You Only Turn 40 Once

 I don't know what I did to deserve such wonderful people in my life

because today, they really outdid themselves.

This afternoon Christian took me out to lunch in Scottsdale

 at one of our favorite pizza restaurants.

I wanted to order about five different types of cookies and cake along

with lunch but he told me in a very cryptic way not to 

because I'd want to save room for later.

I didn't know what "later" meant and decided to order just one piece of

 7-layer red velvet cake (and I ate most of it).

After lunch, we drove around looking at houses and I didn't think he 

was trying to stall or anything like that until Jane called him and he said

"Ok, so you want me to keep stalling?"

Then I knew something was up.

He finally told me that he had another birthday surprise for me which

is why we'd been driving around in Spencer's Tesla for about 3 hours.

Finally, we went home and all the kids were dressed in black and white.

Christian lead me downstairs and on my bed was an outfit laid

out that Jane had put together which included my new
birthday pink fluffy Anthroplpgie skirt.

I put it on and he took me upstairs and outside 

where all the Nies and Joneses were waiting for me

next to a GIANT LIMO in the driveway.

All of us jammed inside where we fiddled with all the buttons, 

pretended to make drinks at the mini bar, changed the mood lighting colors,

talked on the cab phone (with a cord!),

and we yelled out the windows.

I was driven to a beautifully decorated reception hall where

a gorgeous table and delicious spread of food were waiting for us.

Jane seated me at the head and put a crown on my head.

I was crying.

I couldn't believe this was all for me.

 Jane and Lindsay had carefully prepared and kept this

a secret from me for weeks.

In between tears, I kept asking why they would do this for little old me

and Lindsay said "because we love you, and because you only turn 40 once."

In the past few weeks, I have been so lifted and helped and supported

by Lindsay, I had no words.

Everyone needs a Lindsay and a daughter just like my Jane

who helped plan the menu, cook the food, and

prepare for this amazing night.

They also made cotton candy and licorice cupcakes,

my two favorite flavors!

I feel so loved, and so undeserving of this evening.

After dinner, we went outside to light sparklers 

and I tried to memorize everything

so I would never forget a single detail of this beautiful night.

Also tonight Christian got a call from work with some very wonderful

happy news, that we've been praying for.

So grateful and happy...but he has to jet back to North Carolina

earlier than we had expected.

The Nies and I will be here in Arizona for a few more weeks.

OH, WHAT A NIGHT!

The Lake.

If there is one thing we miss while living in North Carolina, it's

all the options Arizona has lots of options with

food, treats, restaurants, and stores.

There are SO many to choose from here!

Since Christian's been here, we've been getting

 our fill at all the places we love to eat,

especially for salmon tacos!

Of course, we hit Swig for drinks and treats after.

Then we escaped the heat on Spencer and Lindsay's boat

for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

We swam (and dried off in 10 seconds), cliff-jumped

 and did some fantastic tubing behind the boat.

I even tried wakeboarding, but since my hands can't make a fist,

 tightly gripping the rope is almost impossible. 

 It's kind of a bummer, but Spencer was so sweet to keep 

trying to get me up, but after about ten failures, I regret to inform

that I gave up because my hands were hurting and

 I felt like they were going to fall off.

BUT I'm not giving up forever!

 I will try again, and before I die, I will wakeboard again.

We were laughing because when our families

would hang out ten years ago, I'd pack and lug my giant

 Canon Rebel to capture the moments. 

But I'm sure glad I did because we have thousands of fun photos of

our adventures together!

Like this one of me and Lindsay with our babies, Riggs and Lottie

in 2012 on our sailboat in Utah.

Good times!!