I Feel A Change In the Wind ...

Thirty has arrived!

I had an amazing birthday week, I must admit. There was a lot of stress leading up to it, and I had a lot of worry about how things were going to work out financially and time-wise, but it turned out very lovely - and I had a WHOLE WEEK!

The best thing - the absolute BEST thing! Was having my friends here. I had friends travel down from Portland, up from Medford, fly in from Ohio, and bus from Missouri! I am obviously well, WELL loved.

To me, my birthday time started Tuesday at lunch time, when my Caleb arrived from Gresham. He had not been able to get the days of my party off (heartbreak!) but he came down on his days off, and spent all the time with ME. <3 It has been over 18 months since I have gotten to tell Caleb, "See you tomorrow!" That was such a huge, huge, HUGE blessing.

As I said, Caleb arrived around 12. We went out to lunch (because there was no food in the house), and went to Winco for birthday groceries. There were a LOT of groceries to get! I was a bit stressed out too, because I wasn't sure about cost, how much money I would have, and just how many groceries DOES it take to feed 40 people? (The answer is: a lot.) After shopping, we came home and enjoyed the window air conditioner in my house for awhile. (There has been an UNCOMFORTABLE heat wave through here, and it was going strong on Tuesday!) Then I dropped him off at his dad's, and drove his car to work. It was SO NICE to have a car to drive to my second job. Knowing that I don't have to bike, and that I won't be a burden to anybody is SO relaxing! Work was easy that night, so that was nice too. ^_^

After work, I came home. Shani and Caleb were waiting for me, and we all went out to see Monsters University! Shani and I had seen it a few days previous, and REALLY enjoyed it. We knew Caleb would too, and he did.

It was hard to separate when we got home, but it was so wonderful to say, "I will see you tomorrow, Caleb."

The next day, Caleb came over after breakfast. When Shani woke up, we all trouped to Costco for the rest of the groceries. We had JUST enough cash to buy them! (Thank you, Jesus!) Then we went to Walmart for the plates, (again, just enough money), finally came home, loaded up ALL the things into our car, and drove to my parents. When we arrived, Kim and Alex were already there. We had been running a bit late, but since Kim has ALWAYS been late, I knew she wouldn't mind.

It filled me with warm fuzzies to see Kim and Alex there. I've known them longer than I've known 75% of my siblings! It was so GOOD to see them! We all worked on setting up the party, preparing food, cupcakes, decorating, hanging lights, and of course, JUMPING IN THE POOL TO COOL OFF! It was still REALLY hot, so the pool was very enjoyable.

Catherine and her boyfriend Kevin came over to do a small dancing lesson. Sadly, there were several injured people who couldn't participate, but the rest of us were good eggs and enjoyed trying a spin, even if some people felt they were really uncoordinated at it!

We parted ways late at night. (It's hard to leave good friends!) The next day, was my BIRTHDAY! Oh my goodness!!!!! Caleb came over, we loaded up the REST of the things for my birthday, and drove back over. Caleb, Shani and I began cooking lunch and decorating. (For example, filling a MASSIVE jar with m&m's. It's still half-full and sitting to my left. :3) Kim & Alex arrived around 12, with Brian arriving shortly after. We got lunch all set up, and ready to eat by the time my family got home from the parade.

It was very, VERY strange to be "the grown-ups," working in the kitchen, preparing food, setting the table, and doing all the things we used to watch our parents do for gatherings. When we were little, it seemed like a horrid chore, and getting roped in to "helping" was the WORST thing that could happen! But we really enjoyed it. It was fun! How strange.

We enjoyed lunch. I was really proud of the food at my birthday. It was not horridly-bad-for-you greasy food. We had angus burgers on wheat rounds with lots of veggies (avocado, tomato, spinach, onions, etc), baked french fries (because I LOVE french fries!), and a fruit platter of deliciousness. We also enjoyed Henry Weinhard's sodas. I knew from last year I wanted them at my 30th, so Mum & I worked hard to get them.

My Caleb had to leave, as he had work in Gresham at 4. I missed him terribly, but I am so grateful for the time I DID get to spend with him. It was SO GOOD to see his face three days in a row. AS IT SHOULD BE.

Then we did a bit more set-up for the open house. It was important to me that there be a display of the things I've done, books I've written, art I've done. As I set it up, it reminded me I have accomplished a LOT in my life. The stuff I've accomplished hasn't been lauded abroad, as it were, but I have done many things of worth and value, even if they're not famous.

I was so pleased by the people who dropped by. I got lots of cards from people who COULDN'T make it too. ^_^ (With money! WHOO HOO!) The 200+ mini cupcakes Shani made were a hit. The lemonade was good too. (I'm a big fan of lemonade. Heh.) It was nice to see how I mattered to people - mattered enough to travel and visit or send me cards. It was good.

Sammie, my student who popped in for the open house, got invited to stay for dinner, which made my sisters go mad with glee. She was also really excited because she got to meet "Minty." Lisa even brought mustaches for the girls and signed them. They were in HEAVEN.

Dinner was EXCITING. Of course, something had to go wrong, right? Well, the rice cooker at my family's is DEAD. But we didn't know this. When we tried to use it, it didn't cook the rice, and then it was late, and then we had to dump it in a pot, and then it was all gooey. Also, making kabobs for 40 people is a lengthy process, even with all the things cut up and marinaded already.

