39 and loving it!

This was the beautiful box my birthday present came in. I tried to put these pictures at the end of this post, to go along with the storyline, but I messed up somehow and can't move them-so u get a preview of the ending LOL This is the beautiful ring that was inside the box. Isn't it lovely? I love it! :)

Today is my 39th birthday :)

When I turned 38 last year I had a "uh-oh" moment thinking "only TWO more years till I'm FOURTY!" But after about 6 months I got my mind turned around and decided I'm going to embrace this. I'm a 39 year old woman who loves her family and is blessed beyond measure by God through my family. I love my husband (who I've shared with you before about being the man who brought me to Christ and his awesome "studliness"), and I love my two adorable sweet girls! Who could ask for more?! Not me. But I AM even MORE grateful and blessed that we all have good health and we have the Lord in our lives to help us through each day (and year (: ). So who am I to worry about "39". I personally treat it like a badge of honor.

My goal when I was younger was to have climbed the corporate ladder successfully and have a happy, settled family by the time I was 35. Things "shifted" just a little (we started our family when I was 30-so my kids were still very young at 35-in fact I think I was pregnant at 35-so my "family" was still "new" and not "happily settled" as I had imagined. And , after a shift in my career goals, I didn't land at the corporate headquarters as originally planned, but I was happier and still successful in my job until I "retired" in 2004.

So, to me, turning 39 is a badge of honor. I reached all the goals I had set, and then some. More than I could have imagined back when I was 21 yrs old making those goals. God is amazing, and I thank Him every day for the life He allows my husband and I to live. We have a roof over our heads, our kids have food to eat and shoes on their feet. Life is good. So, for me, I say

"39 doesn't scare me... Happy Birthday to Me" its a GREAT day! I look forward to many more great years with my family in the future :)

Let me tell you about the wonderful time I have had celebrating my birthday...

You can see from the previous posts, I had lots of fun doing my $10 shopping with two GREAT friends! Then I had a fabulous time out with my hubby for dinner/shopping/movie. But I have to share with you some of my "thoughts"...

I like to pick out my own jewelry (and quite honestly, MOST of my presents-does that mean I'm a control freak? :) possibly). Anyway, a local jeweler was having a half-off sale this weekend (thurs-sat). So even though I had already gone and bought myself a new watch for my birthday last week (I say W actually got it for me since she was with me when I found it and bought it LOL), I stopped by this jeweler after the gym on thursday to see if they had anything fantastic since I was sort of looking to get another anniversary band to either wear with my wedding set or put on my right hand. I had already gone back to Israel Diamonds and hadn't found anything that got my attention, so I figured what the heck. I don't want to pay "retail" after knowing I can get "wholesale" at Israel, but if its half off that's about wholesale price anyway so it might be a decent price I figured.

So anyway, I stop in and look at every item in every case. Then I find it. Its beautiful. Its a right-hand diamond band with a row of princess and baguette diamonds in the middle, then on each side is a row of smaller round diamonds. Its white gold and its stunning.

Now, I've bought "$100" jewelry for myself, and I even bought the watch for myself. But I don't buy "big" jewelry for myself. My husband has to buy those for me because even though I do pick it out and "hold" it with the salesperson. Its more romantic if he goes to get it and gives it to me :)

So, I give the guy my name and tell him that I hope by hubby will be by to get it. He writes down the code on the ring so he'll know which one, yada yada yada.

So I go home and tell my husband that even though I already bought my birthday present, I have JUST THE THING that he should get me for Christmas, but he has to do it by Saturday because the sale only lasts till then. He laughs and tells me I'm dreaming and he's not buying anymore jewelry for me, especially right now with this economy. I don't take "no" for an answer though-do I ever? (sometimes I actually do) But anyway, I continue to give him the occasional hint that its really pretty and he could pick it up on his way to meet me for dinner Friday. He says I'm crazy and I kinda think he really isn't going to get it. I'm a little sad. But I can't pout, because I love my hubby and our love is more important than trinkets.

Then Saturday rolls around, and I start "dreaming scenarios" in my head.

Maybe, since we drove separate cars again, and are meeting up for dinner. He'll have gotten the ring, and surprise me at our "birthday dinner" at this nice restaurant.

It was a fantastic meal and great restaurant experience. But no ring. Bummer.

We head to the mall and then a movie, then home to bed. I am exhausted after this full day of run, run, run, fun fun fun.

Then in the morning he wakes up early (as usual) and is trying to entice me to wakeup. I'm sleepy and tell him since its my birthday he should rub my back if he's "so awake" so I can rest and sleep. He of course does convince me to wake up, and then proceeds to tell me I should go to the bathroom....

where I find, the beautiful purple box pictured at the beginning of this post. I of course say its so beautiful I need my camera to take a picture of just the box LOL , so I take my pictures and he humors me while I shoot away.

He's so sweet, he really DID surprise me. I had it all planned out, but he did it HIS way, which actually does make it even more romantic. :) Thank you honey! I love it, and even more importantly, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXO

But even though we already celebrated my birthday yesterday, TODAY is actually my birthday. Dan makes me a yummy breakfast then we head to church where I am overwhelmed by all the birthday well-wishers. So sweet! We then went out to lunch with a large crowd to celebrate not only my birthday, but Rick's birthday, and to "send off" Brandon who is heading out to pioneer a new church in another town. We had a fantastic time with friends and family. Thank you all for making my birthday so special!