How We Quietly Celebrated My 32nd Birthday

The week of my birthday was an emotional one for one reason in particular, so I wasn’t really in the mood to celebrate in any way. Still, birthdays come and go and there’s not much you can do about it.

We were down in South Georgia the day before my birthday for my dad’s funeral, and decided to drive home the next day. The best part is, I woke up in a house surrounded by my family, since we were staying with my sister and her husband and kids, and my brother and his wife. I haven’t woken up on my birthday with family since I was a little kid, so that was really nice and a good change. A bright spot in an otherwise sad few days.

Once it was time to hit the road, we packed up the car and said our goodbyes to my sister and brother and headed back to Tennessee.

About two hours in, we were all feeling hungry. It was lunch time, so we decided to pull off a random exit and picked a restaurant that sounded good. I was standing in line waiting to order when I see PJ so generously holding the door open for a man walking in. He had the biggest smile on his face and looked so happy to be doing it. I thought it was sweet, but was so confused as to why he looked so eager!

Then, I saw the man who walked in. IT WAS MY BROTHER. How wild is that? He and his wife and their dog Coco had stopped on the same exit and randomly decided to go to the same restaurant. What are the chances?

They were going to get their food to go, but I asked them to have a birthday lunch with me because something this crazy might not ever happen again. They agreed, and we all ate outside on the patio so their dog could join us. It was such a nice, unexpected little moment of joy and coincidence and felt like the perfect way to start the day out. What would we all do without our family?

When we got home, I walked into the house to see balloons and a cake and a gift sitting on the dining room table. Who could this be from? Everyone I knew and loved was with me on the trip down to South Georgia, and who knows how to get into our house?! Then I remembered.

My mom came home a day early! I had just talked to her on the phone on the way home, and she was still in bed, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw the card was signed with her name. How sweet is that? I mentioned to her how I was still sad about my dad, so she snuck in (she has a key) and made a little moment for me to come home to.

I don’t care how old you are, little gifts and surprises and acts of love from your parents is always welcomed. Even after all these years, I still feel so special around my mom. Growing up, my siblings and I always felt like so incredibly special and loved by her. She had a way of doing that to us with her care and compassion, and I still feel it today.

She got me the best present ever, and the kids loved the balloons, of course. Thank you so much, mom! I love you.

There was also a box on our front porch waiting for us to get home. I opened it to find a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our management team!! So incredibly thoughtful and sweet. We love our manager so much and can’t imagine doing this crazy job without our team. Little acts of love and kindness go such a long way, y’all!

About an hour after we got home, there was a knock at the door. I look up to see PJ’s mom Lori and his little sister walk in with a cake and two big smiles. I didn’t think the day could get any better but it did. I love my mother-in-law and PJ’s little sister, who was only 3 years old when we first got together, so I have watched her grow up.

They know me so well, and know how much I love cake. I told Lori she didn’t realize how loved I felt in that moment just by them popping over to wish me a happy birthday. I could have cried right then and there.

And the cake was so damn good.

Later that evening, we got dressed up and PJ dropped the kids off at Lori’s house so we could go to our favorite Italian restaurant downtown for a little birthday dinner. We go here on birthdays and anniversaries and it always feels like a treat when we do.

I got the lobster ravioli and PJ got the bolognese. Both were divine, and it was so nice to have an hour of quiet adult time with my guy.

After dinner, we got home and it was time for bedtime snuggles and kisses. After all, it was a school night.

My birthday started out rough, with a lot of emotions and not really knowing how to feel. But because of family, like my brother eating lunch with me, and my mom dropping off balloons and a gift, and my mother-in-law surprising me with a cake, and my husband taking me out to dinner, it felt manageable and nice. I felt special, and isn’t that all we really want on our birthdays?

Overall it was a rather lovely day spent with my favorite people. I couldn’t ask for a better way to turn 32.