One of the Best Birthdays Ever!!!

On August the 4th, 2010 I turned 47 and I enjoyed the whole day!

When we are kids there is always an anticipated party or gift or something you have to wait for all day.  Well I think the reason this birthday was so wonderful is that I had no expectations and I was grateful for each little thing that happened throughout the day.  My goal:  to follow this plan for every day the rest of my life – no expectations and grateful for each little thing! 

I woke up enough to know that Tom, Tom, was kissing me goodbye on his way out to meet with and early morning prayer partner.  “Happy Birthday” were the first words I heard. 

I was grateful.  Grateful that he remembered, that he kissed me, and that I could stay in bed and sleep as long as I wanted to. 

But I didn’t sleep much more than about an hour when the sun came up and I chose to enjoy the few minutes of coolness outside.  My gift to me: a nice clean and detailed car.  The heat and my early months of pregnancy have been keeping me from gifting myself with this for too long! 

I was grateful.  Grateful that the sun didn’t get too hot before I finished, that the car is so much more pleasant now, and that I still felt good enough to be pleasant when Tom came home. 
 
Next was catch-up time with Tom.  We shared some scripture together, a letter from a sweet friend, and a little nap.  (Naps are frequent for me now that I am a baby factory in the height of production).

I was grateful.  Grateful that we could talk together, cry together, and enjoy the cool air-conditioning on this warm day.
As Tom went to a lunch meeting with a business partner, I headed down the street to a nail solon to get a pedicure!  This is my occasional form of pampering myself and what better day than on my Birthday!?  They even gave me a discount after seeing that it was my birthday on my ID.

I was grateful.  Grateful for the pampering, the message chair, the much improved toes and feet, and the discount, of course.  I am also grateful I learned to say “thank you” in Vietnamese.  “Com on bon”
Early in the afternoon I was able to finish up some reporting that was due for our work.  Yes, this does not sound like fun or something one would want to do on their birthday, but…

I was grateful.  I get lots of satisfaction by a task being completed.  Also I was grateful because it gets easier and easier each month. 
 
Later in the afternoon Tom took me shopping for some new clothes to fit my growing figure. 

I was grateful.  Grateful for my growing figure (never thought I would say that), and grateful that Tom was not in a hurry and kept saying that he was at my disposal - which he was until the store closed!
Pregnant women get to have cravings – I was hungry and craving ice cream by then. So after taking us out to eat, we grabbed some ice cream that was more than half off at the store!

I was grateful.  Grateful for the great food, sweet waiter, and the sale on ice cream (another thing I seem to get lots of satisfaction out of is a good sale!)
We enjoyed our ice cream while watching a PBS special on John Denver.  I like his music.

I was grateful.  Grateful for the ice cream, the memories and inspiration the music provided and the singing that Tom sang for me as we went to bed.
 
The last thing I remember about my birthday was Tom holding me till I fell asleep.
          I was grateful and still am for a wonderful day!