"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can."
-- Neil Gaiman
There were plenty of reasons to celebrate this week! First, it was my birthday! Second, my sweetheart, my handsome hubby and I turned another page as a married couple! 21 years, to be exact! We married the day after my birthday. I hit a gold mine when I said "I will" to my guy! He's my rock. He's my world. I only hope and pray that my girls find life partners that are half as wonderful as their daddy (and Chelsea's step-dad) is. One can hope. He scared me so much that it took him 3 times to propose to me before I finally said "yes!" By scared, I mean in truly the best of ways. I had been down the matrimony path once prior, and, well, it left much to the imagination - those fairy tale books were way wrong! Prince Charming isn't always so "charming" and after a year of marriage I made my escape plan, and implemented it. I didn't trust many people after that experience. It opened my naive, girlish eyes to the world. I know my own girls will make much wiser choices in life, especially since they have a loving father that cherishes them and a mother that loves them fiercely. A strong foundation of love is key, in my opinion, in making lasting, healthy life choices. True love conquers all!
We had a snowstorm (a nor'easter) just in time for my birthday on Wednesday! Oh boy!! Quite a difference from last year's birthday celebrations in Florida! Mother Nature left us snowbound for the day, and ANOTHER day off from school! My beloveds treated me like a Queen! There was breakfast in bed, handmade cards and singing! It was all pretty fabulous until "Lucy," our cat, decided she wanted in on the fun and sprang onto the bed and landed squarely on the breakfast tray, sending the fresh, hot coffee flying in all directions! Never a dull moment, I tell you. Never.
The girls and I enjoyed a lazy day together. I kept the fire going in the wood stove just in case we lost our power, which is commonplace in our neck of the woods; and I did coffee-soaked laundry. Later that night, once Kurt was home from work, we had a Chinese feast complete with all our favorite delicacies and hot tea (no champagne for me - I'm coming up on 4 years of sobriety).
There was time for us all to enjoy sparklers on the deck in the backyard! I think a new birthday tradition was born! Of course, I had to bring my ol' trusty, Sony a99, along to capture the light! The family also obliged me in my request to play a round of Harry Potter Clue! Seriously, I love playing board games with my beloveds. They make it so fun and their personalities shine forth! Our Emilia won the game! There were shouts of joy!!
A birthday wouldn't be complete without cake + ice cream and it was scrumptious!!! We wrapped up our quiet family evening together -- bellies full, hearts full, ready to take on another year! Birthdays, I've found, are a roller coaster of emotions for me (you too?), but with my family's steadfast love; wonderful, generous hugs and kisses; and thoughtful encouragement -- I am able, I am strong, I am loved deeply. And that, my friends, is the best gift I could ever receive.
