Birthdays... and Milestones

Yesterday I celebrated my 35th birthday. Typically, I am a huge birthday person. I love to celebrate birthdays... and I love my birthday to be celebrated. Week long celebrations are just fine with me. For some reason, I had low expectations for my birthday this year. It just seemed insignificant in light of everything else going on in our lives; building a house, having a baby (Jack is due Feb 24, 2009), and my retirement after the first of the year to be a stay at home mom. Then there is just the busyness of every day life.

Much to my surprise and delight, my birthday has turned out to be wonderful in spite of my expectations. The celebration started last Saturday as I lunched with my friend Andrea at the Cafe at the Modern. Andrea is the friend of a lifetime. We have lived many days together including BIRTHDAYS, (she is one week older than I am) crazy single days, working days, married days and now pregnant days. Then on Wednesday my boss and his wife took me out for birthday lunch to Brio, an Italian restaurant in Southlake. Together they champion my life and the choices Zane and I are making for our family. Wednesday also started the steady stream of birthday wishes and birthday cards. Yesterday was marked by phone calls, text messages, facebook messages and more birthday cards from sweet family and friends. Zane honored me with his words of affirmation and love in birthday card that made me cry and a special birthday dinner at Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana. Not to mention the beautiful flowers he sent to me on the Thursday and the gift of an IPOD which is a fun new toy. This morning I enjoyed "birthday" coffee with some of my dear friends. Last night over dessert, Zane asked me which has been the favorite birthday of my adult years. What a hard question to answer. So many birthdays... and equally as many "favorites." Indulge me for a few as I walk down memory lane...

On my 25th birthday, Andrea and Kristi planned an outdoor picnic at Andrea's house in Aledo. Everyone invited was to bring a "sack" dinner and one food item to trade. We played all the games that we played at birthday parties when we were kids i.e. pin the tail on the donkey. Many of my church friends attended the celebration. Kristi made and decorated a delicious homemade carrot cake, my all time favorite.

On my 27th birthday, Andrea and Kelly took me to eat at Macaroni Grill because I was craving tiramisu. For whatever reason this birthday seemed particularly hard and I was rather blue because I "felt" forgotten. Andrea and Kell were determined to celebrate in spite of my tears. That night, after small group at Christy's, there was a surprise birthday party with a few more friends. I felt rather foolish for having been blue earlier that day. I was not forgotten after all.

On my 30th birthday, several of my girlfriends planned a girl's only dinner at Michael's followed by a party at Andrea and Jamie's with 30 or so of my "closest" co-ed friends and family. I again remember delicious carrot cake, black forest cake and coffee punch. I also remember that my friend Robert gifted me with several books that I had loaned to him in pink Barbie paper. Oh and a Starbucks gift card. Funny and happy memory. I also remember this birthday as being the one in which all the office girls wore pink to celebrate me.

On my 33rd birthday, I had just started dating Zane. I was in Odessa the weekend before my birthday meeting his parents for the first time. They were so gracious and made me feel right at home. Louise gave me a candle embellished with crosses that is in our house today. Zane surprised me with the gift of a Coach purse (my first ever) and some tools for "writers" to encourage me to pursue my dream of writing.

Which brings me to this year. As I have reflected on 35 years and the milestones of each birthday, I am reminded above all of God's love and faithfulness to me through the family and friends He has placed in my life. There are too many memories and blessings to recount in a short blog.

So which has been my favorite birthday? Every last one of them. Every day, every year that I am privileged to walk with God and live life with friends and family is my favorite. As the Psalmist said, "My cup overflows... Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."