So 40 DD culminated last night in a way I never expected but absolutely loved! Lacey and Laurie pulled it off and we had a great time at Rydell High last night. They dressed me as Sandy and they were the Pink Ladies. Several good friends were at Sheri's and we overdosed on "Grease". The biggest surprise was when my " Danny "showed up to boogie with me to "You're the One that I want". It was an unforgettable night!

Day 36 (10/18): I was awakened at 7:20 by a knock on my bedroom door and a greeting by my sister. It was so surreal. She jumped on my bed and told me today was her day. She brought Krispy Kremes, Starbucks and hot chocolate for the kids. Ian was home sick that day but we did get to scoot out for a couple hours of shopping and lunch. It is so rare with the distance and our busy lives to ever get to do something like that. I loved every minute of it.
Day 37 (10/19): My father-in-law, Jim, had two dozen long stemmed red roses delivered in a box. They were wrapped with several pieces of tissue paper. When I took the tissue paper out and laid it on the floor, it spelled out "I LOVE NY 40!" with forty $10 bills. I called him and he told me that "New York is expensive. I don't want you to have to beg on the street corner while you're there." He is so creative and giving. I have to say that this was probably the most creative gift so far.
Day 38 (10/20): My dad and Ann sent me a sweet card and $40.
Day 39 (10/21): I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and went down to the living room to check on Ian. (He had been sick all day and was still sleeping on the couch when I went to bed). He wasn't there and I noticed the basement lights were on and I heard noise down there. I went down and opened the guest room to find my mother-in-law standing there eating a bowl of cereal. I kept thinking I was seeing things or dreaming. She said "Today's my day and I wanted to deliver your present in person." I completely foiled her plan to be sitting in my living room when I came downstairs for breakfast. She was not expecting me at 5 am! I went back upstairs and told Trey "your mother's here!!" As if he wasn't in on all this. Before the kids got up she gave me an incredible scrapbook that she made for me. The theme was "40 reasons why I love Dana." She dedicated 40 pages of pictures describing why she loved me. It is the first scrapbook anyone has ever made me and it is positively priceless!!!! I can't stop looking at it.
Day 40 (10/22): Shelley Davis (who has known me since I was her 15 year old babysitter) sent me a bright beautiful bouquet of flowers with lots of pink and purple. It was waiting on my doorstep this morning along with a very sentimental message. I miss that woman so much!

Boy have I been remiss. I can't believe it's been a week since I posted anything. Sorry.
Day 28 (10/10): Received a wonderful card and incredibly thoughtful letter from Pat Sobo. Pat is a dear friend of Trey's late Aunt Jane who passed away in 1997. I got to know her during Jane's illness when we visited Jacksonville often. She has been excellent at keeping in touch with me/us.
Day 29 (10/11):Kim Philips brought over a delectable chocolate hazelnut cake made from scratch. YUM! I'm still wondering how she had time to make this work of art with three kids under foot and expecting baby #4 in two months. She amazes me.
Day 30 (10/12): Leslie Burzynski sent a beautiful card with a heartwarming message. (She and her husband did our premarital counseling and a lifelong friendship resulted from that time.)
Included in the card was a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. I can't wait to get over there and use that.
Day 31 (10/13): Janet Drew was going to leave something on my porch this morning via an email message I got the previous day. I told her we'd be out of town so we're postponing it to the 21st.
Day 32 (10/14): We were away for the weekend with three other couples and one of the guys, Dan Dahlberg, had this day. This morning when I came in the kitchen, he had set out a few significant items like flowers, a burning candle, a tiara and a handmirror. He explained the meaning of them and read a few passages from the Book of Ruth to me. It was so incredibly thoughtful.
Day 33 (10/15): Tricia Phelan (dear friend from our days of experiencing toddlerhood in Charlotte) sent a funny card with sweet sentiments inside along with a Target gift card!! She knows me well. I spent it (and then some) the very next day.
Day 34 (10/16): Katherine Davis (she already had a day but wanted to really spoil me) sent a package with a great book on prayer, a locket keychain with a "C" engraved on it, a plaque about friendship and notecards. This was a great excuse to talk to her twice in one month. That never happens so that alone was gift enough.
Day 35 (10/17): Lisa Pomilla sent a funny card how the act of telling secrets at our age leaves nothing to worry about because we can't remember them anyhow! Inside the card was a gift certificate to Escape Day Spa. I am ready to escape right now as I've had a sick kid home every day this week.

