Monday was a great day!  Jennifer, Mika, Eden, and I went to Fort Smith and ate at Red Lobster and shopped at the mall and of course went to Starbuck's.  It was a good girl's day out.  Here are some pics:

Yesterday was my actual birthday.....a good day, but kind of depressing.  I am just not ready to be 30.  I can't do anything to stop it, but am just not ready to enter a new decade!  I guess it is hard because I imagined myself a mommy by the age of 30, but obviously that is not the case.  "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to give you a future and a hope".

Jennifer Mc. and her family came down and took me to lunch and that was the highlight of my day yesterday!

I got a very cool surprise today at school....right before my senior high choir class, my 3 senior girls met me outside my door and started singing Happy Birthday to me (they weren't at school yesterday).  Then they handed me a card with this inside:

It's a gift certificate for a 1 hour massage.  WOW!  I have never had a massage before.  I was so excited.  They said, "We just want you to know we love you".  I cried.  So sweet.  I've had these girls in choir since 7th grade--I love my seniors every year---they are so special!  I have got balloons and frappucinos from my choir for my birthday before, but never a massage!  Whoo hoo! 

I am eating dinner tomorrow night with two of my good buddies from high school--they are taking me out for my birthday!  That should complete my birthday week!  I guess if we party all week for every birthday like we have for this one, maybe the 30's won't be so bad!  :)

Today is our sweet niece's 3rd birthday!  What a blessing she is to so many people!  I remember the last couple months before she was born---her mommy and I would walk at the park almost every night.  That was the deepening of such an awesome friendship that I am so thankful for now!  We shared our heart, laughed, talked, and prayed together (and tried to keep each other in shape)!  Thanks Sophie, for allowing your mommy and I to be such close friends and sisters!  We owe some of our friendship to you!  :)  I remember sitting up at the hospital the evening Jenn was in labor---many hours!  At midnight or so I left and went home to bed and around 1:30 that next morning, Sept. 14th, Jenn called our house and left a message on our answering machine that Sophia Rose was here.  Oh how excited I was!  Jenn got to finally have a Dr. Pepper too!  Yay!   I was up at the hospital at 6:45 the next morning and got to hold that bundle of love!   Since that day, Sophie has blessed Aunt Suzy and Muncle Baby more times than I could say and still brings a twinkle to my eye everytime I hear her scream, "SUUUZZZYYY!!!" 

"Thank You Lord Jesus for this little life.  May she live for You and You alone always".

At Sophie's party last night:

I kept saying last night, "Sophie can you SIT STILL while I take a picture?"  This picture was right after she said to me very matter-of-factly, "Suzy, I AM sitting still!" 

Me and Gracie:

 Gracie and Jeremiah (Muncle Baby):

Sophie and her Daddy:

Sophie and her new scooter:

Blowing her 3 candles on her "dirt cake".  (Jenn, the cake was adorable!  You did a great job on everything!  Oh, how I wish your creative veins would flow to mine!)

WE LOVE YOU SOPHIE!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The first week of school is over!  I had a really hard time going back--I'm not sure why, being as this is my 8th year, but I balled my eyes out last Sunday night and then again Monday morning.  I love my job, I just also love my freedom in the summer.  Anyways, I survived and I have good kids in choir this year--I am really very excited--all my senior high choir kids have been in choir for at least 2 years or more except for a couple.  We are jumping right in to all-region competition music this week.  Fun, fun!  My elementary kids were pretty good too.  New kindergarten classes are always a challenge the first few weeks--entertaining, but challenging.  One of my kindergarten classes calls me 'Mrs. Bruiser'.   Lovely.

When I got home from school Monday, these were waiting on me from my husband: 

So sweet!  They were my "hope this is your best year yet" flowers!

I have slept a bunch this weekend.  It's amazing how much school wears you out!  I didn't get up until noon yesterday and then took an hour and a half nap later.  After church today I took a 2 hour nap.  Hopefully I can sleep tonight! 

Time to check on my eBay stuff---we are trying out this new business venture for a few months to make some extra money.  We want to go on another nice vacation/cruise, plus I want a new car (yeah right), plus we have a wonderful medical bill that still needs to be paid. 

Have a great week!