You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you just might find, you get what you need - oh yeah!

I have sung this lyric to my children since they were 2 years old...but did I really think about how it applied to me? Not until tonight...

Of course what we all want are guarantees and reassurances that everything is going to turn out exactly like we want it to. I'm a control freak when it comes to trying to make sure that happens, not just for me, but for others around me as well. Because deep down I want everybody (including me) to be happy. I KNOW it's not possible to please everyone, but just every once in a while I am given the opportunity to "do the right thing", and tonight was one of those nights.

I had two birthday parties to attend, both for beautiful girls with the biggest personalities and the biggest hearts to match. I did not want to disappoint either one of them, but I also wasn't in much of a partying mood.

Suffice it to say, I put on my best party duds, pulled off a logistical feat of juggling kids and parties, and had a great time doing it. Both of these women were so appreciative of my appearances at their parties, I felt a little guilty about how little effort it actually took. And now I feel a bit sad that I wasn't able to spend more time at these parties; there were amazing and interesting people at both that I would to have loved spending more time with. I've opened my heart and my mind in ways I never saw myself doing, and in doing so, everyday I feel like it's MY birthday. Giving IS better than receiving!

However, that said, receiving is nice too and I have been blessed in the past week or so with the absolute kindest and most complimentary words from my friends. I've been trying this year to be more honest and open and approachable and positive and I guess I have been and I got my reward in these words "You make people feel good just to be around you." WOW! Is that the most amazing compliment ever or what?! So I don't always get what I want. But thanks to my friends, I get what I need.

Happy Birthday!