Best Birthday Week Ever!

I am so spoiled.  And I love it.

First we celebrated Fiesta style with my family.  

DD brought out her ethnic dress collection and gave us all one to keep.  I posted this later on Facebook: 

I said I wanted to lose some weight to look better in mine (typical woman).  DD replied that I always look beautiful to her. I know she means it because she always looks beautiful to me. Unconditional love is the perfect message on a birthday, and I am so thankful for those who see me for what I have gained over the years rather than what I have lost. Fleeting youth and beauty are no match for unconditional love. What a glorious reminder of how God sees me every day. I love my family, and my friends who love me like family. ♥

Later, I heard this quote in a song and it fit the theme of my birthday week so well:

"I have a perfect body but sometimes I forget 

I have a perfect body 'cause my eyelashes catch my sweat."
-Regina Spektor, Folding Chair

I love this line. Makes me giggle and reminds me of Psalm 139:14.

Thank you God for health and eyelashes. :) Not always the first thing to come to mind when I hear "perfect body" but they should be!

On my actual birthday, Adel and a sweet friend brought me flowers and wine.  

 And Adel and the kids bought me "presents"...gobs of my favorite high-calorie goodies.  Glad I've started back to regular exercise because this is not going to help me feel dress-worthy!  I've been sharing as much as I can.  But more yum!

Then, the final treat of the week was a party with a few of my friends that Adel went all-out for with his mad cooking skills.

PF-Chang-style lettuce wraps 

Olive-Garden-style spinach artichoke dip 

Shannon picked up some spanakopita

And made bruschetta

fruit platter

 And I put together a warm brie dish

 And Adel finished the night with his AWESOMELY FANTASTIC 4-layer chocolate cheesecake (he says I way overuse the words awesome and fantastic so I thought I'd put them together for a grand finale of overuse...but seriously, the cake is fantastically awesome).

 We feasted, played Pictionary, and had fun with a "photo booth" that Diana set up.  Who knew how much fun you could have with a few accessories, an empty frame, and a camera.  I made sure every friend took at least one photo with me.  It started silly and just got sillier.

Celeste

Chandra and I.  I love her pirate face.  

Miss Julie

 Shannon and I 

 Cheerleader and fireman

Getting creative with accessories.

Little man 

Jennifer and I

 Diana and I

"Wait, why are you biting a chopstick?"

This is getting way too silly.

Anything that ends in laughter is well worth doing.

How I love my beautiful friends.  Thank you all for coming and for filling my life with laughter and silliness.