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!

Wedding #2!

You guys!!!

Thank you so much for all the birthday love yesterday! It was such a lovely day, and I can't wait to tell you about it!

But before I tell you about my birthday, I have to tell you about our Saturday! Ryan worked, and I spent the whole day cleaning and cooking and preparing for Mommapalooza 4.0. (Don't take that in a complaining tone; I loved doing it!)

But that afternoon, we got all gussied up (as they say) and went to our second wedding in as many weeks! I told you last month about my friend Brittany (whose family has taken me in as an additional family member) and her bridal shower, where I served as speaker and photographer. Well, the wedding was Saturday! And it was lovely.

The wedding was at a country club, so that meant we had to pull out better than our Sunday best!

We had a gorgeous day for a drive, which was good, since we had a little over an hour on the road!

I ran into one of my former students at the wedding (from my Financial Aid days) as soon as I arrived. We stared at each other for a minute, trying to figure out who we were. We finally got it! I don't often see people from those days, so that was fun!

Because I've forgotten how to look at a camera:

Brittany was a beautiful bride, and I sneaked a few pictures, while trying not to be "that" guest.

Really enjoyed the ceremony, and then the reception was fun, too!

Brittany shared that they chose to get married in May because her parents had gotten married in May, and so had her aunt and uncle, and so had her grandparents! They honored her grandparents by sharing a special dance with them. (Also, I first typed "daince," which may pay tribute to the fact that an Andy Griffith marathon played in our house all day today.)

And speaking of her grandparents, I stole these two pictures from them. Seems I got asked to dance (or daince) too!

Thanks, Sandee! :)

When we left the reception, we headed in search of some coffee and then went to pick up our Phoebe girl, who spent the night with us. When we made that stop, I GOT FLOWERS!! These were part of my birthday gift from Ryan!

Fun evening!! And we got home before the shoes started killing my feet! BONUS!!!!

The Shafferland Shuffle

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY (to you)!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY (to me)!! I fully anticipate today to be crazy busy here in Shafferland, but it'll be great to fill you in later!

Meanwhile, here's a peek at our last week.

* Last Sunday was Ryan's sister's bridal shower, and I took pictures at that while Ryan stayed home and enjoyed a MUCH deserved nap! Bre's shower was so nice, and she got tons of nice gifts. I think she was a little overwhelmed by it all, actually! But it was a good day.

* I actually had Monday off from my carpool duties, but I ended up helping another of our friends get his kiddo home from school, so it ended up balancing out. At least it was a pretty-ish day and I could enjoy my time in line! I spent the whole afternoon making props for one of my talks next week, and then I did my first "dress rehearsal" for it. Ryan felt it necessary to take my picture. I told him it looks like I'm directing a choir. LOL!

* Ryan had a carry-in at work on Tuesday, and I made these uh-mazing Samoa brownies to take to it. I was hoping everyone would hate them and I could bring them all home, but it didn't work out that way. That night, Mom and Dad took us out to eat for our birthdays, and we got free dessert! Made up for the Samoa brownies that didn't come home. HA!

* I spent Wednesday creating my 10 page color-coded itinerary to get us through the upcoming schedule madness, and that made me so tired by the end of the day, I just wanted to sit down and put my feet up! So I did! I did watch my friend's kiddos that evening for a little bit. This one cracks me up. Wants to play with the ball that's the same size she is!

* By Thursday, we were pooped, and Ryan took a nap at the end of lunch to get enough energy to get through the afternoon. I've been there!! We went out to buy all the rest of our flowers for this year so we could get those planted. It wasn't a super warm and sunny evening, but at least the rain held off!

* Friday, to celebrate the end of National Hospital Week, a food truck came to Ryan's work, and he was SO excited, because it was BBQ, and he loves BBQ! Friday was the nicest day of the whole week, and we were able to mow the yard and plant all our flowers. Looks like summer, now!

