Happy Birthday to Me

Today I turn 31. My age really doesn't bother me. However, I do think that maybe we should downplay birthdays a little bit more. Frankly, from that very first birthday, we set the bar really high. Not that it's that big of a deal for children, because as long as they get presents, they don't care about much else. Every year we make sure they have the party theme they want, invite all kinds of kids to shower them with presents, let them dictate the meals for the day, and essentially just be king/queen for a day. Then one day it all comes to a halt. Suddenly you find yourself looking forward to just getting to pick where to eat for dinner and some well wishers on Facebook. What happened? When did I stop being queen?

I know you're probably wondering where this is coming from. Today was not ever scheduled to be the most fabulous day of my life, but it was at least going to be a little better than it's turning out to be. I agreed to watch my 14 month old niece today. (Don't ask me what I was thinking adding another kid in on my birthday, but it's extra money for next Friday's big day of shopping!) Out of nowhere yesterday, Maddox comes down with the dreaded stomach bug that seems to plague our house every year about this time. So, that means no leaving the house for 24 hours, because he's contagious. My Bible Study that I lead had to be cancelled. Lunch out with my mom, cancelled. Dinner out with family, cancelled. Errands that are now piling up, postponed! And so here I sit. This is not the end of the world. Things will work out fine. I just want to be able to feel sorry for myself for a short while!

Then...

And now...