I don’t want the black balloons and/or funeral themed parties for any of my birthdays. Ever.
All of my birthdays call for rainbow balloons and glitter and sparkles and funfetti.
The higher the number, the more glitter and sparkles I say.
And the number is no secret – you can hire someone to put it in skywriting if you like.
I’ll gladly take as many years as the Lord will see fit to give me and celebrate them all.
I can actually remember being upset when I turned 30 – bahahahahaha! – but then my amazing friends threw me the best surprise party at Habaneros and we had so much fun that I didn’t even care anymore – not even when I found my first grays two days later.
This fabulous memory happened at that party:
To know Ryan and to have heard his delivery of that line. . . It was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. . .
As I’ve written, Ryan went to the other side, not too long after his 50th Birthday last year, and it has been so so hard.
Since we lost him so unexpectedly and heartbreakingly, I am remembering to add extra funfetti to the birthday cupcakes and say extra thanks for each year.
My health struggles this year have not been pretty and our family has experienced a great deal of stress. As a result, my rheumatoid arthritis has worsened significantly. Even my celiac disease, which has been stable since 2012, “flared” at one point, in the form of a GI bleed. We are working on sorting out things in our home now, to reduce stress and bring back the usual harmony, which will be better for all of us, and I am still working with my doctors to contain my disease process. I am also embarking on 6 month program of my own, making holistic changes to help myself.
More than anything, though I never imagined that I would have to stop nursing at this point in my life, I am so grateful that I am able to be home with my family, be involved in my church, graduate nutrition school this May, start a new business, spend time writing, and have so many amazing things to look forward to.
Even though it is different than what I thought my life would be right now, it is wonderful. God always has the best plans. Sometimes they just take time to all work out. And I know they all will eventually.
So, my wonderful husband came home from work – super tired, no less – and made me these fabulous GF cupcakes:
After some sleep, if this viral flu crud is still with me tomorrow, it will be a PJ’s & Plague, Watch Disney Movies and Celebrate, Sparkly Birthday. And that will be okay too.
Here’s to 39.
New degree, new business helping people reach their goals, new year working on my own health, more fun stuff to get into, more opportunities to serve and love like Jesus.
Leggo.
Be well, everybody.
Grace and blessings.
the autoimmune hippie. 