Feeling the Birthday Love

I'm overwhelmed with birthday LOVE!  It's hard to believe that I am 39 years old TODAY.  Trust me though, the crow's feet and wrinkles on my forehead which remind me of a music staff make me realize that I am one year closer to 40.  Advil and heating pads are my friends.  I have a recurring crick in my neck that I can't seem to get rid of (even after replacing my pillow).  I've worn glasses for two years, probably from the endless hours I spend playing Candy Crush and wishing I was as great as Amanda Warder.  I can only wear support shoes (like tennis shoes, flip flops with arch support or Easy Spirits) or my neck and back hurt.  My idea of high impact work-out consists of a mile on the elliptical and walking with my neighbor Jennie.  Yep, I'm 39 - that's my life, it's pretty average (and boring) and I'm okay with it.   I have everything I want.  Matt sent me this email (not sure who authored it) last summer, and I read occasionally to remind myself that my life is pretty great.

I live an entirely unexceptional life. Listen.
I'm a pretty average-looking 39 year old guy. I've got a decent education, but nothing out of the ordinary. I've got a decent job that I enjoy doing, but it's nothing earth-shaking. I'm married to a woman who means the world to me, but who has not thus far won either the Nobel Prize or Miss Universe, nor is she, I reckon, likely to ever do either.

I've got 3 kids. They're healthy and happy children who do fairly decently in school and have several hobbies they love. They mean the world to me too, but thus far none of them have won the Nobel Prize either, nor do I have any particular reason to believe that they will.

I've got perhaps a dozen friends that I love, and a larger count of acquaintances of varying closeness. I live in a perfectly ordinary Norwegian house, and drive a 12 year old Toyota that hasn't been washed this month.

None of this is exceptional to anyone except for me.

To me; this is my life; and I happen to enjoy it very much. Actually that is an understatement; if you'd told me a couple decades ago that I'd be as happy as I am, I'd have refused point-blank to believe you.

From MY perspective, I've got everything anyone could possible want. Health. Hobbies. Friends. and Love.

I'm not exceptional in any of these things; but why would I need to be ?

The rewards I desire don't seem unreachable to me. On the contrary, I feel like being alive right now, just like this, it is reward enough. What more could I need ?

I'm going to turn off the computer now, then I'm going to find a bottle of wine for when my wife returns later; and spend the 45 minutes until then playing the guitar. I do this because it's fun, because it's challenging, because I love learning and I love music, and because I can.

That's my life. It's not an exceptional one.
But my biggest regret is that I'm unlikely to get much more than 50 additional years of it. I intend to do my very best to enjoy every single day of it though.

Matt and Karson pampered me with a SOHO gift certificate to get my nails done.  Wahoo!

The boys both made me the sweetest cards.

 Isaac spent quite a while working on my card last night.  I didn't realize how much time and thought he actually put into it.  39 reasons I love MOM.  Love that he claims himself as a Momma's boy - makes my heart melt.  

 I got to celebrate with my family on Sunday (with my dad because our birthdays are so close) and got some nice gifts...

My adopted mom Vicky got me the cutest little flower pot.  My sister got me some wine glasses and a bottle of wine.

My mom got me these cute little bunnies - aren't they sweet!!

 

My mother-in-law got me a neat little lantern.

I got to work this morning and was flooded with love from my extra special co-workers.  Donuts are my favorite and welcomed me in the break room with a sweet card from the whole staff.  

 

My friend Jennie got me a lovely candy bouquet, and my friend Jess brought me a muffin from Spencer's. YUM!

 

My friend Deb played a trick on me and brought an empty Krispy Kreme box with a card in it but made up for it with a cute tumbler. 

 

My friend Lynn got me a great smelling candle, and my friend Sue got me some Bath and Body hand wash.  I'm spoiled and work with the greatest people on EARTH!  Totally!

I also had a dinner celebration at Griff's which has become one of my favorite places to eat.   

Capped off the night with a volleyball scrimmage at South.  The whole team ended up singing Happy Birthday to me =).  It was embarassingly awesome!

All my sweet birthday cards on the mantle.

I'm thankful for my life, my husband, my kids, my family, my friends and try each day to appreciate all the little things that I constantly take for granted. 

I truly feel loved and am going to hold on tight to numero 39 - the BIG one is next year!