Last night, as I was enjoying a quiet dinner to celebrate my 45th birthday with The Mister and the kids, there was a thought bubble hovering over my head that said: "It doesn't get better than this."
I mean really.
I never knew it would be so good by 45.
- In the morning, my kids and husband woke me up with a serenade, coffee, and pastry.
- In the card from my teen daughter and teen son, they wrote, among other things: "You know the correct ways of raising children, and we will never become 'stupids' or stray onto wrong paths of life."
- In the card from The Mister, he wrote, among other things: "You have gotten cuter."
- I had a GREAT workout with my super cool personal trainer, and then off I went to Jamba Juice to enjoy a peanut butter moo'd smoothie for lunch.
- After the smoothie, I spent most of the day figuring out how to write a pattern for a new crochet design with my stellar tech editor (for a new project coming later in 2013).
Family. Health. Meaningful work (with the smartest and most capable team) ...
So then after dinner at Lola Gaspar's, I told my family I wanted to go to the studio to check things out to prepare for Julie Balzer's class this Saturday. As we were approaching, I saw that the studio's door was slightly ajar and I thought: "OMG, somebody broke in!" And then as I approached, I saw a little pretty votive candle and I thought: "OMG, the interlopers are throwing a party in my studio!"
And then when the door was opened, I was greeted by my friends for a surprise party. OMG.
I've NEVER been so surprised.


Tracy Schultz made everyone laugh as she was placing the cake that Sarah Meehan had baked and got her hand caught on the cake, nearly causing it to fall off the table.

Other amazing treats were present ...




After it was over, I got home to work on some stuff, getting ready for the rest of the week and saw a new thought bubble hovering over me that said, "I'm one lucky girl."
I embrace 45. And next year, I'll embrace 46. I want never to complain about the years I've collected because without those years, I wouldn't have the experiences nor the relationships that I do.

This is as good as it gets.