Thank you for being a friend (especially on my birthday)

Last week I celebrated another trip around the sun…I’m officially 48 and feeling great (or so I’m telling myself).

With my sweet mom on my birthday. She has made a red velvet cake almost every year for my birthday. A true labor of love. Read more about her cakes here.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that as much as I appreciate what my family does for my birthday, it is my friends who are the birthday MVPs. From cards in the mail, to sweet gifts, to celebrations at bible study, my friends took time to let me know that I matter to them. Not to say that my family didn’t do the same — in fact my parents cooked me a great meal and my mom made her famous red velvet cake — but this year it was the kindness of my friends that really made my birthday a happy one.

As a mom, I’ve set the bar pretty low when it comes to expectations on my birthday. Cards usually get bought and signed at the last minute, and a quick “Happy Birthday” is mumbled as the boys head out the door. As for gifts, this year I asked my husband for a new pair of tennis shoes and for my car to be detailed. Call me crazy but I’ve grown tired of the “locker room at Chick-fil-A” scent that hits me every time I open the door.

I’m not complaining. Honest. But I’ve come to a point in life and parenting where I do not expect much when it comes to celebrating my birthday. My family’s strengths lie in other areas - like power drinking gallons of milk and playing endless hours of FIFA. That’s why the kindness of my friends was special. I wasn’t expecting much of anything, so even a little gesture meant a lot.

The Golden Girls

Speaking of friendship, recently on my podcast, The Page of Our Lives, my co-host, Paige and I talked about friendship and recapped a recent trip we took to Florida to attend a women’s conference. And as God’s kindness would have it, the timing of this trip meant I completely missed Winter Storm Landon who showed up at home while I was away. I thought I should probably feel guilty about kayaking on a sunny 85 degree day while my family was suffering through snow and single digits, but as evidenced by this picture, I did not.

This trip was by far the highlight of February and maybe all of 2022. It involved kayaking with manatees, discount store mumus, eating charcuterie in a 15 passenger mom van, heavy-handed spray tans and endless hours of laughter. A perfect combination for a girl’s weekend, if you ask me.

To hear about all the fun we had, check out Season 3, Episode 1 - “Beautiful Friendships”:

So as we wrap up this month of love, I have been reminded over and over of the love of friendship. I am so grateful for my friends. You inspire me, support me and make me better. And some of you make me look a little more golden.

Keep laughing about the little things,

Leslee