Best 40th Birthday Gift Ever!

The 40th Day Countdown Birthday Gift!
It's my birthday today! I'm the BIG 4-0!  Yikes!
AH (awesome husband) went above and beyond for my birthday this year!
Who knew AH was so creative? talented? and sneaky?!?
_______________________

It started 40 days ago...

I woke up to a note lying on the floor next to my bed with candy. 
I LOVE chocolate, so naturally the note totally caught my eye.

It was a birthday love note from my mom and dad! 
I looked over at AH and said, "What's going on?"  He just shrugged his shoulders.

The next day I woke up to another note and more chocolate.  This note was from a friend of mine. 
The same thing happened the next day and the next day and the day after that...
This was really fun!

You see, my sneaky husband had hijacked my e-mail account and e-mailed 40 of my friends and family asking them to write me a birthday letter for my 40th! 
I still can't believe that he found 40 friends willing to write me a note
AND that he managed to keep this from me! 

He arranged all this months in advance, numbering each note and adding his own little 'birthday love' comment on the top of each letter.  How sweet is that?!

Everyday I received a birthday letter from a friend or family member!
  Do you have any idea how uplifting it is to wake up to a letter from a friend...and chocolate?!
Each note made me feel so loved...I teared up over every one.
I'm so blessed to have such dear friends.

I would go to sleep at night in anticipation of my note the next day. 

___________________

One morning I didn't get a note. 

I called up my husband at work and said, "Where's my note and chocolate!"

He had accidently forgot.

Luckily, he was able to give our daughter directions to his secret stash
of letters so she could hand me my note for the day.  Whew!

Some friends wrote their note in a card and sent it to my husband's work address.

Other friends sent crafty, creative notes like this one from my sister-in-law all decorated up.

A few friends used acrostics to spell out my name or the word FORTY.
One friend blew me away with 40 things she loves about me?!  40 things?
How did she come up with 40 things?!

And of course I loved the notes my kids wrote me!

_________________________________

One note was from my college roommate who lives in Hawaii.
My husband wrote on the top of that note that I can thank her in person.
What do you mean, "Thank her in person?" 
(It took me a minute to process---Oh!)
I started screaming with excitement!  You're taking me to Hawaii?!
_______________________________

What AH doesn't realize is that he had already given me the best gift ever...
40 birthday letters from family and friends! 
He didn't have to throw in a Hawaiian trip too......
well...
maybe I take that back!

I do LOVE Hawaii!
I think I want to turn 40 every year!!
Thank you to all the friends and family who wrote me such sweet notes and cards.
Thanks to my folks for watching the kids so we could go to Hawaii.
Thanks to my AH for a wonderful birthday.  I love you!

Aloha!  I'm heading to a luau tonight!

Linking up to: Tatertots&Jello, PocketFullOfPink, TodaysCreativeBlog, StrictlyHomemade,
FrugalGirls, SassySites, HappyHourProjects,