Gift Requests

Today is my birthday. It's already a huge change from the past. Two years ago for my birthday my husband was in Oklahoma, and I was in Arkansas. Not only did I not get a gift, but I didn't even get a card. I got nothing. His birthday prior to that I had planned a surprise party for him, gave him several gifts, and made a big deal of it. For me on my birthday, though, not even a card...

Last year we were in Colorado with my family. We are a family that is more celebratory than the average family. My family made a big deal of my birthday, took me on a sleigh ride, took us all to eat at an awesome restaurant, and had a cake and everything for me back at the house. My husband got me nothing. Finally, late in the day, we walked into a shop and saw a toboggan I liked. He bought it for me and said it was my birthday present since he didn't get me anything.

This year everything has changed for me. We've had so many things going on. We're trying to redo our house so we can get it sold and get moved to a house in town. We're still working on his claims and stuff with the VA. We have several doctors appointments nearly every week for him. I'm in grad school. We have all the PTO stuff at my stepson's school. And the infertility treatments and appointments are time consuming and mentally and emotionally exhausting. We have not had a "date" in forever! Gifts for me don't really hold much importance to me now. I would rather get something for my husband, stepson, parents, or someone else. So.... my ONE gift request from my husband this year... A Date!!! That is all that matters to me. I just want to spend some time with him.

My mom then got to asking me what I wanted for my birthday. I racked my brain trying to figure out what I could possibly want. The only thing that mattered to me was for her and daddy to come down and stay with us for a few days. She took me shopping in hopes that I would come up with something tangible that I wanted. Nothing. I could not come up with anything. All I want is a visit from my parents.

So today is going really good. I have a date with my husband tonight. He's taking me to P.F. Chang's, my second favorite restaurant. My favorite is Ruth's Chris, but we don't have one here. Then he told me last night that his plan for the date fell through. He tried to surprise me with a carriage ride in Little Rock. I was shocked! He was so upset that it fell through, but I was so excited that he was trying so hard to give me a good date that I didn't care at all that it fell through. Actually doing it isn't what matters to me. Knowing that my husband was putting effort into a night just for me meant far more to me than ANY tangible gift could ever mean!!!

Mom and Dad called and said they are coming down Saturday to go to an antique show with us and take us to dinner. They're only staying for the day because we have my stepson this weekend. They want to be able to spend a few days helping us redo the house when they come stay with us, so they are going to plan another time when we don't have my stepson and can get a lot of work done. So I get a double whammy from them... two visits!!!!

I am so excited about this birthday and my awesome gifts!!!