20 years and Only One Crash

I am proud to announce that I have been driving for 20 years today and have only totaled one vehicle.  Thankfully, it wasn't mine.  

Yup, 20 years ago was one of the most exciting days of my life...  I turned 16 and headed out with my dad to make myself an honest, law-abiding gal.  Sopchoppy was the place to grow up when it came to driving.  As long as you drove slow, stayed in your lane, and didn't run over any thing alive, you could pretty much drive when your legs were long enough to reach the pedals.  My best friend and I would steel her sister's mustang convertible and cruise the streets of Sopchoppy like we were hot stuff.  And for 13 year olds, we pretty much were; at least by Sopchoppy standards.  

Waking up today wasn't quite so exciting, but it was wonderful nonetheless.  Lee slowed his routine a good bit and took the kids to school.  Old friends and new sent birthday wishes via text and email.  I even got a phone call from a friend who is drastically under-the-weather.  

My dad took me to lunch and I ate some of the best fried shrimp in the world!  Living minutes from the Gulf Coast has its advantages...  

Henry accompanied us to lunch today and was soooo excited to eat with his Papa.  On our way out, as my dad was paying the bill, Henry and I were chatting with another family like ours (there's always a sense of "family" when we meet other inter-racial, adoptive families).  The conversation went like this:

Him: Is your husband a pastor?

Me: (choking/almost throwing up in my mouth) Uhmmm, no.  That's my dad.

Him:  Oh, I'm sorry.

Me:  (turning to my dad who was walking up) Hey dad, he thought you were my husband.  (Chuckle, chuckle) Like I married some old man who couldn't have kids and we had to adopt.  

We all laughed, especially my dad who was standing a bit taller after the honest mistake.  If only the guy could have laid eyes on my mom...  She's the epitome of class- always prim for the moment!

He was right, my dad is a pastor and I invited his family to our church.  River of Life is an inter-denominational, inter-racial church that loves Jesus.

I love my church.  My family is a mini-prototype of River of Life.  We have whites, blacks, latinos, and a few asians (adopt from China?  Sure!! Sign me up!).  I feel so blessed to be a part of a church where my family fits in.

Getting back to my birthday, some girl friends and I got together over the weekend and had a sewing party.  We sewed and laughed and ate and laughed and then laughed some more.  We had the best time!!  

They cooked me an amazing, organic, gourmet meal and gave me some amazing fabric.  Oh, you'd like to see...  Thought you'd never ask!!

I adore it!!!!  Maybe one day I'll bring myself to actually cut it.  

And here's what I bought for myself...  (I do give the best gifts!)

(On a side note... how in the heck do I make these pictures stay the right way?  I rotate them in photoshop, but they don't stay.  Errrrr...)

And from my family...

(and before you feel absolutely sorry for me, this is EXACTLY what I wanted...)

Yep!  I'm a clothes washing woman!!  For my special day, my husband bought and installed that new set of magic on the left hand side of the picture.  Clothes go in dirty and come out clean.  How awesome is that?!  And now, I can do all my laundry in half the time.  That, my friend, is a good gift.  Happy birthday to me!!

I would like to tell my parents "thanks!"

 For having me... for choosing LIFE for me... for choosing not to kill me between the ages of 11 and 17... for loving and supporting me... for making me laugh... for giving me great memories.

And dad, I'm sorry I called you an old man today.  And I'm sorry I single handedly turned your truck into a tiny tin can back in 95.  On a happy note, I haven't had a crash since.  1 crash in 20 years is pretty good, don'tcha think?