The Shafferland Shuffle

I feel like you don't need a shuffle this week, because you've been shuffling through my week ALL week! But watch that stop me from subjecting you to a shuffle anyway! HA!

* So about a million years ago was one week ago today: Mother's Day and my birthday! It really does feel like forever ago! We hosted Mommapalooza 4.0, we celebrated my birthday, AND we had Phoebe all day. It was one delightful and busy day!

* I kept right on celebrating my birthday on Monday, because I still had my free Starbucks drink coming to me. I got the S'mores drink for a treat, and it was delish. Monday was also the start of the speak-four-places-in-four-days tour! Ryan went with me to Fairfield Christian Church, and we had a great time with the ladies there. (And my Mom showed up to surprise me!)

* Tuesday morning, I went to a women's Bible study at Lakeview Wesleyan church to speak with them. They were so warm and kind! Know what else was warm and kind? My coffee and trip to Cato that followed it! I do miss Cato. Ryan and I needed some down time that night, so we went on a nice sunset walk. It was so lovely!

* Wednesday was our big day! Ryan took a vacation day to accompany me to Indiana Wesleyan, where I spoke at the first ever Staff Council retreat! So thankful that went well (at least I think it did, anyway!) and also so thankful that Ryan went with me! It helped so much to have him there! After we were done with that, we did our date inspired by the letter I. Still haven't had a chance to tell you about that! Next week. :)

* Ryan also took Thursday off work, just to get a much-deserved break, and he elected to come with me to my final speaking engagement of the week - at Point Isabel United Methodist Church. Great way to end the week! (Also, please THOROUGHLY enjoy how the stained glass behind me looks like bunny ears on me. I crack up every time I see these pictures!) We got to spend the rest of the day together and it was so nice!

* Because our week had not been eventful enough, we took a little road trip on Friday! We had been looking forward to our little getaway to southern Michigan, but apparently our luck with Michigan returned again, and on May 19th, it was in the low 40's and we were in hats and sweatshirts, trying to enjoy the beach! But you know the Shaffers...we'll make the best of it, even if it's not ideal weather! :)

 * Yesterday was another cold and rainy day, but we didn't let that stop us from having some fun together! Many adventures to tell you about next week, but let's just say the day included (but was not limited to) the following: much coffee, a pie tasting, naps, and SHOPPING!!!

Birthday Fun!

It's podcast Tuesday, and here is our offering to you. (Please excuse our occasional mental blocks. I think our brains had started to shut down!) But we did have some fun stories from the wedding (yesterday's blog) and my birthday and Mommapalooza! :)

Listen here.

For the second year in a row, my birthday fell on a weekend, so Ryan and I got to spend the day together, which was basically the perfect way to spend a birthday! :)

Ryan and I are in love with the breakfast pizzas you can get at Casey's. (That's a gas station if you're not from around here or don't purchase your food from gas stations. LOL!) These pizzas are so stinking good, but they're not really good FOR you, so we only get them on very special occasions. Like turning 39.

I also opened all my cards and gifts that had come in the mail and my gift from Ryan! (Had some help from the Pheebster.)

(Excuse my bedhead. And jammies. And everything else.)

 Phoebe reading cards.

 Shari! I LOVED THE MUG! And nope, I sure didn't have one! Thank you!!!!!

 My gift from Ryan, which as I said on the podcast, is basically the size of our house. Poor guy had to have it delivered to work and wrapped it at work. He has a hard time getting stuff like that done at home since I never leave!

 IT'S A NINJA!!!!!

 Ryan suggested maybe it was a recycled box. Phoebe did not approve of the joke.

 No but for real! It is a Ninja! With all the bells and whistles! Single serving cups, the big blender, the food processor. Sweet goodness. Watch out! The Shaffers are in business!!!

The next phase of celebration came in conjunction with Mommapalooza, so I'll save the actual mother-related parts for tomorrow, but it's fun to have a birthday that falls on a holiday when people can actually show up and celebrate with you! We had 13 people over for lunch, and I hope they had fun; I did!

My birthday flowers from Ryan. They wouldn't all fit in one vase. Terrible problem to have, isn't it? :)

Ice cream cake - from my mother!

