Giving Back: 29 Gifts & Counting...: Day 16: Spending time with Family & Helping Prepare for the Party

My Aunt Rhonda and Aunt Lauree mixing the potato salad

Today my gift was spending time with my family and helping prepare for my Grandma's 80th birthday party. The morning started out with a 7:30am morning walk, which was a little early. It was well worth it to spend time with my Aunt Rhonda though. After the walk, we ate breakfast at my Grandma's and started getting pictures organized for the collage we were going to make. It was an adventure looking through all my Grandma's old pictures. There were lots of pictures of us grandchildren and plenty that showcased my unique sense of style. ;) Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me express that unique sense of style. After gathering all the pictures, my Aunt Rhonda and I headed up to my Aunt Lauree's house to make the potato salad. I was in charge of peeling the eggs, which was quite the task since the eggs were fresh. It was fun to cook with my two aunts and to see how each of them operated in the kitchen. After the potato salad adventure, my Aunt Rhonda and I went to Hays to get some more supplies for the collages and some flowers for my Grandma. We got balloons too! Boy was that an adventure! We went to the PaperMart in Hays, and we picked out an 80th balloon with three regular balloons. After leaving the store, one of the balloons popped before we got out of the door, so we went back to get it replaced. Then we headed out to the car again. My aunt was putting them in the car door, but right before she closed the car door all four balloons flew out. There was one chance when the balloons came down to tease my aunt right before they started ascending into the sky. I could not even move I was laughing so hard. Right when the balloons went up into the air; this guy in a Jimmy Johns delivery car was driving by saying "ahhh...dude..I'm soooo sorry!" It was a hilarious experience! So we went back into PaperMart, and we purchased some more. I was in charge of the balloons this time, and we made it back to Ellis with all four in tact. :) We hoped maybe the other ones would magically end up in my Grandma's yard, but we weren't too hopeful. Then I went to work on the collages, and I really enjoyed looking through my Grandma's pictures. In 80 years, it looks like you can have a lot of love, laughter, adventure, friendship, and joy. I really hope I get to live to be 80 years old. You get to see so much, experience so much, and love so much. Live each day because we are truly lucky to be alive. When I asked my Grandma how she felt about being 80, she replied, "I only get to be this once, I'm going to live it!" Heed my Grandma's advice, we only get one chance to be the age we are now, so start living your life to the fullest! And truly appreciate the beautiful moments along the way.