It's My Birthday!

Yup, it is officially my birthday...though only for another 1 1/2 hours. I am old...well, ok maybe not old but I'm slowly getting up there, which is something to be thankful of right - because there are people who don't even live this long.

I'm 37 today. I can't believe it...well, maybe I can believe it but it doesn't feel like I am 37. I don't feel any different than I did yesterday or the day before, or even six months ago. The hair is getting a little more grey in it (time for a dye job), and I am thankful for that because I have hair. Many people who are going through chemo treatments or have some genecti thing don't have hair.

Though I am not married and have no children (I had always thought I would have been married in my twenties with kids), I am not alone. I have my family, my friends, and my Jesus. Not everyone has all of this - some have none of it.

I am living at home with my parents. Yeah, sounds weird doesn't it? I am thankful for that because I have a warm place to live, a roof over my head, food to eat. Not everyone has that. I quit my job of 12 years, 4 years ago, to go back to school to follow the calling I felt the Lord leading me to - teaching. I am in my final semester (as you all know) of my BA, and will be sending in my application next week for the education program. I am thankful for this because not everyone has the opportunity to pursue something like this, nor to be able to move. I am at my parents' home due to financial reasons (I have no job) and could not afford to live elsewhere. Besides, I keep telling myself that it's not forever - only a couple more years, and I am thankful that my parents were willing to allow me to do this and support me in this.

I went to my friend Kristina's tonight; she invited me over for supper and to hang out because it was my birthday. Another one of our newer friends, Kim was over too. We ordered pizza, ate cake that Kristina made (can you say 'yummy'?!) and she even had a gift for me. She got me one of those Willow Tree Angels - the courage angel - because I was courageous in quitting my job and going back to school. I love those angels and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for it. She's my best friend and I love her to death. I am so thankful that God has brought her into my life, and that we continue to build up our friendship. I haven't had a best friend probably since high school, if I even had one then. I've had good friends, and somewhat close friends, but not a best friend. I am very thankful for her, and that I had a chance to get to know Kim better tonight. Kim's a great person too, and we're just really getting to know her.

A quick prayer request: please pray for Kristina's daughter who isn't feeling well. I'm also thankful for this little girl. She's a real sweetheart!

So, as you can see, I have a lot to be thankful for. I need to remember this during those low times when I feel loney, or when I feel like I'm weird or whatever for living with my parents again at this age (yes, in case you were wondering, I have been out on my own before and had to move back in). I am blessed that I have people around me who love and care about me, who don't want to see me out on the street, who want me to succeed...I am blessed that I have a loving God who thought enough of me that He sent His Son to die so that I could have eternal life with Him. I am blessed because the Lord loves me and wants to have a relationship with me (and I with Him). So you see, because I might not have much materialistically or monitarily, I have so much more than others have. I am blessed.

It's my birthday, I am 37 years old - and I have so much to be thankful for!