Happy Birthday To Me

Yesterday was my 31st birthday and boy did we celebrate. Ran surprised me with a birthday party at 8:30 in the morning. He and the girls were sitting at the dining room table when I got up. All dressed up in their party hats. It was so cute. They sang and blew their noise makers. Then at 8:35 a.m. we ate cake and opened presents. The girls thought that was the absolute best thing in the world. The girls and Ran got me a new pair of-much needed- tennis shoes. I have been wearing the same pair for 3 years and they make my feet hurt so bad. My mom came by for a quick visit and so did my friend Robin and her daughter Lauren, aka Lara Carrot. A few people called with happy birthday wishes. One of those being my dad. He is so sweet. It has always tickled me when he calls like that. Ever since I got married, he has called me on my birthday to sing to me. Now you must know that my dad is NOT a singer and he is also NOT one to talk about his feelings, but he IS VERY tenderhearted. SO when he called, I said, "Hello" and he began singing, but he couldn't finish because he was trying not to cry. And he does this every single year. God bless that man. He has such a love for his family and his children and grandchildren. We give him a hard time sometimes because he is such a crier. I love that about him. And I am just like him in that respect. I too can cry at the drop of hat. Last night, Ran, the girls and I went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse, no they didn't do the YeeeHaw thing. It was a really great day.
It seems like every year when birthday time comes around you begin thinking back over the years and your life. This year is no different. Over the past few days I have thought about where I have been and what I want to be. I know that there is much work to be done, but I am definitely becoming more secure in myself, my beliefs and my decisions, and realizing the importance of family. I can tell that in the last few years I have stopped looking so much to others to validate what I feel. I can also tell that I am entering into the period of my life that I am feeling accompished and as though I am actually making a positive contribution to the world. I guess part of that comes from being a mommy of 2 year olds. They are getting to the age that I can see some of the fruits of my labor--notice I only said some. My mom has often told me that she didn't feel her age. I now know what she means. Age isn't a number it is a state of mind, and there are moments that mind is 16 again--ha,ha. Wouldn't we all love to go back to that time when we are still under our parents wings of protection? If only we could have truly understood how good we really had it back then--no bills, no responsibilities, no worries.
Someday, the girls will be 31 and reading this. I pray that their lives will be as full and joyous as mine. Like those trendy t-shirts say "Life is Good"