~ Happy My Birthday ~

" I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." - HP



 

My Birthday is creeping up and I am doing my best this year to not mourn it , but instead find a way to celebrate it . At least in my heart , not necessarily with balloons and cake . I have several friends that are stunningly good at celebrating their birthdays and they are my examples for this task . I'm not quiet sure why, but for the last several years it has been increasingly difficult to truly enjoy my birthday . I of course feel so blessed when I receive a card, gift or text wishing me a Happy Birthday mainly because I have friends and family that are so very thoughtful they make it hard not to feel blessed every day . As I wrote in my post , " I Only Date Super Hero's" one of the newest ways that I am actively praising and thanking God is by writing down my needs and marking them off as He meets them . Being able to see this tangible reach down from Heaven into my life has really aided in the movement of my life perspective . Focusing on what God IS doing instead of what He isn't is now a thought/motto that's consumed my every day . I think that may be something I need to relate to my birthday . Looking at the years needs and how they got met by my almighty and ever caring God .

"If you got it, flaunt it"

Stacie @ 1 yr old-ish

 

I actually think I may need to survey my life and do this list . It is so easy to get focused on a day, month or year of trials or victories and think that's all there was . But if we actually take the time to look back either through old notes, photo's , cards or gifts we would be reminded of exactly how much God has been at work . I struggle with the idea of getting rid of old journals . I have a box of them that I keep thinking I just need to burn . There is so much of my humanity , sin nature and flaws in them that I dread the idea of someone ever reading them , even if it isn't till I'm dead ! Then as I glance through these books I see Gods blue prints for my life . The people that have come and gone , the heart breaks , trials , the fun , the memories , the experiences , the mountain tops , and the impossible moments that God came through . I have a former supervisor that would always say , "hindsight is 20/20" . Meaning that when we look back we see things so perfectly , but when we are looking forward or in the moment of something perfect vision isn't possible . That is what keeps me from burning my journals......today anyway .

 

I mentioned my friends that are amazing at celebrating their birthday and allowing others to celebrate it with them . I am going to take a cue from them and

1. Celebrate all Month Long "I'll celebrate as long as you want too" - Miss Bridget :-)
2. Be grateful - Let Family Love You/Me - How CC Celebrated Her B-day this year .
3. Take advantage of FREEBIES !!!! I have waiting in my wallet a free Red Robin Burger & a free Starbucks bevi (of any size might I add) . I think I have several others , but I can't remember at the moment . It is worth signing up for those things. You could eat for a week with out paying .
4. GIVE ~ GIVE ~ GIVE ~  How Gweneth Celebrated her 5th Bday !  

My friends Nate & Tricia have a miracle lil' girl Gweneth . The way they choose to celebrate her birthday is so encouraging and challenging . It truly inspired the idea that my b-day should be a time to give more , much more , than I receive that day . Last year I focused only on my mom really .I got her a fun fall candle . I mean , she is the one that spent close to three days in labor with me . She thought I'd be born on my Aunt Rita's birthday, but I apparently needed a day all of my own . That day all of my own only lasted about  decade, then my lil' cousin Jeremy was born . I am proud to share a birthday with him .

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."

--Dolly Parton

Don't judge the duck face.

I rocked a selfie, before selfies where cool.

 



So, as I get closer to closing the chapter on another year of life I hope to not only celebrate all that God has done in my time on earth, but to look forward to what He has next . I am proud to say that I have already begun keeping with the list I have made . I sent off a "Happy My Birthday" to a friend just this week . Of course it isn't much, but I hope it will bring some little blessing to their day . This post will be and is my accountability on this project . You are free to ask me how I spent my Birthday  , to hold me responsible for and to these ideas of celebration , gratefulness and giving .

 

Happy Birthday fellow September Babies !! I pray your day is special in every way. Praise God that you are here , that you've got another year under your belt and are staring the next one in the eye . God has BIG things in store for you .

1 Corinthians 2:9

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,

 neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

 

                                   

 

I wanna leave you with this video of "Not for a Moment (After All)" by Meredith Andrews . As I look back on the days that have come and gone along with the days yet to be this song is gonna be something that echo's in my praise . "Not for a moment will You forsake me." I have also added the lyrics for you to read .

  

                                  

 

Lyrics - Meredith Andrews

"Not For A Moment (After All)"

[Verse 1]
You were reaching through the storm
Walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake me
Not for a moment did You forsake me

[Chorus]
After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

[Verse 2]
You were singing in the dark
Whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me

[Chorus]

And every step every breath you are there
Every tear every cry every prayer
In my hurt at my worst
When my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Even in the dark
Even when it's hard
You will never leave me
After all

[Chorus]
Not for a moment will You forsake me