Happy Birthday to me (almost)...and a Giveaway!

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Mine went by super fast, but was nice.  I was able to craft alot on Saturday and yesterday between church, so I'll be sharing those goodies soon.  But....for today, no project, just a post. 

Tomorrow is my 36th birthday.  Yikes.  I feel like I'm getting old very quickly.  Now, I realize that's not old to some, but it sure feels that way at times.  It really bothered me when I turned 30, but the birthdays since then haven't really bothered me so much.  Until this one.  Not sure why really.... closer to 40, maybe?  OMG.  Closer to 40?  Did those words really come out of my mouth?  I still feel like I'm a 20-something and have my whole life ahead of me.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I don't think it's all coming to an end just because I'm inching toward that big 4-0 mark.  But as my birthday has approached this year, I've reminisced alot.  As I've mentioned before, I'm Miss Type A Personality.  Big Time.  I'm a planner.  I love a well laid plan and when it comes together, it's even better.  When I was younger, I had it all planned out.  You get the picture.  I just knew by this point I would be living the in this perfect house with a white picket fence and a husband, daughter, son and dog.  I would be a stay at home mom, and because I'd married a wealthy man, we'd have it all (what is "all"?  who knows...).   I'd have a spotlessly clean house and my children would never behave badly and we'd be the most perfect family ever.   (ha ha...now I'm just being funny) Well, needless to say, that didn't happen.  I have no house with a picket fence.  I have no daughter, son or dog.  I don't stay at home but instead go to work every day.  And we aren't wealthy.  Yet.  =) 

OK, I'm really not having a pity party.  I said all of that to get to this point.  As life happened, I hit alot of bumps, and sometimes potholes, in the road.  There are many things that haven't worked out as I'd planned.  And because of my personality, I've spent way too long analyzing where I went wrong on certain things or what I could have changed.  But you know what?  None of it matters now!  What has happened before is over and done.  And the best laid plans in the world don't make us happy.  (That was a hard lesson for me)  So, what's the point of all my rambling?  I just wanted to share with you that I am so grateful that tomorrow I'll be celebrating my 36th year of life on this planet.  God has blessed me with so many wonderful, unexpected things along the way.  I'm excited for my birthday tomorrow.  Not because of gifts or parties or cake (don't think I'll have much of that...ha ha), but because there are so many people that don't have the life or blessings that I have.  And because God has me inscribed in the palm of his hand and I can't wait to see what He has in store for the next 36 years! 

To celebrate my day, I want to bless you all with a giveaway. Enough of the serious stuff, right?  On to the fun!  I can truly say that this blog has been one of my biggest surprises and blessings.  I like to talk way too much and never thought anyone would want to read my ramblings or see my cards.  And you all keep coming back!  You rock!  So, for my birthday, I'm going to give one of you a surprise.  I'm not telling what it is, because birthday gifts are so much better if they're surprises, right?  To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your contact info.  You have until Friday to enter and I'll draw a winner on Saturday morning.  Good Luck!

Blessings,

Cheryl