Finally 34!

I will be the first to admit, I am obsessed with my birthday. It is not one of those healthy obsessions, but rather a day of the year, that even my husband, sisters, cousins, and parents fear. Before I was married my birthday's consisted of a week (or longer) long tradition of something we "Roberts" fans like to call "The Birthday Bonanza". I can remember horses, cotton candy machines, and of course, the traditional slumber party (where my dad would take us to the movies and then we would do a Chinese fire drill only to be pulled over by the San Marino cops in which one of my girlfriends tried to kiss to get us out of that ticket). I swear I was (and still am) more excited about my birthday than any other day of the year (Sorry, Ty, April 14th is up there). But, HELLO, it is only one time a year that is just all about you (or me, accept when I am with my mom, then it is about us).

Seriously.... sometimes I wonder if people should really declare the 23rd of January a freaking holiday just because then everyone could share in the amazement of this time. I mean if we can have days such as National Marshmallow Toasting Day (August 30th) or Cheese Pizza Day (September 5th), why can't we have a National Debbie Day (We did in the 11th grade declare the third Thursday of every month "Men are Scum Day", why not this?). Why wait for someone else to decide when you can celebrate and what you are celebrating, when we can all share this one day to just celebrate. There are no rules or limits as to what you can celebrate or when. SO I say in the wise words of Torrance Shipman, "Bring it On!". So here are a list of 5 things everyone should be doing on the 23rd of January, each and every year.

1. "Let them eat cake!" might have been an innocent remark by Antoinette, but seriously, let's eat cake. There is only really a few times a year when it is okay not to go "crazy" out of control causing people to stare and eat whatever you want. You now have my permission on this "special" holiday to have your cake and eat it to. But there is a rule to follow. Eat cake if you're under 25 or over 75. If you're in between, these are your years of discipline and clarity. Look at that pretty mass of sludge and goo for what it is.... I do say under 25 because now that I am 34... the catch phrase "a moment on the lips" is overwhelmingly true.

2. Ask yourself where you came from and where you're going. If the answer is, "I don't know," spoken with marvel and wonder, you're on the right track. As a very knowledgeable 34 year old... I feel I can tell you that I am more confused in life now than I was in my 20's. It is okay in your 30's to just admit, "I don't know" because when you say you don´t know you might actually know, but not want to know. If you say you know, you might not know that in fact you don´t know. There is a lot of sense in that don´t you think?

3.Thank your mother. Chances are the occasion you're celebrating was a pretty arduous day for her. Plus I don't think any holiday doesn't have some kind of connection to a mother. This one is very important, mostly because my mom and I share the same birthday... so since this is an "official" holiday, call your mom. And if my mom is reading this blog (which would entail that she could turn on the computer.. Snaps to You Mom!!!) WE DID IT!!! We got our holiday!

4, Be a child. Hang balloons outside your door. Announce to random strangers that it's your birthday. Ask for free deserts when you go out to dinner. Wear a scrunchy out in public. Okay, even eat the artery clogging, blood sugar elevating, thigh thickening cake if you have to. And if there aren't any random strangers around, announce it on facebook: Hey, it's my birthday! Aren't I cool? I had to call Erika and leave a message on her machine "Hey, it's Debbie. Just wanted to let you know it is my birthday. So call me so you don't have to regret not telling me "Happy Birthday" all year". And when your younger sister says to you "you are so immature", know, right then, you have made it.

5. Don't make a list of 35 things to do before you are 35. You are just a year older and really making a list of 35 things to do in a year, with a OCD behavior is really not healthy for anybody living in the house. Instead treat yourself and your best gal pals to a day at the spa. Get yourself wrapped, massaged, manicured, steamed, exfoliated and bronzed. You'll feel ten years younger at the end of the day. Isn't that what you want?

Now go out and have some fun. "Thirty something" isn't the new sixty. You've got plenty of time to enjoy your youth. So grab a Diet Pepsi from Maverick and watch a few episodes of Desperate Housewives. If them ole gals can run around enjoying themselves, so can you!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hike across green Ireland;
Bike the USA;
Backpack through New Zealand,
But don’t call it a day…

Do yoga in lovely Paris;
Jump rope in Katmandu;
Avoid Italian pasta,
(Well, maybe taste, but don’t you chew!)

Climb atop Mt. Everest;
Do aerobics on China’s Wall;
Lift weights on Mexican Beaches;
And honey, that’s not all…

Shake your booty with native dances
In Fiji and Bora Bora;
Move your body and exercise
Like you’ve never done befora.

Okay; that’s good; you’re finished;
Now you can take a break;

You’ve finally burned enough calories

To have your birthday cake!

A little bit of Italy: From my mom to my brother

Dear Anziano Roberts,

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it's 2010?

We had an amazing miracle happen yesterday. Remember how we told you that Christian's aunt was going to bring you your Christmas presents after the 2nd ( as she was flying home to Italy from Christian's house on that day)?

We were impressed that you had been transferred 10 hours away to Slovenia. We thought that you wouldn't receive your gifts till later because of your transfer. Little did we know that you were moved much closer , thanks to a loving Heavenly Father.

Suzanne McNairy Tomasetti called yesterday and talked with Dad. She told him that she had just spoken to Christian's mom in Italy. Sister Tomasetti told Suzanne that new missionaries had just been transferred to their branch. She said one had born his testimony and had been so beautiful and humble. Suzanne asked his name AND it was YOU!!!!

She told her mother-in-law who you were and Sister Tomasetti was so excited ( as we all are). She said she would take GOOD care of you and feed you well. They called Uncle Lou "King Kong" and our 2 month-old Michael Louis-"Baby King Kong"...Remember the lasagna she made for us after Christian and Suzanne's wedding, that Daddy just loved?? The Lord is good.

Christian told us that Italy celebrates the Three Kings and that they bring presents to the children on January 6th. Remember me telling you the story of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" an opera by Gian Carlo Menotti? It's a story I first learned my Favorite of Favorites ( Mrs. Anderson) when in a 7th grade choir. It tells of a very poor crippled boy who lives with his widowed mother. Three kings come and ask to stay with them while they follow a STAR to find a special child who was recently born.

The mother sees all their gold and the gifts they want to give to this child- one they don't even know. She starts to steal some gold for her child and is caught. The kings then tell her about the child they seek who - doesn't need their gold. "On love alone, He will build his kingdom" they tell her- and he will bless the poor.

The mom realizes the meaning of the baby king and says that she has waited all her life for such a king... that she would send him something of her own if she had anything... Just then, her son, Amahl, shouts that he will give the child his little crutch, because"who knows, he may need it..." Amazingly Amahl begins to walk... he is healed by his faith in the child and goes with the three kings to give his thanks to the Christ child.

Gian Carlo Menotti wrote this for American T.V. in the 5os. He was asked to write a Christmas opera. He wanted to share his Italian Christmas tradition of the Three Kings. I helped put this opera on in So Pas ward when Dad and I first moved in. Carlos Garcia was Melchior. Paul Deveraux was Balthazar, the black king. He had dark make-up in his ear on the next day- Sunday... I sang the mother's part. Grandpa Bluth was the servant to the kings who catches the mother stealing the gold. It is a beautiful memory.

We are humbled and amazed at the Lord's Blessings that He pours out on His children so liberally. The tender mercy of this around- the -world, magical Christmas time...the reinforcement of the knowledge that He knows each one of us individually and loves us unconditionally, warts and all.

We love you, dear son,
Pray always, Choose the Right (CTR), and remember who you are: a child of god.

All our love,
OX OX,
Mom, Dad and kids