When I was a child I never understood why when I would ask my mom what she wanted for her birthday she always said things like…I don't want anything…..I just want to spend the day together….I just want something you have made.
It is so interesting how things change as you get older.
I now understand what she was saying.
She was asking for time.
She was asking for the things that really matter.
I understand that "things" are nice but there are many ways to make a person feel special and loved.
The kids and Kelly had been asking me what I wanted for my birthday and I didn't ask for anything monetary because I have this amazing trip to France coming up and lets be honest….that exceeds the anniversary, Christmas, Valentine's Day, birthday budget!
I did ask to go hiking because it is truly one of my most favorite things to do.
I also asked for my car to be cleaned out because my car can become the most disgusting vehicle of anyone I know.
I don't know how it gets so bad. It gets to the point that a door is opened and random junk falls out…I wish I were exaggerating.
Seriously….I love a clean car…I just am not very good at keeping it clean.
On Wednesday morning I came downstairs to a Starbucks, breakfast and presents on the table.
Jack wrote me a letter telling me what he loves about me…he said I would love it the most and he was so right.
Madolyn bought me tampons because she thought it would be hilarious….what the heck??
I WAS running low.
Benjamin picked out an awesome water bottle for me because I am always losing them and I love to carry water with me everywhere.
Kelly bought me a pile of all the trashy magazines that I buy when he is out of town.
TRUE confession here…I love nothing more than buying the gossipy mags when he is gone, going to bed early and just reading brainless garbage.
Do not judge me…and if you want to know anything about J Lo, Justin Timberlake etc…I MAY be your girl.
I made sure he didn't get me subscriptions because I would be too embarrassed. I even put them face down when I checkout…like that makes them invisible or something.
Kelly got me a massage and I can not wait to use it. In fact, I am a little surprised that I haven't already gone in. I hope heaven is just one long spa treatment.
There was one more present on the table.
It didn't take much unwrapping until I began to cry…ok…bawl.
As I was unwrapping I was crying,"we can't afford this" and he was trying to reassure me that yes we could.
I still know were a million other things that we should have done with that money but I felt so spoiled.
Kelly still thinks I like the water bottle the best because I am constantly using it and telling Benjamin how awesome it is.
Kelly will pipe up with, "how about that awesome camera I got you"?
So even though I got an amazing gift I truly felt special and loved in all the ways that really matter.
Nothing beats a letter written by my son expressing his heart…and what a tender heart it is.
Nothing made me laugh more than Madolyn's sense of humor and the tampons. She thought it was the funniest thing and it made it even funnier.
Knowing that little Benjamin picked out the water bottle was so sweet.
Knowing that my husband went in late to work so he could make me breakfast made me feel special and loved.
Things are nice…but being lavished in love is even better!
what an amazing moment for you!!! to be cherished FOREVER!!! i am sooo happy for you!!
BTW….HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy Belated Birthday! What a special birthday your family gave you, each one seems to have put so much thought into their gift. A wonderful day full of love.
xx, Michelle
What Jeannie wants, Jeannie gets!!
What a beautiful story of you family that is so relatable! Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!!!! It sounds like your day was filled with AMAZING moments, laughs and YOUR DREAM CAMERA!!!!! WOOHOOOOoo! What a phenomenal day!!!! 🙂
I’m so glad you had a very nice birthday. enjoy the lovely present in france! (the camera not the water bottle) ha!
Happy Birthday! It sounds like it was absolutely fabulous, filled with love and thoughtfulness. It sounds perfect. Theresa
What a sweet post about a sweet and loving family. You are loved and very blessed. Happy birthday! Looking forward to seeing your photos of your trip to Paris with your new camera. How exciting!
Wow..sounds like an amazing birthday. You are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love getting gifts from my kids that they make themselves or they come up with…without daddy’s help. Happy Birthday. Terri
What an amazing birthday…even more, what an amazing family! To be loved so much & so well, that is really the best gift:) Happy Belated Birthday!
oh jeanne that is the sweetest birthday ever… you are soo blessed my friend !!! love you !
Beth
sounds like you had a wonderful birthday and those gifts are great except for maybe the tampons, lol 🙂
Jeanne,
You NEED that camera for your trip to France!! 🙂 (Duh!) I have a 20D and I am starting to get itchy for a new one. I love it, but the more I shoot in manual and the more I learn…well, I covet.
Bad.
I LOVE that Madolyn got you tampons!! hahaha. Brilliant girl! I want our families to be friends! 🙂
So sweet, Jeanne. I am THRILLED that you are going on the trip to France. How wonderful that you will have a special camera!
You have your head and heart in the right place!
Suz
A great man indeed…that Kelly. How awesome that you will have a new camera for your trip of a lifetime!
