IN AWE...

First off, thank you all so very much for the overwhelming amount of posts, emails, ecards, etc. that were sent today in regard to my birthday. I cannot even express just how much your kind words and birthday wishes meant to me. Your thoughtfulness and time it took to write me or email cards are just priceless. My inbox all day today has continually been flooded. I am just so incredibly blessed to call all of you my family and "friends" even if we have technically never met in person. I mean that from every fiber of my being. As I sit here listening to the sound of the thunderstorm outside at this 10:05pm time frame, I am humbled and truly in awe once more in regard to each of you. AGD itself and blogging has definitely become a way for me to write, design, and express myself. However, blogging in general has introduced me to so many friendships that were built by none other than the heart and all that it stands for. For that, I am ever so grateful.

Speaking of AGD, blogging, and friends...I got a wonderful surprise today for my birthday. Most of you have heard me mention my girlfriend Shannon, from Texas. She is the one I met on eBay years ago that designed handbags when I started out designing children's clothing. Her and I formed an immediate friendship and a bond like no other. We often refer to one another as "sistas from anotha motha!" HA HA! We are so much alike that it is really scary. We are convinced that we were separated at birth. Shannon is also the one that Brent surprised me with last year on my birthday by planning a trip out to Dallas, Texas where I got to finally meet Shannon in person for the first time in our four year friendship (at that time). It was incredible. They were both in on the surprise and the whole event and days leading up to it blew me away. It was one of the best birthday gifts ever! (Shannon with her little girl Ashlyn)
Fast forward to today - this afternoon - when Shannon called me to wish me a Happy Birthday. Shannon's birthday is ironically just 3 days after mine. When she called, she mentioned that she had ordered me something online from The BUCKLE (my all time favorite clothing store) but that she had received an email stating that it was back ordered. She then proceeded to say..."You have two options....I can either ship the item to your house once you are back or I can just bring it with me when I come."
Needless to say, her sentence clicked and finally registered with my brain. Her and Brent had surprised me again!!! Yeap...she is coming to Florida to visit me. I can't get over it. Her and Brent surprised me once more all while I had no clue. I am more stoked than you can possibly imagine. Bottom line, she and Brent just R-O-C-K!

Shannon will now be coming into Naples from July 11th-14th and we will be doing plenty of girlie catch up, shopping, and so forth. We'll do all that "sistas from anotha motha" do together. I can't wait girlfriend - and I can't thank you enough for pulling off yet another great birthday surprise. As I told you tonight, I am getting spoiled! How will I ever begin to think about spending a birthday without you given this year and last years surprise "togetherness?" You are right, you and Brent have started a tradition and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Tell Dave thanks for letting you break away. I ssooooooo owe him too. ;)
Lastly, please pray for safe travels for us tomorrow morning. Our flight leaves at 9am Indy time and we should arrive in Florida around 11am. I'll be blogging as soon as I can - either tomorrow night or on Sunday sometime. Either way, as promised, I WILL be blogging. Also, my good friend Diahann and her husband Dennis will be staying at our house while we are away. They are our official house sitters and we can't thank them enough for doing it for us. There is so much that goes into being way for 5 weeks and we couldn't do it without the help of our friends keeping the home front under control. No big pool parties Di and Dennis...HA! Just kidding. Let's hope the house is still standing once we return. HHHEEEEE HEEEEE! :)(Di & Dennis)
For now, I am off to finish packing. It's now 10:40pm and I'm no where near done. However, I just had to jump on - say thanks - and say bon voyage. I'll be in touch. Sooner rather than later. Check back here for updates and beach pictures as we embark on our summer vacation. Love you guys! Thanks for everything! In the meantime, the Seaman's (a.k.a. the Griswald's) are off for some of this.... XOXOXO, Angie