Surprise!

Hey Everyone! I just wanted to share this very special video with all of you. I have already posted about how wonderful my b-day was and then on Friday night (2 days after my b-day) I got probably the biggest surprise of my life!

I started my day on Friday with a day of vacation. I had breakfast with my kids,(Hope, Hannah and Ben) and my two buddies Renea and Mary. It was awesome! What a way to start the day with sweet fellowship and good food. Then after I took Hannah to school I headed to my appointment for a one hour massage. Oh my goodness...that girl can work wonders on a body! lol! It was so relaxing and made me feel rejuvenated and ready to shop! lol! I then left and came home re-washed my hair, touched up my make-up and went and had my toe nails painted. Then off to Greensboro to shop with my gift cards. I got a new dress, shoes, work out clothes and even stopped in Cold Stone for a strawberry shortcake Serenade!! WOW...what a day! I went by to show Renea my dress and then headed home. Doug took me to Monterey's for Supper and then we went to watch Hannah play ball. I have NEVER been on a ball field when the wind was blowing any harder or having any stronger gusts of wind. It was AWFUL! I was soooooo cold. It was the 1st game in all her years of playing that I watched part of the game from the car because I just could not stand the conditions. I couldn't wait to get home and get warm!

We pulled into the garage and I was the first one to the door leading into the kitchen. I opened it to the light being flipped on and people shouting Happy Birthday and SURPRISE!!! Well, that in itself was so sweet and touching but WAIT...it gets better....much better. You see my childhood best friend lives in Georgia, Danita, and I have not seen her for about 9 months! (That's to long by the way!) My 2 sweet precious friends, Renea and Mary along with my husband Doug had been planning this party and my special surprise for a month. Within a couple of minutes of me arriving at my party the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and recognized Danita's number. I said (as you can hear in the video) "She'll talk forever" and wasn't going to be rude and make my party givers wait but they said "Oh she knows and just wants to be a part of the party" so I answered. We talk for a few minutes and then she asks me to hang on....I do....meanwhile she is coming from my bedroom closet down the hall to appear from behind me and touch me on the elbow. My reaction is delayed because I really couldn't process that she was really here. I was in TOTAL shock!!!! But once it clicked the rejoicing began!

The video captures it as best it can but only the Lord knows how full my heart was of joy. Pure joy! Our hearts are so tightly knit together and I miss her so much that her visit for my 40th b-day was definitely the missing puzzle piece that made it perfect. To think of her sacrifice to drive almost 450 miles on Friday to see me for one full day and then turn around and drive it by herself back to Ga is so precious and I feel so honored. Not everyone can say that they have friends like my sweet Danita, Renea and Mary but how blessed I am to say that I do have them in my life! Those two girls were as happy for me and Danita as we were to see each other. They love me like Christ wants us to love each other...preferring one another and to be self-sacrificing. Thank you girls.....thank you soooooooo much! I pray I can be a blessing to you all as you have been to me.

Enjoy the video.....some have said it could win me $10,000. I'm just glad at 40 I can jump like that! lol!

How blessed I am!

Today is my b-day, and by this world's standards a pretty significant one. I am 40 years old today. There is a lot of hype about this birthday. I've heard people say that they are depressed on this birthday but I am totally the opposite! You see I have the BEST girlfriends and family in the world and they made my 40th b-day a hoot!

My best friend in GA started celebrating my birthday 40 days ago! She has sent me a card for the past 40 days with sweet messages, funny lines, and pictures from the past that have been such a joy to receive! These days the mailbox only holds junk mail or bills both of which are not very much fun so receive an actual greeting card for 40 consecutive days was a treat! Then yesterday she sang Happy Birthday Eve to me...lol and 15 hours out she started sending me a text every hour on the hour telling me how quickly my new age and entering a new decade was coming! lol!

My two best friends in NC snuck into my yard and placed black "Over the Hill" signs for all to see today. Wasn't that a blessing? lol

Mary came this morning a little after 7 and brought me a gift and card and delivered her very own b-day hug! How sweet!

Doug woke me up by singing to me and had my towel laid out with the sweetest b-day message ever and had my coffee ready for me in the kitchen....he is such a keeper! Both the girls had made special cards/letters for me. Hope cleaned my bathroom from top to bottom while I was at work....such a GREAT gift!

A sweet sister from church called this morning and sang to me and sent her greetings of love.

The girls at work gave me a gift card and made me a cake and one of my customers brought me a balloon and a card.

My future son-in-love Ben called and wished me a happy birthday this morning...how sweet!

My dear friend Julie in TN texted me and wished me happy birthday. Lots of FB friends left their wishes. I got a text from my niece Audra and one from my 2nd daughter Kaylea (Danita's oldest) An customer from the bank I used to work at called and wished me well.

Tonight at church many had sweet things to say and my dear friends Kathy and Terry Miller gave me the most beautiful hanging basket. Renea brought me a cupcake from "Delicious"...yummy!!! and a gift card to Dress Barn.

Whew! I'm sure I've missed someone but you get the jest of just how blessed my day has been. I may be a year older, I may be in a new decade, and I may even be "old" to some, but I am also loved and for me that is the most precious thing we can experience in this world. It was like a gift to me from the Father. For years satan told me no one loved me, I wasn't "worth" loving but I know better. God created me and has loved me always! And what a "handful of purpose" it is to know that I have so many people in my life that love me too.

Thank you Father God for this b-day and for all my friends and for the joy and love I've felt today.

Thank you friends for all your special touches on my b-day and on my life.

I love you all!!!