My favorite day of the year

MY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Anyone who knows me knows I love my birthday. I look forward to it all year. I always take work off and make sure it's a special day. This year Derek and Tosha made it the best birthday ever! (And everyone else that contributed of course!!!!) It was on a Sunday this year so I was afraid it wouldn't be all it could be since we couldn't really go out or anything, but it turned out to be a perfect Sunday b-day. Church was changed from 3 hours to one and moved to 3 pm instead of the usual 9 am because of another conference in the building, so we got to sleep in...a very good start to the day! While I was still in bed Derek brought me gifts one by one. The first treat was a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. He had left the night before while I was asleep, without me even knowing, to go and get them. They were the prettiest flowers ever! Then he gave me the sweetest letter telling me why he loves and appreciates me. That had to be the best present I got! It was so thoughtful, and funny. Then...he brought me the present his family had sent me. He had been hiding gifts from people all week so he could give them to me all at once. His parent sent me....drumroll...a sewing machine. Can you even believe it?! I was so shocked and excited!!!! I don't know how to sew, but now I will definitely learn. That was one great gift. THEN, Grandma Harper sent me a beanie she had knitted herself. It was so cute. She knew I had been wanting one and it turned out perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better one! By this time we were hungry and ready for German pancakes with fruit and brown sugar. Tosha came over and ate with us and brought even more treats for me. Between her and the rest of my family I got sheets, a renewed subscription to Coastal Living magazine (my favorite), cereal bowls, a table runner, and a promise of embroidered pillow cases. It was great. Don't get me wrong, I don't love my birthday because of presents, I just happened to get several this year and I had to tell about them because I was so excited. It was such a beautiful day in Texas...warmest one we had in a while. It was about 80 degrees and amazing. I've never had a warm birthday before, it was perfect. We sat outside and talked and planted some new plants Derek had gotten me the day before. It was lovely. Then we finally showered and went to church. Church was great like usual. After we headed to Tosha's for a delicious dinner. It was SUCH a good day!!!! Thanks to everyone for making it so good! I loved getting everyone's cards and phone calls!!! Thanks for thinking of me and being so thoughtful!
(Tosha has better pictures on her camera, I'll try to post some of those later when I have copies.)