A YEAR OLDER...

Another Year!

Another Birthday! 

has come and gone!  But, in its wake has left wonderful memories and 

a heart filled with gratitude.  Birthday's have become precious to me 

and I'm thrilled to have seen another year and look forward with much 

anticipation to the coming year! 

However turning "65" is not easy!  I guess I am now officially a "Senior

Citizen"!  Do I feel "65"?  Actually, I don't have a clue as to what "65" is 

supposed to feel like.  So, I'll just go forward ignoring the number of

years and enjoying the age I feel inside (whatever that is)

My birthday started out crazy!  As I unlocked and opened the door to

my office at work I was greeted with silly birthday signs

posted throughout the room. 

I just stood there laughing knowing that Mark had been awfully busy since

coming to work.  Mark is our early morning bagger and we have worked 

together for 10 years and always joke about our birthdays!  (I'm getting

younger while he's getting older!) 

Placed in the middle of my desk was a bakery box holding a 

decorated "Texas Donut" with "Happy Birthday, Nola" 

written on it.  I was able to share it with Mark and the rest 

of the early morning gang.  Who says the work place can't 

be fun!

The surprises continued as I left work and arrived at home.  

As I entered the house through the kitchen door I was greeted with 

brightly colored balloons, a decorated kitchen table and a 

"Happy Birthday" sign.  Kerri, Ian and Kohler had been very 

busy!   (No wonder they called to see when I'd be finished

with work)  But, what fun for me!

Later in the afternoon the family gathered here for dinner.  I love 

being together and catching the excitement and enthusiasm of 

Hailey and Ian.  This year I decided to do something a little

different for my birthday.  Since Hailey and Ian love to help 

open everyone's gifts, I chose to give them their own presents 

to open.  While out shopping I found some great sales and even 

got that "Senior Citizen" discount on top of the sale price.  Ian

was absolutely bursting at the seams to open his present.  I had 

so much fun watching them tear into their gifts that I may do it 

again next year.

Yeah!  A dinosaur shirt and it glows in the dark!

Awesome dress, Grandma!

Think Kohler liked the bag more than the clothes!

Of course, being "65" I needed help blowing out the candles on my cake.

Blowing out the candles and making a wish is almost more 

fun than eating the cake.  Well, perhaps I'll take that back just this 

one time.  The ice cream cake was Heavenly!

We'll huff and we'll puff!

...And blow out all those candles!

My birthday continued and is still continuing to be special with 

the phone call from Myq (Thanks for the gift of your time, Myq, 

helping with the computer) gifts (some, I'm told are in the 

making and will arrive late), cards, phone calls, lunches, etc. 

from family and friends.

And because everyone made it so much fun, I think I'll stick 

around for another one!  Thanks a bunch everyone!!