top 36

of 36:

1. having my children and husband make birthday signs and love notes that were hung all over the house
2. the paper chain necklace that each of my children colored and cut out their own silhouettes for
3. reminders of why my children love me taped to my window and mirrors and door (i’m “loving, cute, funny, kind, caring, good disneyland vacation planner, elli’s mother..”)
4. ellison’s family home evening lesson she did all by herself on being positive (the irony does not escape me)
5. a homemade coupon book from nolan that i have already redeemed the “one long hug” coupon from
6. seattle sunshine
7. see’s candy x3
8. anonymous flowers delivered from someone who “knew i liked getting things in the mail”  hmmm….
9. a Facebook message from an old friend in high school that reminisced about the first time he saw me after he transferred to my school from a small town in another state.  he told me he thought i was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.  i wish i’d known that in high school, but i’ll take it 20 years later, too.
10. lots and lots of e-mails
11. lots and lots and lots more Facebook messages and notes on my wall and nice comments
12. 5 blogposts dedicated to me or with a shout out to me
13. my sister posting on her blog at my request
14. a spontaneous trip to the zoo with my kids and another friend
15. a free movie at the theatre on my birthday
16. having my kitchen cleaned spotless by some good friends and my children while i was at the movie with damon.
17. an e-mailed document that elli compiled that had a birthday message from each of the kids (so what that savannah’s message was, “Ummmmm.  ummmmm.”)
18. elli (got the box out) and emma (actually did the work) making me birthday brownies since i’m not a cake fan. 
19. elli and her friends eating all those birthday brownies today after school.  believe me, i’m counting that as a gift
20. dinner made by mandy
21. trusty birthday card with birthday money from in-laws
22. self portraits taken in the mirror
23. french toast for breakfast made by damon
24. melting pot and a girls’ weekend later this week
25. harry and david gift box of delicious treats
26. a beautifully designed one-of-a-kind necklace damon had made just for me (thanks for letting me steal your idea, sarah).
27. a lovely note from damon
28. messages scrawled across my mirrors and glass front door with window markers
29. laundry done and folded
30. getting to sleep in because it was a holiday
31. phone calls from my sisters
32. getting sung to by my family
33. a single text message from my text-messaging-fanatic friend
34. birthday hugs from my kids
35. crazy acknowledgement from just about everybody i know.  it’s like experiencing all the love and appreciation people have for me while i’m still alive.
36. just discovering (as i wrote this post) that #26 was generously gifted to me by the designer of the necklace- who doesn’t even know me.  thanks, kara.  i love it.

               
it was the the best birthday i have ever experienced.
thank you.