Turning 45 and a Giveaway

On Monday I will be turning 45......a bit of a milestone birthday.....halfway through my 40's..........and halfway to 90! Think its time for a midlife crisis(LOL)? Other than needing glasses for my aging eyes, a few grey hairs(maybe more than a few) and carrying a few more pounds(although significantly less than at my last birthday), I feel pretty much the same as I did at 20. In those 25 years, I think I've learned that I can't please everyone, not everyone is going to like me, and to trust myself and do what I think is right. I've also learned that it take guts to become a parent! Particularly now with two teenage girls! Parenting has got to be the hardest job out there and the most rewarding. Would I have changed anything in the past 25 years, probably,(I wish certain people were still here to celebrate with me), but I think have learned from each challenge and each one has helped me to put things in their proper perspective.

Birthday celebrations began last Sunday with a celebration at my sister's,my Mom has pictures on her blog. As my Dad's birthday is later this month we celebrated both birthdays, with a yummy dinner and cakes!

Then came presents:

My Mom and Dad gave me this jewellery with handmade soap that smells like Lily of the Valley.


My sister and her family gave me this lantern.


And my Grandma gave me some money for spending in the US, got to love that!

Thanks to everyone for the lovely gifts!

And now for the giveway, to celebrate my birthday, I'm going to give the 45th person to comment on my blog in the month of August something! It will, of course, be scrapbooked, maybe some notecards or an altered book. And I'm not far off 45 people already,so comment soon!