Forty

A few weeks ago I got this card in the mail.

I laughed out loud, especially given that my brother-in-law, Dennis had sent it.

But when I read it, I cried. Katie had bought it for me.  How nice of her to think of me ahead of time.  (and for Dennis being organized enough to remember and get it sent!)

So what did I do as I sped past that milestone?

My wonderful husband had thought and thought (although, probably not very hard because he is very smart :) about what I would like to do on that day.  And then he planned accordingly.

He arranged for a sitter so we could out to breakfast and then to the temple. Not much could be better in my opinion. 

It was such a good temple visit.  While there, I contemplated,  reflected and pondered.  How have I done on my journey in mortality thus far?  Am I where I should be?   Am I progressing sufficiently?  Am I spending my time and other resources on the things that matter most?  Is my life acceptable before God?  Those were hard questions.  I concluded that while I'm so very far from where Heavenly Father needs me to be, He has definitely made much more out of my life than I would have by myself.   That was a satisfying conclusion. I also committed the remainder of my life to Him.  I will do my best to serve Him.  

After the temple I went and got a much needed haircut.  While I got my haircut, Tom picked up my 'cake'--a dozen cookies from Smart Cookie.  (Yay!  So much better than a cake!)  Then we came home for lunch because I had so many left overs I wanted to get rid of.  We were just heading out to go shopping for a few new clothes when we got a call from Caleb.  He was on the bus on his way to a XC meet and he couldn't find his spikes (shoes for the race).  So we headed over to the high school where he left them and Tom looked in both of his lockers, around the gym and other places Caleb directed, until he found them---in a friend's truck.  By that time it was time for us to leave for the race so shopping was postponed.  After the race, I went to the RS's Fabulous Friday and helped people make cards.

Later in the week, we eventually got out shopping.  Tom wanted to get me a new Sunday outfit but I talked him into some frumpy mom clothes. (They make the work that I love and do everyday so much easier.) He wanted me to get more, but I wanted to save money so we ended at that. (It was for my birthday, after all!  And he already had got me some new blinds for my back door and a canvas to paint.)

Here's to many more years of learning and growing and happiness!