January 11

I turned 47 today. In the past, I've wanted to spend at least part of my birthday alone, but that wasn't the case this go-round. Maybe it's because I'm gaining wisdom with age or maybe it's because my kiddos are growing up so quickly that I want to savor every moment I have with them, but I wanted this birthday to be a family affair.

I awoke this morning to find my coffee and a beautiful bouquet of pink roses on the kitchen table. When she pattered downstairs, Abby slipped me a handmade card featuring a drawing of one of my childhood faves, Strawberry Shortcake. I love her cards; she's a talented artist (whether she believes that or not) and the accompanying notes are always sweet and heartfelt. 

I lingered over my drink for a while playing Monopoly Go before Adam's parents stopped by to drop off a gift for me. (I think my Hello Kitty pajama pants provided Adam's dad with his first good chuckle of the day. He tried to mask it but I'm pretty sure he was amused.)

When lunchtime rolled around a little later, we loaded into the car and headed over to the Cheesecake Factory. I also decided I wanted to go bowling, so we did that as well. I didn't exactly dominate, but I did well for me so I was pleased with my two-game total. Isaac was the big winner (although I'm pretty sure Adam didn't really start trying until halfway through the second game). 

Then we stopped by Safeway to get a cake mix (chocolate) and ice cream (raspberry chip), and the Mother Ship for my birthday freebie (a brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso, which I'd had before and enjoyed so it seemed like a safe bet). And then it was back home, where I dozed in my chair until the Ravens wild card weekend game started. We watched them beat the Steelers over a selection of cuisine from Domino's, pausing once for presents (all of which are wonderful and creative and useful) and once for cake and ice cream. As is his custom, Adam loaded my cake with the correct number of candles, and by the time I extinguished the resulting fiery inferno, about a third of them were little more than nubbins on the surface of my chocolate and peanut butter confection. (Thanks to Abby for the frosting and Adam for the baking.)

And now, a few hours later, I'm sitting in my chair again, half watching a Lifetime movie (and mulling changing the channel because it's simply not as good as the flick Abby and I took in a few days ago) and half reflecting-slash-typing. The boys are upstairs; I imagine Brady is asleep and Isaac is either watching YouTube or playing a video game. Abby is in her room packing her things for her return to Wheaton tomorrow. Adam is asleep in the next seat over. And Lambie is next to me.

And I am officially 47. It's been a great day filled with blessings; time with my family and Corvette sightings and lots of laughter (including my own guffaws when I opened a garden hose from Adam that we'd seen advertised on TV). I feel loved and appreciated and celebrated, and I don't think I could ask for much more from a birthday.

I don't know what 47 will be like for me, but I'm grateful for the people around me and for the time I have with them. Life isn't always easy, but it's always a blessing, and I am grateful for my brand new year.