May 10, 2018

It’s been a while since I updated everyone on my life so I thought I’d write a quick coffee date.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that deployment is going really well. I’m going to do an update on all of my goals next week but I am working steadily towards them. A lot of them are things that I can’t really check off until the end of deployment, but I feel like I’m making a lot of progress and having fun while doing it. Most importantly, they are passing the time and getting me outside to enjoy this time in Hawaii.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that my 31st birthday last week was incredible. I’ve spent more birthdays without Nick than I’d like, and I wasn’t looking forward to spending my second in a row without him. But I decided to make the most of it, and then my friends here really made my day.

I woke up in the morning and ate a coffee cake. Nick had made a bunch of them over Christmas break and froze them, so I took out one the night before and heated it up in the oven. It was delicious and it was fun to have something Nick made. He also left me a couple of presents and a birthday card so I opened up those before going to volunteer. It took a lot of willpower to hold off on opening them until my birthday but I’m so glad I did.

In the evening, my friends took me out to dinner. I knew that I would be meeting some friends, but what I didn’t know was what a huge group of women would be waiting for me and that they each would have brought a present for me to open up. I had sangria and shrimp for dinner and then ice cream for dessert. Afterward, everyone made me open up my presents and I felt like I was a kid again. They got me the most thoughtful and fun things. I know that my friends put extra effort to make my birthday special since Nick is deployed and I really appreciated everything the did for me. I could not ask for a better group of friends here in Hawaii.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I put the stack of my “to-read” books aside and got out my Harry Potter books on my birthday. I haven’t re-read the series in 10 years, since I was in college. I’m already on Prisoner of Azkaban and I’m trying to savor them and read them slowly. It’s so much fun to rediscover these books after so long. I’m planning to write out my thoughts on re-reading them as an adult in a blog post.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I don’t live on the same island as the volcano that is erupting and I’m so thankful for that. I really appreciate it when people who live on the mainland reach out to me, so I thought I’d just give a quick update about that.

What’s new in your world?

 

 

12 responses to “May Coffee Date”

  1. Happy belated birthday! That’s such a wonderful thing your friends did to make your birthday special. 🙂

    I’ve been thinking about rereading HP this summer, too. It’s been four years for me since I read the series and I’m starting to forget some of the details!

  2. Jen says:

    I’m so glad that you were able to have a great birthday! You certainly deserved it.

  3. Emma says:

    That’s so lovely about your birthday – happy belated birthday! x

  4. Jenn says:

    Happy Belated Birthday! Josh has missed my last 3 birthdays and it definitely sucks. I’m so glad that your friends made your birthday so special! YAY for re-reading HP! I’m planning to start in September and I can’t wait!

  5. Audrey says:

    Whew. I was wondering about you and the volcano but I don’t know enough about Hawaii geography to pinpoint the chaos and you. Glad it’s not melting your apartment!
    What sweet sweet friends you have! And I love that you and Nick plan ahead so there’s some yummy homemade cake and gifts for you on your bday.
    YAY FOR HP BOOKS!! It’s tough to savor them when they’re just SO dang good!!
    I can’t wait to see how you’re doing with your goals! It sounds like it’s all going really well!!

  6. Elizabeth says:

    Happy Belated Birthday, Carolann! Sounds like you have an amazing group of gal pals surrounding you–love that they made your birthday special for you.
    I’m also rereading the HP series with my little and I love how much more I get from them as an adult. Can’t wait to see how you’re doing with your deployment goals!

  7. Alan says:

    Very cool to see you’re in such a supportive community.

    You look very good in that picture in front of the yellow boat.

    I wish I could wipe my brain and re-read HP for the first time.

  8. Rachel says:

    Happy belated birthday! That’s so nice of Nick to leave you cake + card + gift, I hope that made it easier that he wasn’t there. Sounds like you’ve got some great friends to make sure you had a good time!

    Rereading favourite books is like a hug from an old friend 🙂

  9. Julie says:

    Happy belated 31st! I’m glad you had a great birthday despite Nick being deployed again. Your friends rock!! Glad to hear deployment is going well so far!!

  10. Nadine says:

    I love that you were able to eat a Nick made cake for your birthday!!!! And how sweet and thoughtful of your friends for celebrating your birthday up right! Happy Belated Birthday to you!

  11. Sarah says:

    Happy belated birthday Carolann! It looks like you had such a fabulous day… in all your posts that you mention your friends in Hawaii I keep thinking what a great group of people they sound like!! I’m looking forward to your goals review blog post and your post on re-reading HP! Last time I re-read them was in 2011 so I am probably due to re-read them soon!!

  12. happy belated birthday, friend! I’m so glad your girls made it so special for you!

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