Gifts with the fam:

 My sister, Julie! All beach themed gifts from her! YAY!

Terrible photo of me, but cracks me up because the first thing I do when I get a book is smell it. I LOVE the smell of new books! This is my new Bible!! :) Thanks, Mom and Dad!

 The gift from the Mini-Shaffers required assistance in opening. :) They got me one of those super cool travel mugs that looks like a camera lens. I have always wanted one! (Well, since I knew they existed, of course.)

 Birthday photo with the Pheebster.

 They sang to me! (I secretly love blowing out candles more than I should.)

After everyone left Mommapalooza and we got things cleaned up, we just enjoyed a nice evening at home together. Went for a walk...drank some coffee...watched a little TV...caught up on my Facebook well-wishes. It was a good day!

Thanks Ryan (and everyone!) for making it such a lovely day!

Looking Back

Since tomorrow will be a Saturday Six post and Sunday a Shafferland Shuffle post, I guess today is the last chance I have to look back (on the blog) over my past year before entering...EEK!...thirty-nine. I refuse to think about how that means I am entering my actual fortieth year, and I prefer to focus on clinging to the "last year of my thirties."

I'm not freaked out (yet) about turning forty, because I don't think forty looks or acts as old today as it did a decade or two ago. But it remains to be seen, as I go through this whole process of turning 39, if the freak-out mode comes eventually.

I'm grateful for this past year and all the many blessings it's brought my way.

May I share a few?

I met Phoebe. :)

Love me some Phoebe, and I actually get to spend my birthday with her, which makes me so happy.

I've had the chance to do a lot of writing, which feeds my soul.

I was invited to speak at a little church one Sunday morning, and not only have they invited me back to speak again, but their ladies included me in a Bible study this spring, and that was a blessing. New friendships formed!

Went to my 20th high school reunion, which is just not even POSSIBLE.

Watched my niece get married!

Successfully (along with my family) pulled off the surprise party of the year...Mom's 80th birthday party!

Published my second book.

Continued the county tour fun!

Started Tuesdays at the Table.

 Shared at women's retreats.

Celebrated four years of marriage to Ryan! (YAY!!)

Launched a website (TOTALLY because I have a smart friend who helped me!)

Went on SO MANY FUN DATES with Ryan. My goodness. We had a blast.

And then of course, you remember the gallcation...

...and the failed attempts at potty training Braeya.

Tried to be a good daughter when Mom had her hip replacement!

Started doing our alphabetical dates:

And there were so many other things too! Leading Bible study with Ryan, finding a new church home, starting the Conversation Cafe, redoing our garage, refinishing the kitchen cabinets, time with friends...such a full and beautiful year!

So grateful and so excited to see what God has ahead!!!

Birthdays, Gifts, and Goodwill

Have I mentioned Sunday's my birthday?

What? Only daily? Oh! Okay. Well then I won't tell you again.

(That Sunday is my birthday, I mean.)

A couple of years ago, my parents started a tradition of taking Ryan and me out for dinner in between our birthdays. A big birthday palooza for all. This year, we decided to go to Cracker Barrel, and Mom said we could order whatevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvver we wanted. (That's a joke from my childhood. On regular days, the goal was to eat frugally. On birthdays, you could get whatevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvver you wanted.)

 Sorry about my hair and our halos. I promise my hair looks better earlier in the day. It seems to fade fast by evening.

Anyway. We got delicious dinners, and our waitress, who was amazing by the way, brought us birthday desserts!!

After we left, we headed to the Goodwill to look for some boots for Ryan, and LOOK WHAT WE FOUND ACROSS THE STREET? IT IS ALMOST READY!!!

Best. Birthday. Gift. Ever.

We were looking for boots to wear in his sister's wedding, and we found them, but he also found this and wanted to wear it. (Possibly with the flamingo suit. You remember the flamingo suit.)

Before we came home, we went to Kohl's, and apparently I took too long trying on dresses. Found these on my phone when I came out of the dressing room.

So now you're caught up on our birthday celebrations! Until Sunday. My birthday. ;)