One Very Blessed Birthday Girl

This month I turned 35!  I sure don't feel that old, and according to most restaurant waitresses who still card me when I order a margarita, I must not look that old either.  But 35 is what I am--like it or not.  This year contained many ups and downs for me, many tears mixed with a little laughter, and many failures that led to humility and (hopefully) closer to a Christ-like heart.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but I feel like this year has been like a mid-life crisis for me (a bit young for a mid-life crisis, I know, but I'm just getting it out of the way early, I guess)... :}   It has been a year of dying to dreams and desperately searching for new ones; a year of letting go of who I thought I wanted to be when I grew up and striving to be who God created me to be instead; a year of clinging to faith, hope, and love even when my feelings betray all three.  Yes, this year was difficult but good, and on my birthday I had MANY reasons to feel very blessed...

REASON #1:  Chili's chips and salsa and MARGARITAS (mmmmmm!)

REASON #2:  FREE molten lava cake to share with my crazy-awesome boys

REASON #3:  My mom and dad coming for a week and watching them bond with my boys

REASON #4:  My dad helping me plant our garden and our flowers

REASON #5:  Getting to go on a field trip with my 6th grade son watch him play music for the elderly

REASON #6:  Taking my boys to go play mini-golf

REASON #7:  Paul coming home from a long work trip and watching him teach our boys all about archery

 



REASON 8 (the greatest reason of all):  KNOWING THAT I AM LOVED BY GOD---a merciful God who forgives my failings, feeds me with His life-giving Body and Blood, and who gently reminds me to look for the blessings all around me (yes,even in my silly mid-life crisis) and to live my next year loving Him and others even better than I did the last.

Yes, I am one very blessed birthday girl, with one very AWESOME GOD!