The Great 38

My 38th birthday began with a pretty rainbow in the morning. I took it as my very own promise from God. My own little happy birthday message. :)

Gifts from Mom and Dad

With the boys in school and Derek off today, we spent the day together, just the 2 of us! I talked to my parents on FaceTime and opened their gifts while we talked. Their major gift to me is our upcoming trip to San Diego, but Mom always finds a way to wrap a few gifts for me and get them in the mail. :) She made me a small throw pillow, fall valances for my kitchen windows, and a photo book of Ginger at "Camp" this summer. :)

Derek asked me where I wanted to go for lunch and he laughed when I told him I wanted to go to our new grocery store's restaurant. They have good Chinese food there, and it's what I like! That was good enough for me. We had a fun time, just the two of us at lunch. I'm still getting used to Derek being home some days during the week. He's been on this schedule for a full year now, and I'm still liking it.

This afternoon we spent some time at Verizon so I could get a new phone. I've finally given up my basic phone and have a smart phone now. Woohoo! Derek's been asking me for years if I wanted a smart phone, and I've been putting it off as long as I can. With our oldest son now in high school I figured it's time for me to catch up on my technology a bit. :)

When the boys came home from school and Braylen finished football practice, we loaded up to go over to my in-laws' house for my family party. I can't remember the last time when I had my own party, since Braylen and I always share. It was a nice change for us to have our own parties this year. It's also special to share, so really I am happy either way. Mom and Pam prepared BBQ ribs, baked beans, sweet potato fries, home made bread, and orange pineapple tapioca salad. YUM! Thank you so much!

I love my husband!

What fun they have together :) See Braylen chilling on the couch?

Gathered around the birthday pie 

Derek surprised me with my gift this year--a smoker! I'm sure we'll get lots of use out of it, since we all like to eat around here. :) Kaleb and Aaron bought me some new Nike headbands. They do such a great job paying attention to the colors and styles I like. I feel very loved and blessed by my boys--all 4 of them! Earlier this week I spent an evening with a group of close friends to celebrate my birthday. I am amazed they made time for me, since this week is so busy with school starting and everything. It makes me think back to my early days in this town when I didn't have any friends here at all. I'm so thankful for my friends.

Here's my new smoker!

So, now I'm 38 years old. Hmm. I read somewhere that 38 is the middle of your life. On average, half of my life has already passed by, and half of it is still to come. I'm not sure how I feel about that. If anything, it encourages me to find the good in each day. To not waste any of it. To be a better listener and extend more grace to those around me. To live with an eternal perspective. I suppose if I do that, then 38 isn't so much "middle age" after all! It's just the beginning. :)