I just thank God for a wonderful birthday weekend.    This birthday was special because I spent it with people who are important to me.  I have a cousin who is like a brother.  He is blessed to have a beautiful, loving, gracious, wise wife, a Proverbs 31 woman.  Her birthdate is very close to mine and she wanted to take me out for breakfast.  Although this is a simple gesture, this meant a lot to me.  I knew this wouldn't just be a girly girl event.  I knew her husband would accompany us, so we made it a foursome.  I have the most romantic, loving, generous boyfriend in the world, whose name is El.  After breakfast, the day and the rest of the weekend was just filled with family events that warmed my heart.

Saturday 7/19

• renewed license plate tab
• had breakfast at Omega with El, cousin V and his wife
• went ring shopping with El
• went outfit shopping with El
• met El's daughter for the first time
• went to Eastland to browse the mall and ring shop with El
• bought a birthday cake to share with the girls
• played cards all night with El

Sunday 7/20

• went to church
• ran household errands
• had breakfast at Josephine's in Ferndale
• ran Mom's errands
• took El to meet mom and have birthday cake
• El asked my mom if it was OK that he would marry me
• visited El's daugther to have birthday cake
• met more of El's family (sister and brother-inlaw)
• retired for the night quite early

In summary, birthday gifts do not have to be about material things.  Love, warmth and feeling special is a gift in and of itself.  I thank God for this gift.