40 days to 40 years: When I Die

Let's start today with a DISCLAIMER!!! Just because I plan for something doesn't mean it is happening any time soon! And now back to my story.

After strolling through the obituaries week after week in the local newspaper it has come to my attention that as we get older we really don't have good pictures of ourselves to use in our obituary. Someone might find a snap shot they can zoom in and cut another person out of or a picture from high school. But that's about it. Being a over thinker and planner that just won't work for me. I want to make sure I have an amazing obituary picture. So with that being said I wanted my 15/16” wide by 1-1/4” tall picture for the paper to be perfect, but I also wanted to highlight my Journey to 40.

I had no idea how hard it would really be to do a photo shoot highlighting me. I started with a trip to the Mall. I normally shop at thrift shops but I wanted to buy something nice for myself. After trying on everything that I thought I could wear and realizing that just because you think you can fit in it, that doesn't mean you look good in it. For some things I just wasn't going to pay full price, I finally settled on two outfits. Next it was time to pick out costume jewelry. Wow I haven't bought that in a while. Can you say expensive? Why is it that I buy clothes for the kids and hardly look at the price but when I am buying something for myself I have such a hard time with spending money?

Here is where I get to tell you just how God has blessed me with amazing friends and family. After realizing buying clothes, jewelry and props for my photo shoot was going to be a little more then I budgeted for, I had to rethink my plan. I went to my friends to borrow clothes, shoes and jewelry. They didn't disappoint! Some opened their closets, some let me borrow clothes with tags still on them, and one even made me a shirt. With out them I would have been taking boudoir pictures and I sure didn't want that for the all important obituary photo! Thank God for friends. right!!

Next, I needed props and of course I called up a friend. I asked her to paint a few signs for me. Funny story-one of the posters she painted asked how many teeth I had and I counted them and the next day one fell out of my head. Who counts their teeth and then the next day one falls out? Me!! Then I had to asked a local business to order three foot tall 4 and 0 balloons and then asked them to blow up 38 small balloons. After describing what the balloons were for they looked at me like I was crazy and began trying to guess what I was doing with the balloons. "Were they for Matt's birthday? Was I using the balloons to hide my private parts or were the balloons for a friend?" It always brightens my day when I know I need something at the greenhouse in town because I'm always greeted with so much love.

So next I had to work on hair, make up, and a tan. Well of course I have a friend for that too. She works at the Hair Affair in Jewett. The look she picked out for me was perfect. I not only felt beautiful and looked amazing, but to share that moment with a friend was very special. I will try and come back next week for her to wax my eyebrows. Who am I kidding I will not!! I truly can't stop taking selfies. I haven't felt this pretty since High School. Putting myself first is starting to grow on me. I feel amazing at this point in my journey to 40. Crazy story - on the way to get my very first spray tan Matt cut his lip on a grinder and I had to go back home to take him to the Emergency Room where he got 5 stitches and you guessed it, no tan for me. (insert sad face)

Finally it is picture time! Yelp I have a friend for that also. She and I have been friends for 9 years. I have used many photographers over the years for the kids but I needed someone that wouldn't think I was stupid, that would capture my personality and that I felt comfortable with. Lets say she didn't disappoint. I felt like a movie star. It took over three hours and 10 outfit changes. I told her I just wanted one picture I looked beautiful in, one that was cute, and three that were funny. We ended up with over 400 pictures to look through and every one of them are perfect. It is going to be hard to pick just 40.

It is nice to have amazing friends but without Matt, Mom and the Martin's I couldn't have done it. Matt let's me be me. He loves me with his whole heart. Some days I want to kill him and I know I take him for granted but he makes me who I am today and I'm blessed for that. My mom was my rock today. We laughed till our sides hurt, she worked hard today and I couldn't have done it with out her. She loves me like crazy. Last but not least I am so thankful for the Martin's for their support. These people have been my rock and pulled me out of the trenches more than a few times in the last few years. I'm blessed to be called a Martin.

Everyday for 40 days I'm going to post a picture from the photo shoot. I have decided the first one will be my obituary picture. Please note I'm as healthy as I have been in years. I am just planning for the future because the truth is we all will die and need a picture, so why not make it a great one!