Happy 46th Birthday!

Well...I reached another level! Level 46! I have to admit that I'm a little more excited and feeling a little more settled in this new year of life. For whatever reason, last year hit me a little hard. It was a year of serious reflection on my life. I guess you could say I was going through my mid-life crisis. I wondered and worried if I had done or was doing enough. Should I be pursuing more education? Should I return to my career? Should I switch gears altogether? These questions (and others like it) ebbed and flowed throughout the year...but I still came back to the feeling that I needed to be still...at least for now. My greatest legacy will be the relationships I nurture in this life (although I am definitely not perfect in those either)...not the degrees I gather or the accomplishments I achieve. As I read the letters that the kids wrote to me on Christmas, I experienced a sense of confirmation of what I had been feeling all year. Perhaps one day I will return to school. Perhaps I'll return to my career. Perhaps I'll pursue something entirely different, but right now I feel like I'm where I need to be - loving and serving my family. So as I approached another year of life, I was ready to embrace it. Just like in years passed, I didn't just embrace it on my birthday....but for days before (and some after)! This year, I sandwiched (although not originally planned) between two trips. What better way to celebrate than doing what I love? Traveling! For Christmas, Jeff gifted me a trip to the Florida Keys. I had already been to the most southwest, northwest, and northeast points of the US, now I would be able to check off the southeast too. We decided to take the trip the weekend before my birthday. I then planned to come home to celebrate my birthday with the family the weekend after...but then Krystle reached out with another travel opportunity that Jonas and I couldn't refuse (Jeff was more than happy to sit this one out) - Disneyland! We would come home from the Keys on Tuesday, March 3rd then take off to California with the Tanners on Thursday, March 6th. This meant that I needed to bump up my family birthday dinner to the weekend before we left for Florida. Saturday, February 22nd, I woke up to 4 dozen roses and a sweet note from Jeff. He then took me out for my traditional birthday brunch at the Communal, which was delicious as always. Afterwards, we walked down to the Provo Bakery to pick up my cake. 

Sunday, February 23rd, we hosted a birthday dinner with all the kids and grandkids. That morning, Jonas got up and made me breakfast. I love how aware he is and how willing he is to spoil me. He gave me a homemade gift certificate for a lunch out with him to Magelby's. In the evening, Jeff and Jonas (with some help from others) made my traditional birthday dinner - ranch chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I've had the same meal (with a little variation) for my birthday since I was a kid. I've had the same dessert for decades too. I didn't always have lemon cake as a kid, but I have since I've been an adult. Carter and Everly gave me pictures that they had painted with water colors. Laurin helped them write notes on the back. Like Jeff, I don't need anything for my birthday. I just want to be remembered...and the kids made me feel seen and loved. I feel pretty lucky.

My actual birthday was on Wednesday, March 5th. Usually I watch Carter and Everly on Wednesdays, but Laurin only had to work two days that week so the nanny watched them. This left my schedule open to collect a few food freebies. Jeff laughs at me because I do this. I've done this since I was a poor young adult. It was just something fun to indulge in. I rounded up a few and even found time to get a quick pedicure. Nothing too over the top...just something fun to celebrate the day...now on to the next adventure!