Big Thanks….

Hi, Y’all, and Happy Monday.  I want to say a great big thank you to everyone who reached out to me for my birthday last week.  Y’all sure know how to make a gal feel loved.  I received a bunch of text messages, Facebook messages, phone calls, cards, and gifts.  All of which I appreciate more than you will ever know.

I had a wonderful birthday weekend.  I took the day off on Friday and spent most of the day by myself.  I went to acupuncture in the morning, had lunch by myself and spent some time blogging, and then had a facial, which was heavenly.  For anyone who has never splurged on a facial for themselves, I would highly recommend getting one.  You don’t know what you’re missing.  

After some self-love time, I came home and picked up Mano and we went to Grape Creek Winery in Georgetown, TX where I enjoyed a glass of vino.  Luckily, my birthday fell on an off week, and I was able to have a couple of cocktails to celebrate with me.  Mano and I then met our friends, Cory and Shane at Kyoto in Georgetown and enjoyed some delicious sushi.  For my locals, if you haven’t been to Kyoto yet in Georgetown you have no idea what you’re missing out on.  Cory loves the Tuna Tower and swears that she can eat just that since it’s so good.  (I think she’s right.  It is so good!) Link to Kyoto is here

Saturday evening, we had Brandi and her family over for fajitas and a few games – Farkle and LCR (Left, Right, Center) – all wonderful games.  I’m sure y’all remember that Brandi was my favorite chemo nurse, but now she is my friend too outside of the medical treatments.  How freaking awesome is that! (PRAISES!)

Sunday Mano and I took the kids to Slapbox pizza for a very causal Sunday lunch of pizza and beer.  It was wonderful.  We came home afterward and relaxed.  It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend. 

In closing, I want to say that I enjoyed each text message, call, gift, card, sip of wine, a morsel of food, and each moment that I spent alone and with those family and friends that I love.  I received a great text from a fellow warrior who said: 

Happy birthday my beautiful friend, while this year’s celebration likely looked and felt different than years past, I have a feeling it was more special than expected.  So proud of you and all you’ve accomplished learned and shared this year!  So, today I celebrate all that you are and all that you’ll be, as well as the fact that I’m blessed enough to know you.  Love you!!

This text truly said all that I was thinking when I woke up on my birthday.  This year was a completely different celebration as she knew and I’m sure experienced for herself after her diagnosis.  I wish that I could truly express in words the difference in perspective that you have on ALL things once you go through an experience such as this one.  You look at your life and all the things in your life differently, you look at the relationships in your life differently, your plans become bigger, and you decide to no longer put certain things off for tomorrow but enjoy them today.  I shared in a text with a friend on my birthday that “today I will drink the wine, eat the food and rejoice in the day that God has provided me” and trust me – I did.

Thank you again my village, I am truly blessed by your love, prayers, and support.  You are the wind beneath my wings that keep me going. 

Xo,

Tracy