One Year to Execution

Josh turns 30 in July of 2010 (weird aren't there supposed to be hover cars by now?) After reading the blog of another very loving wife of a man who just turned 30 this year and saw they are taking a fabulous cruise to celebrate...the wheels in my head started turning (a dangerous past time I know)

I realized over the past 7 years Josh's birthdays have been rather low key. He always claims that it is no big deal and never has any special requests...what a bum huh! I guess he lets me be the drama queen on my birthday.

So...I have decided to do something fantastic for Josh's 30th birthday. I want it to be a total surprise...so why am I telling all of you then? Well...because I want you to stick me to it. I don't want laziness or time or money or anxiety...or whatever it maybe to let me off the hook from doing it. Had I kept this all to myself I could easily along the way just decide cake and ice cream is fine and no one would know the difference...but nope...I want to do something exciting and totally unexpected.

Josh does NOT read my blog...ever...so I am not worried about him finding out with his own eyes...however...it is up to all of you to keep it a secret as well. I know this is not even remotely exciting to many of you and you are forgetting even as you read...so that is good...so just don't mention it...I am speaking mostly to FAMILY.

Now...what do I have planned?? Well a few things have been floating around...when I thought of doing something exciting...EUROPE immediately popped into my head. Josh always talks about the amazing places he has been and how much he wants to go back. The other day we were watching a movie and a scene was shot in Greece and Josh turned to me and said, "Let's go...let's do it!"....I kinda laughed and thought...yeah one day we will....but why not sooner than later!?!

So...I want to surprise Josh by taking him to Europe. I don't want him to have a clue where we are going until we get to the airport. Now I am deciding how exactly we want to see Europe. I think a Cruise would be a good way to see it with me being a first timer and not knowing anything about anything over there. I also think economically it is the best choice because lodging, food, entertainment, etc is all in one place for one price...minus the excursions...but they give you guidance on those as well. To me it seems less stressful to do it that way rather than try and plan out the entirety of the trip from where to stay, how to get there, where to eat...and so forth. So what do you think??? Has anyone reading this been to Europe? I know some of you have. I am not sure what region to choose yet. I think Italy or Greece would be my top picks. Luckily cruises take you to many different destinations. Has anyone done a European Cruise?

My 2nd thought in case Europe sinks into the ocean by then would be Barbados. Josh served the very last part of his mission there while his parents were mission presidents in the West Indies. He said he has never been on more beautiful beaches. He said the water is just pristine. Now that sounds lovely doesn't it! It would also be cheaper than Europe.

My 3rd thought is Africa. I am keeping it way in the back of my head because Africa scares me for some reason. I think it is the most foreign of the choices and while I think it would be amazing to see...I have many reservations. I know Josh would love to go back to Mali or Cameroon or Egypt...I just don't know if I want to go with him. I know...some of you would jump at the chance...but it wouldn't be my top pick. It would also be the most expensive. BUT...I could send him there alone seeing as how his dad once again lives there.

So there are a few things I have in mind. Maybe along the way I will come up with something even better...maybe I will find something he would like more. But I really am hoping I can pull of something so fun and surprising for him.

I am also trying not to be counterproductive...I know what is the most pleasing to Josh is to not spend any money. He is the kind of guy who can have his mood spoiled if he knows it is costing money. I am totally opposite...so I guess we balance each other out? maybe. So I have been thinking that to make this surprise even sweeter I would have to do it without spending any money out of our regular earnings. This would mean I would need to seek out new employment for myself with the paychecks going into a separate account specifically for this. I have already mentioned to Josh a couple of times that I might want to find a small job outside of the managing properties that we do together...I think a small part time job that doesn't cut into too much away time would be perfect...and if I did it over the course of the year I should be able to save plenty of money to use for the surprise and not have to dip into our savings or regular earnings. So McDonald's...here I come...haha just kidding...maybe Arby's.

So that was a really long outpouring of my plans but I really want to do it! What do you think? Does anyone have any tips or advice? Maybe you have an even greater idea or plan or have heard of something amazing someone else has done. Anyone? Anyone?