Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday!  29 . . . again?

Ok – so I’m not 29 . . .

I used to celebrate my 24th b-day over and over again (my favorite number and age). . . but it just started sounding bad when I would say “it’s the 15th anniversary of my 24th birthday!”

So – I became (and stayed) 29!

But I don’t know how many people are falling for that still.  I occasionally get a few comments from people who are surprised I’m not in my upper 20’s! . . . [They are my best friends now!  🙂 ]

Thank you Mom and Dad!

I am forever grateful for my parents on this day . . . not just because they “made” me and chose life for me . . . but because of how they raised me – all the tears, prayers, words of encouragement, correction and more!  I am so thankful that they did their best (not perfect – but as best they could) to be a representation of God’s amazing love for me . . . to show me what the Father’s love looks like – and to point me to the Father even when they didn’t represent him right sometimes.

I am who I am today because of God and what He has done for me in my life . . . and what He did through my parents in raising me.

I am who I am today because of the faithful, faith-filled and tenacious prayers of my parents.

I am who I am today because of grace, mercy and love.

Celebrating!

So – how did I celebrate this life I’ve been given abundantly?

Yesterday

My wonderful hubby took me out last night . . . on a “cheap” date!  🙂

[My practicality and frugality tends to be quite dominant in my life – no matter what my desires/needs seem to be at times!]

Our delicious appetizer, drinks and dinner at Outback Steakhouse came to a whole 12 CENTS (a $60 value) – thanks to a coupon and a gift card we got for c-mas!

To honor my love of double numbers [Don’t ask . . . it’s a long story! :)] . . . my hubby made the check total equal $12.12!  🙂  We jokingly asked the waitress what 20% of 12 cents was . . . but I think she “ignored” us!  🙂  (Don’t worry – we always tip well – on the original amount that we would have owed! Everyone should.  Yes – this is coming from a former waitress who made $1.05/hour and was stiffed or tipped poorly more times than I would have liked!)

We then went to see a movie (at the cheaper theater – with slightly older movies that are about to be released on DVD) – and my hubby enjoyed dessert (I was stuffed!).  It seemed a bit chilly in the theater, but it was FREEZING outside – so I didn’t think much of it.  At the end of the movie – the manager came in and apologized for the cold and handed us passes for another free movie!

Score!

As much as it’s fun to go to an expensive, fancy restaurant and theater sometimes . . . I still thoroughly enjoy having a GREAT time eating, watching a movie, laughing and talking with my hubby . . . and knowing we paid less than $20 for it all!  What a blessing!

Today

I started off crabby (my own fault for thinking I could sleep in with 5 kids that needed to get ready for school!) – but soon felt better once I kicked some imaginary butt kickboxing with Jillian Michaels – then sang my heart out in the shower to the soundtrack from the musical Wicked (my ABSOLUTE favorite!) before heading off for a coffee date with a young lady I am mentoring, where I replenished ALL the calories I burned off (plus some) with a Toffee Crunch Latte at my favorite coffee shop!

Oh yes – and on the way, God threw “confetti” from heaven . . . just for me . . . to celebrate my birthday!  🙂  Thanks God – the flakes of snow were beautiful and made me smile from ear to ear!  🙂  (Though – in 4th grade, He threw a bit too much confetti in our little town in Minnesota . . . and the blizzard caused my b-day party to be cancelled.  I think it’s the only time I cried that I couldn’t go to school!)

After my coffee date, I had a fun and laughter-filled lunch with my parents at a little Mexican restaurant . . . where the waiter told me that the only thing free I could get for my b-day was “water . . . and chips.  But eat-in only . . . not to go!”  🙂  He surprised me later by sneaking up behind me and putting this sombrero (which felt more like a bucket) on my head while I was reading a b-day card – and then sang Happy Birthday to me!

And when we got the bill – we just laughed at the sheer “luck” at what our total said!

All day long I’ve been telling people that I am the “reciprocal of my b-day and my favorite age and number!”

And here is what our total was . . .

I know it is weird . . . to be happy or excited about strange “coincidences” like this (especially over numbers).  But I have always liked numbers – from the time I was little (yes – I was a weird child . . . counting everything, even the number of pieces of Life cereal in my bowl each morning . . . just because I was curious as to how many pieces I was eating!  Or trying to count “how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop?”  [Who remembers that one?  C’mon – who else tried it too?!]) . . . so I find it just amusing – and like God is smiling down on me – watching me find and “open” the little surprises He has for me throughout the day . . . with the snow, good coffee, friends, parents, and awesome double, triple (see the 2.22!) and reciprocal numbers!  🙂

[Ok – you can say . . . “Lori . . . you are one strange chica!”  I’ll still love you!]

So . . the day is not done.

My kids are filing in from the bus stop and wishing me happy birthday – giving me hugs (as their present!  I guess they are frugal too . . . and know how “priceless” hugs are!), pouring a glass of Caramel Machiato iced coffee for me . . . and maybe I’ll get a back or foot rub from my 10 year old son who is reading over my shoulder right now!

Oh wait . . . I think he is running away!  🙂

Actually – he’s now squeezing my feet some!  🙂  What an amazing (and responsive) son!

After dinner we are going to watch my 2nd son be inducted into the NJHS!

And on top of it all . . . I’ve been enjoying the tons of “Happy Birthday”‘s from my friends on Facebook!  Thank you guys!  It’s made me smile!

I think . . . No, I know . . . I am a blessed woman – and I am enjoying this abundant life God gave me and died on the cross to give me to the best of my ability!

I am blessed!

What is your favorite Birthday memory?

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