wondrous thirty-two

i did not expect anything from my 32nd birthday, which passed yesterday. it's such an unassuming year. 32. what has ever happened to anyone in the history of the world at 32 that is all that amazing? next year will be a big one- my Jesus-year. as one friend put it- Jesus saved all of mankind at the age of 33, what will you accomplish? shoes (or sandals?) that are impossible to fill, but maybe i will do something seriously momentous. we'll see.
but back to 32. it ain't special. but alas- my 32nd birthday felt really special!!!!
it all started with a package in the mail from my beloved sister and brother-in-law. i used to work in a boutique in toronto when i was in university. it was a TINY little store, but it made mucho moola. and in this itty bitty little store, i fell in love with Kate Spade. kate spade is a designer and she makes the simplest, yet most beautiful accessories i have laid my squinty little eyes on. namely purses. and i got one for my birthday! it's coral and it's the brightest thing i own and i love it and it's all mine.
what a great kick-off.
and then, since my birthday ended up falling on MLK day, chris had the day off so we got to hang out together ALL DAY! and since my kids were not in school that day- they hung out with us all day too! and it was wonderful! we started our day off at Liberty Market, where i got $10 off of our breakfast. then we went to the zoo to fit in a bit of exercise before lunch. but while we 'exercised' i drank a starbucks latte, and that proceeded to fill me up quite a bit. then we went to lunch at Joe's Farm Grill, where we met our friends Charles and Grace, and got another $10 off of our meal. we let the kids run around and i sat and watched them as i let food and drink fester in my body. though to be fair- i didn't order a meal. chris, mia, and i shared a chicken salad... and some onion rings... and fries. but i didn't get an actual meal for me! and then we went to FROST, a magical gelato place that we love. i got a free gelato there, that i let topher have, and then chris and i shared an affagato- a gelatto with espresso shots. superamazing. then we went home, hung out, i went to old navy and got a pair of jeans for $10, then our babysitter showed up, chris and i went mini-golfing- which we haven't done in at least 4 years, and then we went to Joe's BBQ at 8pm for dinner, where we got $10 off of our meal (that chris and i shared).
and then i threw up.
just kidding.
did you throw up after reading about my gluttonous birthday? yes, much food and caffeine was consumed. but it was consumed with LOVE :)
i love Jesus. i love my family. i love my friends. i love free food. in that order.
and so that's it. i had a great day. and oh yeah- chris let me sleep in, which was awesome. but those punk children of mine all slept in for chris too. i don't know how he does it...
i know my birthday posts always talk about my quest for free food. but this is the first time EVER that chris and i succeeded in going to all of Joe's restaurants for my free birthday meal. i guess i have already accomplished so much at 32, and i've only been 32 for like 48 hours.

and as promised, here is my verse of the day:
"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." prov 15:17

i am blessed to be surrounded by so much love! thanks to all who called, texted, facebooked, kakaoed, etc. your love means more to me than a free meal. but just a little bit ;)

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you love free meals as much as i do, and if you live in the east valley, hop on over to your local Chandler Library and get a little card to fill out 4 books that your child has read, and then bring it over to Chipotle and get a free kids' meal!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah for literacy and free food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!