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Yup, that’s right folks… today marks my 26th BiRtHdAy!

WOOHOO!

If you’ve read other posts on this blog or know me in the tiniest way – you’ll know that

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!

I think they’re so FUN, should be CELEBRATED and you should feel SPECIAL on your day!

Now I’ve learned over the years that the birthday celebration can look quite different depending on the family you’ve grown up in, how your birthdays were celebrated as a kid and who you’re around each year! For my family, birthdays are a big deal – not necessarily a time to throw a huge party or invite everyone you know over but more of a time of making YOU feel special on your day, well really the whole month & week of your birthday!

Each September of my life has been special – simply because my parents, family and friends made it that way through fun birthday messages, countdowns until the big day and definitely celebrating the day-of! Gifts aren’t the main focus of birthdays (though I love surprises!) – to me it’s about celebrating life, a day to celebrate who I am and how God’s made my life unique! That’s exactly why I think EVERYONE’S birthday should be celebrated and super special! As one friend wrote on a card I received this year, “You are loved, so celebrate well!”

Of course, the traditional things about birthdays are fun too!
Cake, gifts, phone calls, cards, etc!
My Mom used to come up with a different type of cake or design to make each year until I chose a coconut cake a while back…. which has become the tradition of my little family now too! Keith makes a Coconut Cake for my birthday, and I do the same for him for his in May.  And, ever since moving away from home my first year of college – my parents call as soon as they wake up on Sept. 16th (keep in mind they typically wake up about 3 hours before me!) to sing to me! No matter where I am, or what we’re doing each year – I can count on those two traditions without fail!

I love celebrating birthdays because it’s also a time to plan a party for someone! To make all the details of things the birthday girl/boy loves come alive and invite those who are a part of their life over to celebrate!
And parties are just plain FUN!

I seriously think I could write a book about why birthdays are special and how exciting it is to be able to celebrate them! (I’m getting excited just blogging about it and trying to think of the next person I can plan a birthday party for!) I encourage you, even if you don’t have birthday traditions or if your family’s not quite as focused on birthdays – try it this year! CELEBRATE like no-other time before!

When I first started dating the hubby, our families had VERY different birthday traditions! Neither are bad, but birthdays simply aren’t as big of a deal in his family like in mine. My first birthday in New Jersey was a very interesting one and I have to say Keith learned very quickly that our future family would make birthdays a big deal! (We won’t go into it but let’s just say I spent most the day alone while he played softball and a late-night ice cream cake party was thrown together because he knew I was disappointed!) Since then we’ve learned about expectations and started our own traditions that we hope to carry on in our family. And now… he’s AMAZING at celebrating my birthday month (though he’s a bit confused and thinks it goes from Aug 16- Sept 16 instead of the month of Sept… we’re working on that!) He’s actually out right now getting everything to make my requested dinner and coconut cake… and he decorated/wrote on every mirror and tile surface in our house this morning!
(The man knows the way to my heart… good food & notes!)

So “that’s how we do” around these parts! Birthdays are SPECIAL because YOU are special!

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For all those on FB, thank you for the birthday wishes!

It’s been a fantastic day so far and promises to continue!

I am so not ashamed to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MYSELF!

Hope you ENJOI TODAY as much as I am!

-Shannon