My 50th Birthday A Day of Joy, Laughter, and Love

Today marks a milestone in my life—my 50th birthday—and what a heartwarming, joy-filled day it has been. From the moment I opened my eyes, I knew this birthday would be something special, but I had no idea just how memorable it would become. My amazing son, Darius, took it upon himself to plan a little surprise celebration—and he captured every step of the preparation on video, which only made everything more touching and fun to relive.

Wanting to go the extra mile, Darius decided to do all the shopping himself so that I’d be truly surprised. His first stop was the liquor store, where he nervously browsed the aisles in search of the perfect wine and champagne. Now, Darius isn’t exactly a wine connoisseur, so the poor boy was Googling labels right in the store because he was too shy to ask anyone for help. That alone made me smile. In the end, he chose a 10-year aged sweet red Port wine and a watermelon-flavored champagne—yes, watermelon!—and proudly said he spent $50 on them. He looked at me and said, “A dollar for every year you’ve been alive, Mom.” My heart melted.

order:

Next, he stopped by Kroger to pick up some fun decorations—a bundle of balloons and a candy bouquet that instantly reminded me why he’s always been my thoughtful one. Watching the video later, I couldn’t help but laugh at how the wind gave him such a hard time wrangling those balloons. One even deflated before he could make it home! All in all, Darius spent around $100 on everything, and while I knew he’d grumble about it later, the effort and love behind it were priceless.

When he got home, he waited patiently for me to come downstairs. The moment I did, he greeted me with all his surprises. The candy bouquet absolutely stole my heart—I am the candy queen, after all! As if that weren’t enough, some of Darius’s cousins dropped off a beautiful gift basket overflowing with candy and snacks, along with a handmade birthday card that made Darius a little jealous (he’ll never admit it, but I saw the look on his face!).

Later, we popped open the champagne to kick off the celebration. Everyone was a little nervous—worried the cork might fly into the ceiling or knock over the chandelier. Darius was ready to shake it like they do in the movies, but I shut that idea down real quick! We finally got it open without incident, and the champagne turned out to be surprisingly delicious. I sipped it from my birthday cup—a lovely gift from my sister Bethany, proudly printed with the year of my birth, 1975.

And the day wasn’t over yet. My husband had a surprise trip planned for the evening, though he kept the destination under wraps. Darius and I joked around, trying to guess where we might be going. I figured it wasn’t anything too far—no flights to Thailand or Ghana, of course—but wherever it is, I know it’ll be a beautiful getaway. Just knowing there’s more to look forward to makes me feel so loved.

As the evening settled in, we gathered together and sang “Happy Birthday.” My heart was full. Reaching the age of 50 is something I’m proud of—a whole half-century of life, laughter, lessons, and love. I even joked in my video that I’m “aging backwards,” all thanks to the herbal skincare I’ve been using. No Botox here—just nature doing its thing, keeping my skin smooth and full of collagen!

Reflecting on the day, I feel incredibly blessed. My family knows me so well—especially my sweet tooth—and they made sure I felt celebrated in the most personal way. This birthday wasn’t about grand parties or lavish gifts; it was about love, intention, and the little things that make life so meaningful.

Here’s to 50 beautiful years behind me, and to many more ahead. What a perfect way to begin a brand-new decade of life.