 on Saturday the 25th of February. 

He has been thinking of this particular birthday for years now,

for some reason the adding on of more years bothers him a little bit. 

Thankfully everyone in Erie made it a wonderful day for him, Grim Reaper and all. 

His awesome co-worker Sandy decorated his cubicle for him at work on Friday.

(Thanks Sandy!)

He took these pics from the camera on his computer which shows everything backwards- So 04 or 40, either way he has reached a milestone!!

They had a little celebration for him at work and allegedly the cake was amazing, lemon with raspberry sauce and cream. I guess I will have to become best friends with this cake lady and learn all of her tricks! He had us watch him eat the remains of the cake on Skype- it was so kind of him!

Speaking of Skype it really is such a blessing for our family right now, we get to talk together everyday and it is so wonderful to be able to "see" each other. I can't believe we didn't utilize it earlier-like 10 years ago (was it even around then??), it has only been about a year that we have been using it. I love just having him "here" in the room with all the commotion of our regular lives. Sometimes he will just sit quietly on the other end soaking it all in; we always seem to wish for the thing we don't have- he wants to be here in the commotion and I wouldn't mind some quiet solitude. But, as long as we get to enjoy these little moments together it makes it easier to endure the time apart.

The Sawatsky's, who he is staying with, threw a little party for him on Saturday and we got to join in the frivolity via Skype. It really is fun to be able to "meet" the people who are a part of his life right now, we are already indebted to them for their kindness and willingness to take Joe into their lives and help him feel like he isn't alone in the world.

To top off his amazing birthday celebration a group of co-workers from OSI got together and took him to a Thai restaurant where he was delighted to be with good company and to be able to consume such delicious foodies. I guess Sam from work, who is Thai, made him some egg rolls that were unbelievably scrumptious- so it looks like cooking lessons are in order for me once I get there! 

We always miss Joseph when he is gone, but we are so grateful that he is always surrounded by such wonderful people. He is starting a traveling Norwegian waffle campaign so he can get to know more people- he will bring the waffle iron and make the waffles if you will provide him company! 

I want to sign up on that list too- I call March 18th!