Thursday the 13th of June was my 26th birthday, and turned out to be my best one yet.  Usually I dread my birthday, not because of getting older but because I have always had bad birthdays.  The past couple years I have had to work late, have had some major problem to deal with, or someone just ruined my day.  So, I think of my birthday as a day I know is going to be tough, so I have to mentally prepare for the challenge of it all.

Of course, typical birthday- news reported there was a torrential rainstorm heading in our direction.  This not only impacted any dinner plans Nathan had made, but caused me to have to call in to work so I could drive out to Marshall to pick up Wanda from being bred for the second time (it didn’t take the first time) to beat the storm.  Luckily mom realized what I was about to do, and motherly instincts had her call in to work as well to ride with me (always better to have two people when you’re dealing with horses and storms!).  An hour to pick up the trailer, another hour to the vet, an hour back to drop Wanda off at her home barn and mom at their house, and an hour back from my parents.  Four hours of driving in the rain and the last 5 miles I was caught in the storm driving 10 mph with hazards flashing on I-66.  Of course, I stopped for some Taco Bell as a birthday treat for myself, because it is so ridiculously delicious and yet so terrible for you.  Happy birthday to me!

As soon as I got home, I started getting ready for dinner with Nathan, which he had told me was at 7:45 at Founding Farmers in downtown DC.  For once in my life I was completely ready to go at 6:30, and kept telling him to hurry up and get ready so we could just go early.  What I didn’t know, was that he had called up my closest friends and invited them to dinner with us!  So, after what I now know was lots of stalling, we arrived at the restaurant for my surprise birthday dinner party.  I had a wonderful time and the food was delicious.  Nathan’s sister even drove the two hours from her house in Charlottesville to celebrate with us, which was really special of her.  I am so thankful for Nathan and especially for all my friends and family!  This year was wonderful, so I’ll leave it on a good note.  No more birthdays for me 🙂