Day 24 (10/6): As if these two women have not done enough.........Lacey informed me earlier in the week that this was her day. She arrived at 4:00 with an angel food cake and 12 candles. It took me three times to blow them out. Good thing there wasn't 40! We went to Starbucks and she gave me two gifts with two cards that I had to open in order. The first one was symbolic of where our friendship began: at a Beth Moore Bible study. It was Beth's book "The Life of David"--a very cool devotional done only the way Beth Moore can do it. The second was a Travis Cottrell CD--he's the worship leader at Beth's conference, one of which we attended together two years ago. The second card said how she loved to laugh with me and had three tickets to the Improv at the Upfront Theater. The third person to be joining us was Laurie. We went and picked her up and had dinner together at D'anna's Italian restaurant and then to the 7:30 show followed by coffee at The Woods at Boulevard Park. It was a perfect evening.
Day 25 (10/7): Quinn, Ian & Ben's day. Let's just say that they have a different idea of what blessing me looks like. They gave me a very sweet card and let me win at a family game of Uno.
Day 26 (10/8): Mark Zollitsch brought me a "Hope" bouquet of fresh flowers. Along with them was a card offering me 6 hours of "kidcare". He knows the way to my heart!
Day 27 (10/9): Kristen Schoon (my dearest friend from college) now lives in Indiana. She sent me a package that Lacey delivered that afternoon. In the box was the cutest homemade three ring CD case. She is the most creative person I know. Also included was a little "HOPE" plaque. As if that wasn't enough.....her mom (who lives in Lynden) brought me lasagna, garlic bread, salad and brownies for dinner--on behalf of Kristen. She said that she knew my love language was "acts of service" and tried to think of something that would speak to me in that way. It was delicious.

Day 20 (10/2): Carolyn Rhoads (my second mom) sent me a card reminiscing over the last 35 years in which she's known me. It was both laugh out loud funny and tender at the same time. It was fun to be reminded of events I had forgotten about--she has so much dirt on me!!! I have always felt loved by her like I was her own daughter. What a gift.
Day 21 (10/3): Molly Daniels dropped off a gift bag with a cool journal, a book on Hope, a fun Halloween themed coffee mug and Starbucks card. She is too generous. And she has 4 kids! When did she have time to do that??
Day 22 (10/4): Roger Chamberlin was the first guy (besides Trey) to bless me. He and his wife are dear, dear friends of ours. He brought me a stunning fall floral arrangement. It is just the coolest thing you've ever seen. There's even an artichoke in the pot. As if that wasn't enough, he also had with him a pumpkin creme cheese muffin (that's how Starbucks spells "cream") a fresh coffee and a Starbucks card. He sent me a very sweet email and a fun interactive e-card that entertained Ben for most of the afternoon.
Day 23 (10/5): I came back from dropping off my car for servicing this morning to find a bag on the garage steps. Jennifer Rinauro gave me a gorgeous pink candle with a pink ribbon lapel pin. I will wear it proudly for breast cancer awareness month.

Day 17 (9/29): This was my husband's day. I was greeted in the morning with a fresh, hot Starbucks just the way I like it: tall coffee of the day with an inch of steamed breve (cream). He also brought back a bouquet of flowers, a Starbucks gift card and a sweet card. That evening we went out to dinner and he gave me another card describing my "Ultimate Gift". For the coming week I am relieved of all my daily household responsibilities. This means no cooking, cleaning. laundry. errands or taking care of the kids for 7 straight days. I don't quite know what to do with myself. It's amazing how natural it is to constantly pick up, straighten up and clean without evening thinking about it. I think I could get used to this.
Day 18 (9/30): Aunt Nancy (Trey's dad's sister) sent a package with some darling Halloween decorations and a cookbook called "Cooking with Wine". Someone decorated the front porch with yellow and black caution tape that said "40 year old party scene". I think she must have sent that too. No one is confessing.
Day 19 (10/1): My friend and faithful walking buddy, Rene had planned to do something for me this morning during our 6 a.m. walk but I bailed on her and ruined it. After the kids went to school, she brought me all the makings for a "perfect cup of coffee" along with a fresh cup of joe. In the gift bag was a half pound of Starbucks Cafe Verona, an individual french press, chocolate covered carmels and a coffee scoop. And in case I mess it up, she included a Starbucks gift card. Oh, and a funny book about Southern Belle's. I just might have to put my feet up, read my book, enjoy some good brewed bean and watch my house husband work his tail off.