We had tofu kabobs, and chicken kabobs. I had vegan friends coming, vegetarian friends coming, and friends who would flat-out refuse to NOT eat meat, and would go buy a hamburger. *facepalm* Hence the double kinds of food. Heh.

When dinner FINALLY was ready, we ran into another problem ... I hadn't really processed or understood how exactly to SERVE 40 people ... Fortunately, my amazing brother Peter and wonderful Aunt J. stepped in and helped out! Aunt J. has lots of experience as a waitress, and Peter recently took a job at Olive Garden as a server, and he LOVES it. He stepped in, and organized it, and served. He even dressed up in his uniform, complete with apron! The serving went off beautifully, and I'm so grateful for what they did. It really made things beautiful, and helped me relax and not worry.

People came in masks, fancy dresses, and also tuxedo t-shirts. Heh! That's one of the things I love about the people who love me - they're all so wonderful and different. ^_^

There was ONE good thing about dinner being late (not that it mattered, since everybody was full of m&m's, mini cupcakes and lemonade), Gypsy and Rin were able to make it down in time for dinner! Yay!!! Ria, sadly, couldn't come, because she came down with a migraine. :( Sadness.

After dinner, I gave a little speech, thanking everybody. I know it's cliche, but it was really important to me to thank the people who had come, because I only invited people that loved me, and that had demonstrated that love to me through how they had impacted my life. I wanted to share with those who made it how much they meant to me.

It's so easy to not thank someone for something, and before you know it, it's too late. I don't want to go through life regretting missed opportunities for expressing gratitude!

We were all too pooped for dancing, but we enjoyed the cake Alainna made, and the cheesecake Isaiah brought!

The fairy glen Peter, Carolyn and I set up was lovely in the darkness, I must admit. We strung twinkle lights and LED candles in mason jars in the plum trees over the (dry) creek bed. It was so pretty in the darkness. Sadly, it was too windy for Rin to do a fire-eating/breathing demonstration (next time!) But we all enjoyed ourselves.

People left late that night, and I went home tired, and very happy. Aunt J. stayed the night at our house. In the morning, she and I went to Olive Garden to visit Peter, but sadly, his tables had JUST been filled. We went over to the mall and got Orange Julius and Wetzel's Pretzels instead. Then we swung by walmart to grab some hot dogs, and went back to my parents' house.

At my parents, we discovered my LAPTOP (which I am typing on now!) had arrived! HURRAH!!!!! What a perfect ending birthday present. ^_^ I had substituted for several months for our English teacher after he suffered a stroke, working overtime (and WAY maxing out my schedule. @_@). I agreed to do it, mentioning that I was saving up for a laptop. (My "computer" for the past 5 years was a mid-90's model, patched together as a "temporary measure" since my computer from college died. It expired a few months ago, and was replaced with another "temporary measure," which ALSO didn't work. For someone who needs to do a lot of work ON a computer, this was NOT good.) I was really excited.

But instead of opening it up, we all loaded up, and drove out to Lynx Hollow. Isaiah, Kim and Alex were there waiting for us. Zach came along with my parents, and Sam (poor Sam) was TRYING to find it, but was horribly lost. She eventually go there with instructions from my Dad. We spent the afternoon lazing about in the sun, in the water, on chairs, chatting and eating chips, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and, of course, eating more m&m's.

I got another birthday present there. Zach, Sam, and Alainna had all pitched together to get me a present. Zach couldn't come on the 4th, so they waited to give it to me until they were all together. It was a Doctor Who sonic screwdriver SET! It came with inter-changeable pieces to design your own screwdriver. Ewan was impressed and kept wanting to play with it. Heh.

I was really blessed with birthday presents this year. I don't have "favorites," but it was so sweet to see the different things people brought to express their love for me. It was a unique revelation to see how each person loves and thinks of me differently. I'm so blessed with all the love in my life. <3

Aunt J. had to leave to get back to Roseburg, and we loaded up around 6. Shani and I had agreed to take my parents and sisters out to see Monsters University as a surprise treat for them. Kim and Alex, of course, came too. Having my friends close for so many days ... I realized again how much I miss them in daily life. Having them there every day is so RIGHT and good.

I think I would be perfectly happy in a commune with all my friends with me every day. <3

After tidying up some more birthday party at my parents, we all piled in to the pick up to meet Shani (and Kim & Alex) at the movie theater. They really enjoyed it!

Monsters University is OBVIOUSLY a good movie, since Shani and I went to see it three times in 8 days or something ... Go watch it!

Saturday, I went to church practice, and then spent the afternoon relaxing. Late in the evening, Kim and Alex came over for a final hurrah before Kim flew back to Ohio. (Poor Jeff couldn't get off work to come. :-/ It is wonderful that I like my best friend's husband as well as I do!)

I feel well and truly launched into my third decade. I remember visualizing what "thirty" would be like, and it's so very different from what I anticipated. But it is good too. I have so many people who love me very, very much. I am a hard worker, and have many skills I have used, and will use. I'm excited about my life!

My sunday school teacher wrote me a lovely card in response to her invitation, and she said, "30, 40, and 50 were my best years."

I'm looking forward to the years ahead.