Happy Birthday to me 2016

This is gonna go down as one of the best birthdays of my life. I've shared in this blog about my birthday princess issues and how miserable they make me and the people who live with me. I think I've identified a solution. I just leave the home. 1. Birthdays are never going to be that big of a deal to the other people who live here. 2. It's practically impossible to meet my Birthday expectations if you are one of the people who live here. So these two opposing forces need some space, not forever, just until the danger has passed. As luck would have it, my nephew was having his mission farewell on one of my birthdays (the traditional date as opposed to the legal date) I also had some business in Provo so I went on a trip. I was focused on the planned activities and didn't even remember it was my birthday but was surrounded by loved ones who would surprise me with a birthday wish and I was filled with gratitude and happiness.

There was a little excitement on Friday morning when I didn't get on the first flight to SLC. I had given my son a ride to the airport for work where we parted ways, him to the gym and me to my gate. As he left I thought to myself, "I'll bet he's glad he doesn't have to worry about me anymore now that I'm in charge of my own travel" As I sat looking at the board realizing there were many people in front of me on the standby line and not many seats available, I contemplated my next course of action. At that very moment my phone rang. My son was still worried about me and my travel and helped me list on a flight to Phoenix barely within the time limit. I hurried to the gate (in Atlanta that means, took the train and walked a mile) and easily got a seat. To top it off, I easily got a seat to Salt Lake City from Phoenix. Thanks, son, Happy-day-before-my-birthday to me.

 Arriving late to Salt Lake City I rescheduled my appointments and went about solving my transportation problem. My daughter was free to pick me up from the airport at the original arrival time of 10:30 am, but had a class at the actual arrival time of 1:20 pm. I had taken the $35.00 shuttle before, but had not yet experienced the $6.00 Trax/Frontrunner option. It was a beautiful day and I had spent $20.00 on clothes the day before so chose to brave the Frontrunner. It actually was very easy and got me to Provo in about the same amount of time as waiting for the shuttle, and I visited with some very nice people on the way. Happy d-b-m-b again, not to mention that I was just so darn proud of myself for conquering my unknown public transportation fear.

My daughter did have time to pick me up from the Provo train station and it was lovely to see her. I then confiscated my car that she uses and tried to meet with one of the people I had postponed. That evening we had a really nice get together at my niece, Amy's, home. There were so many fantastic people there; Amy, Brandon, Josh, Emma, little Jack, Amanda, Ben, Trevor, Jack, Gwen, Rebecca, Megan, Mary, Kyle, Katelyn, and Mitchell.  I just love being with my family, The weird thing about it was I was so busy talking I didn't take one picture. I know that's not like me at all, but trust me, the night was fun. We jump roped and tap danced and sang and looked at baby clothes and ate cookies that were so rich that you could only eat 1/16th at a time even tho at first I thought Trevor was just being stingy ;) Then I went to see more people I love, John and Stephanie Stoker. My heart was bursting from family happiness and Happy-day-before-my-birthday celebration.

My legal birthday began with a morning at the Provo City temple with Mary, Megan, Amy and Kyle. There was almost a blip in my happiness when I couldn't find parking anywhere, anywhere and it was about time to start, but then I did, and my people had saved me a place and I was back in Happy legal Birthday business. I did remember to take pictures of this magical morning.

Then Megan and I went to delicious lunch at Joe Vera's. I've been thinking of the salsa for days. And  we got delicious fried ice cream because, you guessed it, Happy legal birthday to me.

Megan went with me to my appointment and then we rewarded ourselves with BYU creamery ice cream. May I recommend their lemon sherbet? And we slipped into the BYU bookstore for a little nostalgia and a couple of crucial purchases that may or may not have involved candy.

Then Megan headed north and I took a nap to prepare for an exciting evening of BYU Dance in Concert with more awesome people. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of our cute cousin Gwen and her friend from Iowa.

And did I mention I got a legal birthday cookie from the Pita Stop because Rebecca had pocket points from the program that rewards college students for staying off their phones while at school? Best legal birthday ever.

My traditional birthday celebration started with a trip to Idaho Falls for Kyle's mission farewell which was the main event, but the Jones' are birthday champions and surprised me with the most delicious cake, a gift, a song, more nieces and nephews (Ashley, Erin, Jed and Matthew) and a perfect 20 minute party. What more could a girl ask for?

Then it was Kyle's time to shine. He gave a wonderful talk in church. He's such a solid guy. He'll make a great missionary in Tampico, Mexico. After church the family gathered and we ate tasty pulled pork sandwiches and savored the final times with Kyle . There were a lot of highlights that day, but my favorite moment was when we were driving away with Kyle's sister Katelyn. Traditionally the siblings run to the corner waving to the departing family member. This day was no exception. It was so darling to see the little sisters, but then when Kyle, the missionary, came running up the sidewalk in his shirt and tie waving for the last time for 2 years I was overcome with emotion and gratitude for the love in this good family. Then Rebecca and I drove home to UT with Katelyn, Mitchell, and Elliotte. When these lovelies began singing hymns in harmony I thought to myself, "Another birthday present.." My life is blessed.

I thought my adventure would end with my hopping on the red-eye to Atlanta, but apparently a Doterra convention wreaked some havoc on flying standby anywhere from Salt Lake City. But I had had such a fantastic weekend, I still felt happy.

Monday morning started the flying fun, but I knew life was going to be okay when a passenger who had been bumped the night before and given food vouchers bought an extra breakfast so as not to let the voucher go to waste. I was the beneficiary. Happy-day-after-my-birthday-to-me. At the 11:00 flight to Atlanta I was blessed, not to be a passenger, but to watch my son at work after spending a little time with him. And do you know what he did when we walked through the gate to the plane? He turned and waved to his mama. My heart melted, thanks for the beautiful after birthday gift.

 I was still having a good day, just not having any success getting home. It was getting to the point where I was calling for people to take my place in the spots I had previously thought for sure I would be standing on Monday and Tuesday. At 3:00 pm a flight opened up to Las Vegas. That may have been the wrong direction, but guess who I got to spend a little time with? Love these amazing people.

As far as I'm concerned that was just more Happy Birthday. And then I flew to Cincinnati and then Atlanta and after 3 days back at home I'm still the birthday girl. My husband just took me on a wonderful date to the Mexican Restaurant and the movie, "Sully." (an excellent choice)  So the princess lives, but there was no birthday tantrum. Here's to many more years of gratitude. I just hope there is another event for me to attend next year until the danger has passed.