* Yesterday, Ryan had to work, and while he was gone, I got the garage set up to host Mommapalooza 4.0 and worked to prepare all the food I could ahead of time! When Ryan got home from work, we got all dressed up and went to wedding #2 for the month! Had a lovely time! Ryan makes one handsome date, doesn't he???

The Saturday Six

One.

 Maybe it's the book nerd in me, I don't know, but I found this post fascinating. Behind the scenes look at the design of a book cover. (And also - I wanna be a book cover model!! And also also - yes, I know I'm not a model.)

Two.

Last year, I did Erica Wiggenhorn's Bible Study, "An Unexplainable Life" twice. Once on my own and once leading the small group with Ryan's work friends. It really changed the way I view my relationship with the Lord and with the local church body. Well, Erica has a sequel study coming out NEXT MONTH, and I cannot wait to dig into it! It's called "The Unexplainable Church," and I hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighly recommend it, based on what I know of the first study!! If your small group is scoping out studies to go over this fall, PICK THESE! 

Three.

 Garage sale season is upon us, and I found this article chronicling some of the best things to hunt for at these sales! Good ideas!

Four.

 Maybe THIS is why my running speeds aren't as fast as some??? I am not using these? (Although I did have a really good mile this week. Second mile was terrible, but mile one was AMAZING!)

Five.

 I have a lot of teacher friends, and I know they are weary at the end of this school year. (And every school year.) I used to want to be a teacher, so I have a tender place in my soul for them and the work they do, especially when feeling so restricted by goals to achieve things that go far outside their intended subject. That's why this post is so perfect. If you're a teacher (or know and love one), read it!
 
Six.

 
Often when I tell you about a book I've read, I am quick to gush about how I flew through it. Couldn't put it down. I guess in my mind, that is one of the great compliments to a book: this one was so good, I just couldn't put it down. And probably for fiction, especially, that is true. But this week I learned the opposite can also be a high compliment to a book. Messy Beautiful Friendship was that book for me this week. It was so good, I had to keep putting it down so I could chew on the words and let them wash over me before I continued.

Christine Hoover is a Texas-loving pasttor's wife who left her beloved Texas roots (and friends) to follow her husband's ministry call to Virginia. This is not her first book, but it was my introduction to her, and my goodness, do I ever appreciate the heart, soul, and deep transparency she put into this book!

It's hard to write about friendship. I think it's harder now than ever, because friendship is so confusing (thanks, social media!) anymore. Facebook has redefined the word "friend" entirely, and we all have to stop and translate in our heads to know for sure where each person in our "friend" life actually fits.

Friendship is hard because we can be catty. Friendship is hard because we compare. Friendship is hard because we're busy. Friendship is hard because we're prideful. But friendship is a gift from the Lord designed (amazingly enough) NOT to fill our social media feed, but to fill our souls and push us closer to Him.

I've heard that about marriage before. I've never thought of it being the same for friendship until I read Christine's book. If we're doing friendship the way the Lord designed, we are friends filled with grace, we aren't afraid of conflict, we dig deep, we walk through the hard stuff just as faithfully as the fun stuff, and in the end, we both know we're nearer to the Lord because this friendship exists.

Christine shares many vulnerable stories from her own life and shows through her own successes and failures how to have honest conversations, move past assumptions (and their lies), walk through valleys, and believe the best from friends.

This book was very convicting to me. I'm not always the friend I want to be, and I read many reminders of why I need to do some things differently, as well as many convicting words about the proper role of friendships in my life.

This book isn't a fast read, and I mean that as a high compliment. If you do blow through it, I think you'll miss so many key points you should pause to digest, savor, and even implement.

If you're frustrated by your friendships, whether the lack or state of them, pick up this book. She has many wise nuggets to share (even a list of them in the back!) and she's safe to learn from, because she's not a perfect friend either. (And what a relief that was to know!)

* Baker Books sent me a copy of this book; all opinions are my own!*

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!!!