All Shapes and Sizes

By: Samantha S Daviss

It’s amazing that over the years, I am still constantly surprised, not by the big things in life, but by the smallest things in life.

These past few weeks have been an absolute whirl wind in our household. One minute our little family is chugging along at its regular pace, and the next our world is completely changed. My husband recently got a new job, that is going to be great for our lifestyle and our family, but it all happened so fast; that lots of sacrifices had to be made at the very last minute. And they aren’t any major sacrifices just little things, like birthday parties being cancelled and spring break trips being cancelled. So again, they are complete First World problems, but nonetheless, they are plans we had and they had to be cancelled, because his new start date happened so quickly.

And I am not complaining at all, but the birthday party that was cancelled was the one my wonderful husband had planned for my big 4-0! He had never felt so bad or so guilty in his life for having to cancel it, but to me it didn’t matter. As they say it’s the thought that counts, and it truly is. So that was one surprise that came in a shape and size I didn’t expect, we got a new job and new family lifestyle for my birthday rather than a birthday party, which is just fine for me.

And in lieu of the party being cancelled, the only hard part is that my husband will be gone for six straight weeks. And as another impromptu surprise, one of my girlfriends texted me and offered to watch our kids the very last night my husband was in town so he and I could have a last minute date together. I couldn’t have asked for a better surprise. Her kiddo was off for the evening, and she offered her personal Saturday night so I could have my last few moments alone with my husband. I couldn’t ask for a better “little” surprise.

But my week just keeps getting better. Since my “big party” got cancelled, my friends all organized a weekend away for me. Its an estrogen loaded weekend of laughs, giggles, and a few cocktails to celebrate my new decade. They all managed to pull this wonderful weekend together the in the 11^th hour, because they knew the big celebration was cancelled. So again, this was another surprise that I will never forget.

On top of that, one of my sweet friends and her daughter were thumbing through a catalog and came across a model, yes a model, who they thought I looked like. That was such a nice treat to be flattered with that sweet compliment.

They say it’s not that big moments in life that you truly remember, it’s the small boring daily events that sound out the most to you. And that statement I will be able to stand behind for the rest of my life. I will never forget that simple text from my girlfriend to come watch the boys while I had a wonderful evening out with my husband before he left for six weeks, and I will never ever forget the effort my friends have gone through to make my 40^th birthday unbelievably forgettable, and I will never forget two sweet people complimenting me so kindly.

If small and large surprises are any indication of how great the next decade are going to be, then my 40s are going to be absolutely fabulous, and I can’t wait. So you see, not every surprise has to have bells, whistles, horns, and confetti; they just have to have heart behind them. And that is what my friends have done for me, birthday or not, they are my surprises that come in all shapes and sizes, literally. I’m truly not sure where I would be in my life without all of these wonderful people in it; they are what make me smile, laugh, cry, and keep going in life and so to my “family” I say I love you.