Thursday, July 30, 2009

More than Just a Birthday

Tuesday, my birthday, was more than just a birthday.
It was a testament to how much people love me.

My sisters came to my house well past midnight, the night before, to heart attack me. To write personalized, special, dirty, and pretty hilarious love notes all over my house.

They did it not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Because the love me.



And then I went to work. And people had given me balloons, and gifts, and they had even decorated my twin brother's cubie.
And we were happy.



After work, the sisters had planned a secret lunch for Brett and I. We of course knew about it weeks in advance, but our family still inisists on calling it the "Secret Birthday Lunch." It was lovely. So many people had put so much time and effort into a delicious lunch to celebrate me. (And him. :)


Afterward, Brandon had planned with Angela (Brett's wife) that we were going to go to a movie, and dinner. And then afterward Brandon had a surprise for me. I had no idea what it was, much to my conseternation. I ALWAYS know what my surprises are. I'm a master guesser and snooper. But not this time. I could not get it out of him, I could not figure it out.


After the movie was over, we had to stop at Brett and Angela's to get the gift card for Market Street Grill, where we were to partake of our birthday meal.

I walked in the door.
I walked up the landing.
And there were people everywhere. I looked around, bewildered.

SURPRISE!!!!! Everybody shouted.

And I just stared.
I was in shock.

My first two thoughts were
1) Someone had died and everybody was here to tell me about it
or
2) Some idgit had planned some sort of INTERVENTION on my birthday. (LAME)

But no.

They were here for me. For my birthday. To celebrate me. (And Brett. :)
I wanted to cry. These people could be at their kids soccer games, or they could be at a movie, they could be anywhere else in the world but here, to celebrate me. I kept saying Thank you so much for coming, for being here. Because I couldn't believe that they would. Just because. Just because they love me.

The party was amazing. Burgers, fruit, cakes, the whole works. My best friend drove four hours from St. George to come. My dear friend D that I haven't seen in a long time came. My sisters, their spouses. Brett's (and mine) old friends from high school. My in-laws, everyone. They all came.
Last night, as I was uploading all these photos, I looked at Brandon, and I said,
"I do believe I'm going to cry."

And I did. Because SO MANY people did SO MUCH for me on my birthday. More than I felt I deserved.

Well, the tears wouldn't stop. I put away the laundry, loaded the dishes, all the while, with tears of gratitude streaming down my face. Of awe.
I am loved, even though at times I feel I don't deserve it.

On my birthday, and always. Thank you for giving me that. For giving me more than just a birthday.


It was the best gift I could have ever received.
[EDIT: the pictures in this post are screwed up; some won't enlarge. I'll fix it later.]

19 comments:

Standing in the Rain said...

wow. i want to be part of your family. some seriously kick-ass peeps you've got there!

though if anyone deserves a big ole party after the kind of year you've had, it would be YOU. glad you enjoyed it and had some serious confirmation (if there was any doubt!) how much you are loved and adored!

Laura said...

sounds perfectxoxoxo

tawny said...

oh gosh why am I tearing up a little!!

YOu are one amazin girl and I am so lucky to have you as my sister.

love you! xoxo

(and I loved all of your pics on this post...especially at the Surprise party (your face was priceless!!) and I loved you with your hearts! That was sooooo fun to do that! We love ya sis)

Anonymous said...

Just more confirmation of your wonderfulness. You are adored, Brie, and you deserve it :)

Devon said...

See...the whole while I was thanking Brandon for inviting me. :D

We are all quite lucky to have you in our lives. Can't wait to see you soon, lovely!

- D

Jenny Bay said...

Happy Birthday, Brie!! Sounds like a wonderful day. Love ya!

Lizzy said...

cute brie...happy birthday! its no question why your family loves you so much, you are darling! glad you had a happy day!

Telstaar said...

That was one amazing and super cool surprise Brie!!! I'm so glad that you were able to ENJOY your 25th birthday that you have a lovely and beautiful story to tell for this day forever, that you know how much you're loved and adored and BELOVED by soooo many people. You are wonderbubble and I'm proud of you.

YAY!!! Surprises are cool :) (In this I include surprise lunches that are not actual surprises hehe).

Love you Miss B. xox

Brooke said...

I'm so glad you had an amazing day! Glad I could be there for MOST of it! When we heart-attacked it really felt like toilet-papering when I was 13. Or when I put bean and bacon soup on Vicki Anderson's (the wicked witch of the west) garden flowers. Oh..the good ol' days.

You are so so so so worth the day you had! Don't think another thing about it! I'm glad you had a great day. Sorry I had to miss the night, but I heard it was a great turn-out and beautiful. Love you!

Unknown said...

Hey missy... I've been MIA for a while, but secretly stalkin' you (which I guess isn't so much a secret anymore). Anyway, just wanted to wish you a belated feliz cumpleaƱos. Muchos abrazos. Hope all your birthday wishes come true.

alriggells said...

I am so sorry I had to miss it. Work meeting didn't get out when it was suppose to. I hope it was perfect. I love you girl

rachel ramsay said...

i wish i could've been there.... oh wait, i was and it was rad and so are you and it was totally worth the trip!

Maeve said...

I'm so glad you had a happy birthday! You deserved every kind thing that people did for you!!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!!!
Flor (floreshayes@gmail.com)
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Amber said...

I am glad you had a good birthday! Fo sho you deserve it. Cade was really cute at your party, he knows his b-day is coming. Love ya, it was a fun day.

Amber said...

I am glad you had a good birthday! Fo sho you deserve it. Cade was really cute at your party, he knows his b-day is coming. Love ya, it was a fun day.

Arielle Lee Bair said...

That is amazing and you deserve it! I'm so glad to hear you had a great day and felt so loved and celebrated. Definitely something to keep in the memory bank for when you're feeling down and alone. :)

Alexandra Rising said...

You are beautiful and it sounds like you have amazing people in your life :] I follow your blog, I hope that is alright. Happy belated birthday!

Laura said...

um
ok
NOT your birthday anymore
can we get a new post please?
or are you too old to blog?