Must. Have.

Honey. Must. Build. Five.

We had been without power all afternoon but we thought that playing a game by torch light would be a super memory.  As we walked into the house the power came back on and we ended up talking and laughing some more.  No games but still good times.

The actual anniversary of my birth was full of excitement.  I came down the stairs to eleven voices singing “happy birthday”; my personal family, my brother and his family, and my sister and her clan.  Andy and Anna had skyped in from Asia and Alabama – such fun.  My family stood before me wearing. . . what else . . . matching tshirts that my sister and mother had put together and sent up.

It was Bible Study day at church but I wore the shirt and was a good sport.  I even took pictures throughout the day to confirm that I wore it all day.

Later that afternoon there was a knock on the door and this woman started to walk into the house.  She stopped short when she saw I was alone AND when I put my hand up and said, “Hold on.  I don’t know who you are!”  Turns out – she was Elizabeth and she was there to deliver a singing telegram (yes, people actually get those) from my family in Asia.  There was a trivia section where I had to try and match the answers Andy had given.

There was a Captain and Tennille song and then the birthday song.  At one point she turned to me and explained that she was use to have a large crowd that would join in and she would sing harmony.  She asked if I would mind singing along so she could do the harmony bit.  I obliged.

It was super fun.  She kept saying, “Y’all are something.” and “I’ve never met a family like y’all before.”  It was sweet and will be a memory I cherish.  Good one, brother.

Finally I was able to go out with my honey for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (thanks, Jean!) and a movie afterward.  At least that was the plan.  As you can see, we made it to the Cheesecake Factory:

After dinner we went up and bought tickets to see “Pom Wonderful presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” and found seats in the center of the empty theater.  Just as I settled in and Honey left for a quick trip down the hall, the phone rang.  It was the babysitter.  She was locked in KB’s room.  Seriously.

I am so thankful she had her phone.  Bubba didn’t answer her shouts and she couldn’t get the windows open. We got our money back for the tickets and drove home early.  I didn’t mind.  I got to snuggle on the couch with my Honey and watch an episode of Doctor Who and that was nice.

All this plus a gazillion birthday wishes on Facebook, a sweet package from dear friends in Birmingham, and a precious call from my father-in-law.  It was a great day and I felt very loved.  I didn’t even mind topping the hill.