Monday Morning Perk

Okay go here, read to the end. You WON'T be sorry!

And then go here. You will be oh-so-glad that you did!

Now go have a happy Monday.

And I will too.

My Last Birthday!

Well, it is official, I am not having anymore birthdays. (unless, of course some of my fabulous friends want to surprise me for my 40th!-- just kidding)

I just can't believe that this is my last "30-something"-- and by the way, none of the young bloggers out there probably even know that thirty-something was a crazy-popular show in the early 90's when I was a 20-something. I thought that 30-somethings were cool, but a bit 'old.' Ahem.

My day was very fun. I started with some great gifts from my family-- my camera had died in the morning... bummer.

We have a birthday tradition of breakfast in bed. It is great fun. We even do it when the kids are babies. The little kids learn early to help. The first jobs are usually wrapping the utensils in napkins, then they work their way up to mixing juice, unrolling sweet rolls and finally to actually cooking the breakfast. The pictures of these breakfasts, however, are reserved for our personal scrapbook albums, because while they are fun, they aren't always pretty! This year I got pancakes with strawberry and raspberry syrup (homemade), sweet rolls, sausage and orange juice. Yummy.


Then my sweet friend Kristy got some of my dear friends together for a fun lunch at Macaroni Grill. Yummy.

I loved it when the 'Baby Hunk' (I have to say that because I could be his mother!) sang, Happy Birthday to me in italian.

My Fab Friends

Looking around my table of friends, I was really touched by their never-ending friendship and support. Each and every one of these sweet girls either came to the hospital when Lilly was there, cooked for my family, brought us treats, remembered Lilly's birthday during her illness, visited us at home, brought Lilly gifts, or some or all of the above. It truly is a gift to have dear friends.


Johnny made me a super-yummy cake. This is not it. This is one of his other creations. It was a dense butter cake with strawberry-raspberry filling and frosting! Delicioso!

Finally, John and I went here:

And saw this:


It was a wonderful birthday.

The Good Life

Do you ever just have one of those days, weeks, years? It seems like getting on my feet is next to impossible. I have so many irons in the fire... and so little time! Or something like that ;-)
That reminds me of when Maddy used to get expressions mixed up and say, "I have something fishy swimming up my sleeve..."!!

But I digress-

For months I have been treading water to stay afloat. I feel like I have short-term memory loss, ADD, and... some other acronym that gives explanation to my behavior! Things that don't matter seem paramount and yet the obvious things that need doing go undone.

Do you ever freak out over the little things? And then later feel like you want to crawl into bed with your kids and hug it all away?

Do you do the laundry and not fold it?

Have you had three great books started and not been able to have the brainpower to stick with the storyline?

And then something happens. Like tonight.

I went to Young Women's and introduced the Young Women in Excellence program to the girls. We practiced a new song, the girls participated in the program, paid attention, laughed, sang to a birthday girl, and felt the Spirit.

Tonight, I am still in this disaster that I call my home, but now I am realizing that it is temporary. I really can clean it up, fold it up, throw it out, stuff it in-- whatever it takes.

I am thankful for those moments that put life into perspective and for the people in my life that put me into perspective.

Life really IS good.