Momming Monday: Family, Forty, and my Favorite Things

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I turned 40 a week ago today. I already feel older, and I'm not kidding. I found a first gray hair at 39 years and 11 months on the dot. All of a sudden, about a week ago I started having what I think is either arthritis or one of those diseases you get from texting too much on the smart phone. I also must have lost some inhibition because I keep starting fights with strangers who don't know anything in the comments section of the Dr. Oz posts. I also got to have a routine medical scan for women that usually starts at 40. So there's that. I also have new ideas of fun, like going to Costco to by things that are chocolate in bulk. And vitamins.

Forty is pretty big. A year ago I would have said I would have wanted a plane ticket to go somewhere I'd never been or to visit old friends. I would have wanted a spectacular party with a beautiful cake and tons of people to hug. But things are weird right now and I'm not even sure I'm not weird right now. I was pretty sure I would be trading in those dreams, and honestly even those desires, for carry-out and some Disney+. It turns out I did get to celebrate. We did many of the things I ordinarily do on most of my birthdays, but somehow I was able to recognize just how special those things were. It almost felt like digging into a hot fudge banana split on Easter after giving up ice cream for lent. So far forty has included my family and some of my favorite things.

We started celebrating early. My birthday comes right around Labor Day each year so Dan and I typically take advantage of one of the off-season stay-cation deals at a resort or hotel. Dan found a deal at the Mission Palms Tempe off Mill Avenue and suggested we just bring the kids along this time. I honestly had some mixed feelings about being so close to ASU during a COVID spike on campus, but in the end we decided to take the calculated risk, with some proper precautions. We had a blast enjoying the pool. And the best part of staying at the Mission Palms is that it is exactly right across the street from my favorite restaurant in the whole world, Cafe Boa Bistro. Eating out is something we did fairly often, but having been out less than I can count on one hand since early March, it was almost a sensory overload. The smell of garlic and basil. The music and the candles. I worse a dress, did my makeup and ordered a freshly made rustic pasta dish that I couldn't pronounce.  And the most magical moment was when someone scooped away my family's plates and I DIDN'T HAVE TO WASH THEM!


On my actual birthday I had been told I should spend the day doing something I loved, so I sat outside Starbucks to read and write and then also wrote a blog post about reading and writing. It was posted at an odd time so if you missed it and want to read it, it's here https://momminginministry.blogspot.com/2020/09/my-reading-list-books-to-steady-our.html. 


Then, Dan and I braved yet another restaurant (we're getting a little crazy now...) and went to Grimaldi's by ourselves while the kids finished up school online for the day. It is my favorite pizza and who could pass up an entire free pizza?!

When we got home, I made the boys play a card game with me. Somehow I ended up in the only quaran-team who doesn't enjoy playing cards. Nobody threw anything. I didn't win but it was a win.

Then, that evening we did something else we hadn't in a VERY long time. We saw my family!



 For the first time since before the world broke, my brother's family, my sister's family, my niece and her kiddos, and my parents were all gathered in the same place at the same time. It may have looked a little different as we all worked to keep our most precious and vulnerable safe.



 But, as the cliche goes, it's become our new normal. 


My family put together a beautiful backyard party, with my favorite cake (the Costco tuxedo), bad singing and a mix of sweet and salty cards. 



The election almost came up for half a second but then my brother-in-law Kevin started singing Happy Birthday really loud again instead.

 I appreciated in a way I seldom had, just how precious it was that we were all well and together, and could look each other in the eye. We could make each other laugh, and share stories in person. What a gift!


Of course birthday month isn't over and I do plan on milking this a bit more. I haven't redeemed my Red Robin burger, and there's more people to see and coffee to drink. And I'm trying to practice acting like a grown up. But I think this birthday taught me to live fully in the moment I'm in, to appreciate the small things that I once took for granted, and realize just how deeply I love these people that God put closest to me on purpose. 



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