Sunday Gratitudes (on a Monday)

I spent the weekend in Utah being with both sides of the family. It was fun to be with everyone. Mr. Wonderful's family got together for a formal portrait. We wore black/kahki/red color schemes. The pictures were supposed to be outside, but with the pouring rain we ended up at the office building that Mr. W's brother #2 owns. After that we went out to dinner....all 33 of us. Unbeknownst to me, dinner was a party for me. Actually, dinner was a wake for me. Because I turn the big 4-0 tomorrow. Since everyone was already in black, the Sister-in-Loves donned black veils and made me a "Happy 40th" sash to wear. The Love Magnet helped me to open my presents but I did blow out my candles all by myself. My mother-in-law thought it was all insulting and worried that I would be deeply offended. Au contraire, I felt very loved. (You love me! You really love me!)

Mr. Wonderful gave me my birthday present early.

Oh, yes, I got my Garmin! He bought me a Garmin 405. After doing some research, we discovered that the 405 still had bugs that needed to be worked out. We returned the 405 and bought the 205 (305 has a strap-on-heart monitor that I did not really want). I can't wait for my 205 to come via Amazon (along with three running books aimed at women, one of them a marathon training book).

Sunday, we watched General Conference and got together with my family for lunch. I made Creamy Chicken Chili and baked rolls. We talked about my parents coming home in less than a month and made plans. The kids ran wild with their cousins. We had a good time.

Now we're back home and back into the weekly grind. I miss my family already. so here is my Sunday Gratitude (on a Monday) for the family I was born into and the family I married into. I love you all so very much and I'm grateful that Families are Forever.