We just got home from an amazing birthday dinner!  Chris had planned on taking me to a very specific restaurant he wouldn’t disclose until we arrived and I didn’t quite understand why he insisted on keeping a Thai restaurant such a secret… until later once we got home.

I was getting ready for bed and Chris asked me to quickly help him with something in the spare bedroom, which for some reason I didn't question.  I followed and honestly don't think I've ever done a triple take on anything and was so confused to see our spare bedroom mysteriously changed into a candle lit meditation room!! The bed and dresser were missing and replaced with a meditation cushion on the floor, little Buddahs, a water fountain, bamboo blinds, wall sconces (Chris discovered what a sconce was!), and candles all over the room.  What a bizarre feeling to think I was suddenly in a dream or on drugs or who knows how to explain that other than bizarre. 

While we were at dinner our friends snuck in our house, completely disassembled the bed frame and furniture, hauled it to the garage, and then assembled three different Asian looking tables, hung sconces and blinds, put water and rocks in a little fountain, lit a million candles, and then high-tailed it out of there just before we got home!!! Unbelievable friends!! Thanks again to Erin and Mike; we are grateful for your thoughtfulness!!!

The reason Chris created this room for my birthday is because this past year was a rough one to say the least.  We sold our condo, I left my job, I have been on the road with him for the entire baseball season, and it started taking its toll on me... so I had been really needing time and space to meditate, do yoga, and find more peace within myself.  This was perfect and amazing and I have the best husband in the world!

Oh it gets even better... Chris pointed out an envelope on the meditation cushion.  I figured it was just a birthday card saying Happy 30th Birthday and I Love You.  Instead, enclosed was a flight itinerary with our names on it leaving for Thailand as soon as the Fall League was over (two months from now)!!  WOOO HOOO!  It’s a three-week trip!!! We fly into Bangkok and he's planned a few days at a posh, luxurious, zen-like resort in Koh Samui and he left the rest of the trip open knowing how much I love to wander like a nomad sans-official plans.

CANNOT WAIT for Thailand. Thank you, honey for my amazingly thoughtful birthday gift.

[More uploaded by the end of the week (Feb 20, 2009)... Thanks for checking back!]