Long Hollow

 

I turned 56 two weeks ago. I've had intentions of writing this post ever since, but somehow the days have just flown by me.

I hope that's not indicative of this coming year! But I know it will be. Heck, it's indicative of the past decade!

But otherwise, I'm kind of liking 56. I like the sound and feel of it. It fits better than 55 for some reason. Maybe I've just gotten used to the idea that I'm sliding on in to 60, and I'm okay with that.

For my birthday, I didn't celebrate as I have in the past with some new-to-me Austin experience, like Esther's Follies last year.

Instead, this year I treated myself by earning the GRI designation. It stands for "Graduate, REALTOR® Institute" and to earn it (in Texas) you take 90 hours of classes covering topics like diversity, finance, agency, contracts, marketing… all packed into three 30-hour classes: Finance, Marketing, and Brokerage, each with its own test. 

 

 

My birthday fell on the first day of my final class, Brokerage. That may not sound like an exciting way to spend your birthday, but thanks to a few Facebook friends in the room, including the teacher, my day started with 60 or so people singing happy birthday to me.

And for lunch we had ice cream! Pecan Praline! I even went back for seconds. 

Because, hey, it was my birthday!

Of course, I really started celebrating a week or so before my actual birthday by way of dinners with friends and it continued on through yesterday when our office sang to all of the April birthday-people and treated us to a cake decorated with bluebonnets.

Speaking of bluebonnets, every April, just in time for my birthday, I'm blessed with a bouquet of them… so to speak.

 

 

I'm so glad I was born in April! 

Here are a few other sweet!s that had me celebrating the past couple of weeks…

 

 

Graduation ceremonies and rubber duckies

My mom gaining enough strength to stand and relinquish the need for a hoyer lift

 

The smell of a sea of bluebonnets 

A gift certificate in the mail from friends for a haircut with my favorite hair guy!

 

 

Receiving a tote featuring my own photograph that a sneaky friend bought from my Redbubble account

Being an advocate for my mom and her roommate

Not getting hammered by the hail that pounded surrounding neighborhoods

Deciding to donate a portion of my commission for every transaction above $150,000 to the nonprofit of my client's choice.  (This week it will be Wounded Warriors.) 

Finally publishing a new post on my Confessions of a Photography Addict blog  (bluebonnets!)

Yellow flowers filling in when bluebonnets begin to fade 

 

 

I hope April is giving you bouquets of sweet!s! 

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip."

~Author Unknown