It's My Birthday!

 

Do you remember the song, "It's My Birthday, and I'll Cry If I Want To"? There's no tears on my birthday! It's always a great day to celebrate! Enjoy my special thoughts and memories!



It's my birthday!! What will I do today?

Working? On my birthday? 

When I taught school in West Virginia, I never had to go to school or "officially" work on my birthday due to school starting later, sometimes after Labor Day. That changed, however, when I moved to Louisiana where the school year started in early August. The first year there, however, I found out that it was actually fun to work on my birthday! I got lots of smiles, hugs, greetings, handmade cards, and well-wishes! It was always great to find out that a student or colleague shared my special day! Now I'm retired, but I still think about those special "working" birthdays!

Of course, I will still "work at home" - the usual stuff, but that's okay!


Eat a Birthday Dessert!

What's my dessert on my special day? I am planning to follow my Grandma Shamblin and make my own! One year a surprise birthday party was planned for Grandma's birthday. Since she was "getting up in years", it was decided that they should tell her about the party so it wouldn't be a shock. Her response? "I'm glad you told me", she said. "I'm going to make a Stack of Pies!" I am so glad she did! Her scrumptious homemade Apple Pies with the paper-thin crust were to die for! She stacked several of them on a plate (maybe 5 or 6), and then they were cut in triangles like a cake. It makes my mouth water just to think about it! 

I can't make Grandma's Stack of Pies, but today I can make one of my favorite desserts like Nancy's Peanut Butter Bar Cookies. I may even make a pan of Brownies for some chocolate-loving grand-kids! Of course, the freezer is already well-stocked with our favorite frozen yogurt and ice cream!

Peanut Butter Bar Cookies
Yummy Dessert!
Click for the recipe!

Recall Special Memories!

When I was a kid, every year on our birthdays we had a cake and ice cream and a family celebration. We also were allowed to invite a couple of neighbors, so it was always a great day. 

When I was 10 years old, I had a special birthday party and was allowed to invite friends. I remember a lot of kids from school and church came, along with neighbors and my family, and it was such a special day.

My cousin Greg was born on my birthday, so it was always fun when we could celebrate our birthdays together. One year, the Shamblin Family Reunion was on "our" birthday, and we both had decorated cakes to share with our big family. It was such a Kodak moment! My sister-in-law Doris also shares my birthday, along with my nephew David and several others. It's a special day!

Sometimes my birthday falls on Friday the 13th! While I've always considered the number 13 to be my lucky number, one birthday on Friday the 13th started out pretty strange. You can read all about it here:

Friday the 13th - My Story!!

One summer while I was on college break, I didn't think I was having a cake for my birthday. I knew I was "older", and things had been busy, so of course I understood. When I came home from work, just like I thought, there was no cake in sight. Mom asked me to get something out of the clothes dryer. When I opened it, however, what I saw caught me unaware! There was a beautiful cake, lovingly decorated - in the dryer! She wanted to surprise me, so she baked and iced the cake, cleaned up the evidence, and hid the cake in the clothes dryer! It was a great surprise!

One year after I was married, I had a surprise party with special friends. Special times with special friends are always enjoyable!

I always enjoy my birthday. One year when we lived in Louisiana, I was alone on my birthday (and actually enjoying the quiet). I decided to pamper myself with a "Spa" birthday! It started with Aqua Aerobic exercises in the pool followed by soaking in the Hot Tub. Next I did my hair and nails, followed by a much-needed nap. (I was up past 1:00 a.m. the night before working on a sewing project.) Does that sound like a good plan? That evening, we had a small family celebration with desserts.It was a great day! 

Last year, my husband and I went "Antique Shopping" on my birthday. That was so sweet because Antiquing is not Charlie's favorite thing to do, but he readily agreed to go for my birthday! We found some treasures and had a great time! It was a very special day with calls, texts, Facebook messages, flowers, and - desserts!

Treasures from Antique Shopping!

Cookie cake for the Chocolate Lovers!

Appreciate Technology!

Technology has had a dramatic effect on birthdays. It is so much fun to read all those Facebook birthday messages! One of my Facebook friends sent me a special message about how my birthday is like a personal little holiday. I agree! When I read this, I knew I was going to have a great day!

I also check my e-mails! You never know when someone may send a birthday email!

Text messages are fun, and I love getting Facetime calls and traditional phone calls, especially with the birthday songs! 

One year, I was awakened on my birthday by a message on my cell phone - a video of my youngest son Jacob singing to me as he drove to work!

Have Positive Feelings About Getting Older!

How do I feel about getting older? My husband says birthdays are better than the alternative, and I certainly agree!

My dad always said it's not the years, it's how they are put on! I guess he knew, because even in his 90s, he was the most youthful dad that I knew! He certainly proved that, "You're only as old as you feel!" 

Grandma Shamblin (Dad's Mom) once told me that she never thought about her age until she was 70. On that day she thought, "70 years, now that's pretty good! Some people don't live to be this old!" She said she never thought about it again! She was another "youthful" senior! She never had time to go to the Senior Center to just sit with "those old people" because she always had something to do. When she visited the Senior Center occasionally, she took her latest quilt or other project to show to "those old people"! She was active for many more years - into her 90s. Grandma and Dad have been great role models!

I am thankful to be alive and having a great birthday, to be healthy, and to have a great family and lots of friends. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, 3 special sons and daughter-in-laws, and 8 super cute  grandkids. I would not trade my life experiences for anything! Thank you Lord for your blessings!

Happy Birthday to me!

Feel free to eat a special dessert 
and list it in the comments!

One of my favorite desserts -

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Candy/Topping

Click for the recipe:
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Candy/Topping