Happy Birthday To Me

Yesterday was my birthday.  I am now 36 years old and I can honestly say that I thank God for every one of those years.  I have been blessed with a wonderful family and extended family.  We are all healthy, have jobs, a roof over our heads, food to eat, clothes to wear, and good friends.  I woke up yesterday to the birds singing even though it was raining. I got down on my knees and said "Thank you, Lord, for my birthday today and for every day before this one that you have given me.  Thank you for letting me wake up to birds singing, to the rain that washes everything clean and brings nourishment to your creation, to a family that you chose for me, and to your love." 
You see, I could have complained and said "Oh my goodness, I am 36 years old, I am getting old, and I hate birthdays."  But during this last year God has been working on my heart.  A lot.  I have been going through a refining period and a growing period and it has been very difficult.  But through it all I have never blamed God for what goes wrong in my life or the trials I have faced.  Instead, I praise him that even though he has allowed me to go through these difficult times, and even though if he wanted to he could have prevented them or made them shorter, he has never left me.  No matter what happens I know that he is there going through it with me and walking beside me.  I believe that any journey is easier when you have someone who shares the burden with you.  I can't think of anyone else I would have wanted to share my journey with.  Even now I pray that his will be done and that if there are any more trials I need to go through to bring me closer to him or to prepare me for something down the road that he would send them to me.  I don't want easy....I want God, whatever that brings with it.
That said, I thought I would share some of my birthday pictures with you. 

Here's Cerah working on my cake.

Here's the finished product.

My birthday dinner of steak, baked potato, and veggies.

Shoes and a music box from Dad and Mom

My favorite perfume from Anita

Books from Hannah

A kokopelli shotglass from Morgan

A new, red (my favorite color) mixer from Cerah and the girls.  Mostly from Cerah but the others pitched in.

And my favorite present of all.  A new bible with my name on it from Robbie.

We finished the night off with popcorn and a movie.  A good way to spend my birthday.