BTW I am the same with the trashy magazines. You should see the pile I’m taking with me to Miami. Is there anything better?? Love you girl. So glad you had a very blessed birthday. You soooo deserve it:)
What an amazing birthday Jeanne ~ you are one special lady for sure! Cannot wait to see the pictures you take in France with that new camera. I think my fav would be the letter ~ that’s a keeper for sure.
Oh, what a great post. Happy Birthday to you! You are richly blessed. Have a great time in France snapping away with your new camera. Have a blessed day.
Happy Birthday Jeanne! Sounds like the perfect day with beautiful people, you lucky girl! 🙂
First off, Happy Birthday Jeanne! Next, you have an awesome family who know how to make a girl feel loved and special…and I totally understand the “spending time” together thing. Nothing grows love more than good ole’ spending time together, especially without all of our technical toys that can take away our attention from one another.
Sounds like your family knows what a wonderful and special person they have in their momma and wife.
Lee Ann
Well, I hate buying tampons – they are such a grocery budget breaker! She’s a smart one, that Madolyn. And funny. And practical.
Happy birthday, friend.
Happy Birthday sweet girl! It sounds like you had a wonderful day… and you deserve it! Your family sure knows you well – their lovely gestures and sense of humour (Madolyn is a keeper!) show the specialness of your relationship.
Happy Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! What a precious post. Trashy mags are a vice for me too! Have a wonderful week!
Time is worth so much more than any gift…. your children and your hubby know you very well. Love all the thought behind all your gifts. Love how you share your feelings with us. Love that you are so real. You are amazing and I am so happy you had a wonderful birthday!!!!! Hugs,Amy
You are obviously a special lady! I love to read trashy magazines too. Can’t wait to see results of new camera.
Happy Birthday!!
Sounds like your day was a keeper…
….H*A*P*P*Y* B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y…..
………..Smile on Rosie………..
Happy Birthday!!! What an amazing day…and every single thing you talked about is absolutely true…love those handwritten gifts and the tampons…seriously a funny!!
But I got to tell you I love that I feel not the only one that loves trashy magazines for trips or when the hubby is gone or a horribly messy car:)
What a precious family!
SWEET! What a wonderful family you have. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (by the way)!
Well, I didn’t even know you had a b/day coming up – sorry I missed it! Hope it was a wonderful day – sounds like it was more than wonderful! : ) Also wanted to thank you again for your donation for the Camp Carey Auction last night…Alice ended up winning your bag – she’s been wanting one forever!!!
What a great birthday you had! Tampons?! Hilarious!
Hi Jeanne! You really do have yourself an amazing husband! I was telling my husband all about my wonderfully fabulous weekend last night when I got home, and one thing I said to him was, “Jeanne has a really great husband, like you, it’s just that I think her’s is a little more in tune with her creative side than you are with mine…” 🙂 He laughed and understood what I was saying. Steve is super supportive of me, but he would never think to buy me a dream camera…you are blessed! I of course rambled on about the weekend and how much I truly loved spending time with you!!! It was a great bonus to my trip to see Natasha! You are such a dear, warm, genuine person Jeanne and I feel blessed to call you my friend!
Hugs ~
🙂 T
p.s. I’ll stick those Paris guidebooks in the mail today 🙂
Happy Birthday girl!!!! And whoa, a 5d do you know how to use it! lol! congrats on the new baby in the family!
Tara,
NO! I dont:-) I am slowly learning though. I have been pretty busy with orders, finishing up school etc….but I am really looking forward to playing this summer.
To: jeanneoli@hotmail.com
It sounds like you had an amazing birthday with the ones you love. I am so happy for you! Can’t wait to see all the gorgeous pictures you take with your new camera. 🙂
Happy Birthday!
-FringeGirl
Isn’t God good? You have a boy that adores his mama and clearly has gotten to spend enough time with her to KNOW her heart, a daughter free enough to laugh unashamed and outloud with her favorite girlfriend, and little Ben… that thinks to nourish his mommy with her favorite accessory…
Then if your cup wasn’t full enough, God designed the perfect man for all of you…who knows your heart functions when it is creating, loving, seeing, touching, singing and laughing…we all see that laughter here, and that’s why we come back for more! I would be so envious, but God sent me my own sweet nest of fun. Happy Birthday my friend…even if you don’t know me. 🙂
Very special birthday indeed!! =) Loving time with family is the best gift ever!! I agree! being spoiled is the yummy coffee flavored icing on the best scone you have ever eaten!! ha ha! =)
What an adorable post! H A P P Y
B I R T H D A Y TO Y O U!!!!!! Your gifts were so sweet…. just like their momma,
Wishing you a year full of many more fabulous blessings,
xo,
LuLu
Happy Birthday – a little late i know but still heartfelt. you deserve that wonderful day, and those amazing presents. your husband did really good. you will love it!!!!! and i love madolyn’s sense of humor.
Looks like they came up with some pretty good gifts. My friends little girl drew her a magarita glass, in class, for Mother’s day. She was mortified, but her daughter was so proud. “But Mommy you LOVE margaritas”