Day 1 of Birthapalooza was FABULOUS!

I should be exhausted. It's almost midnight and I'm completely wide awake after a spectacular birthday. Well, after Day 1 of Birthapalooza. There's still 2 more days to go.

To be sure, it started out a little iffy with a bad migraine and LOTS of nausea. Don't get any funny ideas, it was just my body telling me that it really is going to fall apart any second.

But then it got better in a huge hurry. Birthday text messages, tweets, Facebook messages, emails, cards, at least 5 serenades of "Happy Birthday" and gifts. Plus, cupcakes, lunch, and a fabulous dinner followed by chocolate cake at the beach!

Plus, the Stargazer Lilies in my garden bloomed today!
If I'm ever feeling down about myself, all I need to do is go back to all those generous messages and feel all the love all over again. My cup completely runneth over. My birthday was better than anything I could have imagined and only Day 1 is over. In fact, as we stood at the beach tonight, I searched for that first star of the evening (you know, to make a wish - doesn't everyone do that?), but when I found it, I realized there was nothing to wish for. I have everything I ever wanted that truly matters. So I just stood there feeling grateful because I am truly blessed.

I Ain't Settlin'

Yesterday morning I was driving to work and having a very serious come to Jesus talk with myself. Yes, it was just me in the car and yes, I was talking out loud to myself. Why do you ask? Anyway, there I was in the car having this serious talk with myself about the state of state of my life (I turn 40 exactly 3 months from today) with the radio on low in the background when out of nowhere I hear the familiar sounds of Jennifer Nettles and Sugarland singing one of my favorite songs. I took it as a sign from the Universe (and we all know how I believe in signs from the Universe).

I listened to the words, possibly closer than I've ever listened before and realized I was listening to the theme song for the last three months of my 30s (it hurts just typing those words).

That's right Settlin' by Sugarland is defining the next three months for me. I'm raising the bar higher than ever before. I'm joining a gym this week and will lose the 25 pounds I've committed to losing before my birthday. For those of you keeping score, that will put the total weight loss between my 39th and 40th birthday at almost 60 pounds (Okay, it's not the 100 pounds I put on my Bucket List, but it's 60 pounds closer than I was). No if's, and's or but's about it. I've got some other big goal and dreams, but at the moment, that's all I'm willing to discus publicly.

If you're not familiar with Settlin', click on the video below.