It's My Birthday

 I am sitting in an oh-so- quiet house.  Outside, I can hear our resident cardinal chirping and the resident woodpecker knocking away.  Jeff has taken the children grocery shopping and upon their return, he has given me the afternoon off.  I haven't decided yet what to do.  Barnes and Noble is always a favorite place for me to hang out.  Books and coffee- what's better than that?  I even thought about catching a movie- some good chick flick that Jeff would only go to in order to humor me. :) Shopping just doesn't sound appealing.  I'm still burned-out from Christmas shopping.  Malls at this point make me gag.  Whatever I decide to do, it will be lovely and relaxing, as my morning has been.  I'm quite sure that Jeff has plans for my birthday here at home and will spend the afternoon with the kids getting things together.  He does this almost every year and I love to see what they come up with.

My 35 years have been blessed.  I was raised in a good, stable Christ-centered home with parents who loved me unconditionally. Jeff and I have had some rough years- but those are behind us and we have definitely moved on to a wonderful place together.  My children are amazing and they have taught me more than I could ever teach them.  Even our incessant moving around has been a huge blessing, because it has caused me to remain a flexible person and I've learned much about relationships and how to maintain them over the years and miles.  My family- Jeff's side and mine- are amazing people.  All of them and I love them will all my heart- they've seen us through some rough times.  My friends are a gift from the Lord.  I am managing to keep in touch with my friends from all the way back to my childhood and God has used many of them in very special ways, especially over the last year to encourage and comfort me.  

I am blessed and could ask for nothing more than what I've been given in this life.